Rupture of lubricant film, thermal characteristics, and variation of viscosity are very important factors to evaluate the performance of journal bearing. Variation of external conditions, load or rotational speed, largely influence these facters. For example, if rotational speed increases lubricant bulk temperature increases and viscosity drops. In this paper the effect of rotational speed variation on the characteristics of lubricant film in a journal bearing is investigated by experiment and theoretical analysis. It has been measured number of lubricant film rupture and lubricant bulk temperature form journal bearing which have been established at the various operating speed of shaft. The range of speed variation is from 900rpm to 2100rpm. Theoretical analysis has been carried out for rupture of lubricant film and thermal characteristics, and these results are compared with experimental results.