Methods for evaluating the lubrication of an apparatus which can be lubricated by means of a lubricant circuit

A method for evaluating the lubrication of friction components, which rub against one another, of an apparatus which can be lubricated by means of a lubricant circuit, wherein a lubricant pump of the lubricant circuit is drivable by means of a drive engine forming the apparatus or by means of a drive engine driving the apparatus, comprising:

• providing a travel ascertainment unit, by means of which the relative travel between the friction components since the beginning of the engine start procedure is continuously ascertained and/or estimated during an engine start procedure,
• providing a pressure ascertainment unit, by means of which, at multiple travel points in time, at each of which the relative travel ascertained by means of the travel ascertainment unit between the friction partners exceeds a defined relative travel limiting value, the lubricant pressure is ascertained at at least one defined region of the lubricant circuit, and
• providing an analysis unit, by means of which an evaluation value, which evaluates the lubricant pressure buildup during the engine start procedure, is ascertained from the total of the pressure values ascertained at the travel points in time.