#LOW VISCOSITY OIL MEANING SERIES#

A fleet that upgrades from 15W-40 to a 5W/10W-30 FA-4 engine oil could, therefore, realize fuel savings of between 0.9% and 2.2%. By upgrading to the more fuel-efficient FA-4 variant of the same grade, fleets could realize an additional 0.4% to 0.7% of fuel savings. These newer lubricants allow for further fuel economy gains. They are known as being high-temperature, high-shear (HTHS) oils, meaning they give less resistance to flow between engine parts moving at high speeds and in elevated operating temperatures. The newer American Petroleum Institute (API) CK-4 and FA-4 oils were designed for demanding conditions and have lower viscosity, fuel-efficient specifications. What kind of benefits can we expect to see?īy switching from 15W-40 to 5W/10W-30 engine oil, fuel costs for a Class 8 vehicle can be reduced by between 0.5% and 1.5%. That is why it is important to conduct engine health and oil filter monitoring during trials of new motor oil viscosity grades. Reducing your fuel consumption at the expense of reducing engine protection is not a compromise worth making.

The oil must be viscous enough to maintain the separation of critical engine parts, but thin enough to allow for fuel-efficient powering of the engine. The challenge, therefore, is to find an engine oil that balances fuel economy and engine protection. However, higher viscosity oils generally offer better wear protection to the engine’s moving parts. Lower viscosity oils improve fuel economy and as a result, reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Crankshaft – Friction here occurs in the main bearings and connecting rod bearings.

Oil pump – Energy loss often occurs during engine warmup, due to the energy consumed by pumping high-viscosity oils around the engine.

Valvetrain – Valvetrain friction can contribute significantly to engine friction, particularly at low engine revolutions per minute (RPM) occurring in the camshaft bearings and between the valve and lifter.Energy loss occurs at the piston liner interface during the combustion cycle. Piston and cylinder – The pistons and rings contribute to approximately half of total engine friction.This enables the engine to work more efficiently and ultimately reduces fuel consumption while still protecting the engine.Įngines lose energy through friction loss in four main areas: Switching to low-viscosity engine oil can reduce engine friction, allowing the oil to flow more effectively through the engine. It’s important to balance your engine’s durability and protection needs with fuel efficiency. One such mechanism that many fleet managers have found effective is switching to a high-quality, low-viscosity, heavy-duty engine oil (HDEO) that can help their vehicles’ engines maintain optimal power and improve fuel economy, without compromising engine protection.īe aware though, it’s essential to contact your Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) prior to making any adjustments to your engine oil for warranty information and to confirm the compatibility of any new engine oil with your vehicles.

With fuel costs and global carbon emissions on the rise, it is more important than ever to adopt these fuel-saving strategies. In particular, a small reduction in a vehicle’s fuel economy consumption can significantly reduce overall fuel costs and associated emissions while improving the fleet manager’s bottom line.

#LOW VISCOSITY OIL MEANING SERIES#

The first number indicates the viscosity of the oil at a cold temperature, and the second number indicates the viscosity at operating temperatures.Ĭompare to see different levels of protection these products offer and choose the one that meets your needs.Any fleet manager knows – the key to continuous operational cost savings is by undertaking a series of minor, deliberate improvements to fleet efficiency. Motor oil gets thicker when it’s cold and thinner when it heats up. What do the numbers in 0W-40 mean? The numbers refer to the weight and thickness, or viscosity, of the oil. *The dexos® specification and trademark are exclusive to General Motors, LLC. Mobil 1 ESP Formula 0W-40 carries the dexos®2 approval specified for General Motors vehicles. Note: We don’t compare diesel engine oils with motor oils formulated for gasoline-powered vehicles. If your diesel-powered engine requires an oil meeting the CK-4 specification, then choose Mobil Delvac 1™ ESP 0W-40. They can be used in either gasoline- or diesel-powered engines. In this viscosity, we offer Mobil 1™ FS 0W-40 or Mobil 1™ ESP Formula 0W-40. The viscosity is gaining popularity with American automakers for high performance engines in both cars and pickup trucks. 0W-40 oils are recommended by automakers for many types of European vehicles, including Mercedes-Benz, Porsche and Volkswagen.

Low viscosity oil meaning