Any real MPG gain with synthetic motor oil?

[JustinH]

So, I shopped at advance auto when they weren't having any sales, and ended up picking up a 5.1qt jug of Peak Full Synthetic for $22.

They had 5.1qt jugs of Pennzoil and other dino oils for $21, so I decided to take the plunge for the first time in my saturn.

The label says "better fuel economy" or something to that effect.

The car is a 2003 Saturn Ion 1 with the 5 speed transmission, and the 2.2L ecotec motor. Since new the car has always gotten right around 30mpg in mixed driving, 34mpg on an all highway trip.

I drove a totally typical week, going back and forth to work on the highway. Sure enough 30mpg just like always.

The car sees 10k miles per year, I change every 6 months with whatever Walmart has on sale (usually Mobil Super as of late).

Some cars it just doesn't make sense to use full synthetic, unless I wanted to go to a 1 year oil change, which I do not.

 

[moto94536]

I personally think synthetic doesn't gain mpg unless the car is required synthetic oil.

here is my proof.

2006 toyota camry v6 with 258,000 miles. EPA rated 28 hwy.

493.7 highway miles driven. 15.025 gallons used. 32.9 mpg.

Mobil super 5000 with toyota oem oil filter. Chevron 87 octane.

 

[HTSS_TR]

The main advantage of synthetic oil is longer OCI. I do 6-7k/6mo OCI with dino in my LS400, when I used synthetic I do 12-14k/12mo OCI. I used only synthetic in E430 and do 12 months OCI up to 13k miles.

 

[bepperb]

Viscosity being equal probably not.

 

[sciphi]

Not at all. Longer drains are about it.

 

[expat]

$21 for 5 quarts of Pennzoil Dino?
You are paying too much!

I have experienced no difference in MPG when using synthetic ( grades being equal )

 

[aquariuscsm]

What would make a car require synthetic oil? Marketing ploy (when a car says for instance,"Use Only Genuine *such and such* oil". Especially when there aren`t many true synthetics on the market.

 

[moto94536]

I am sure newer car that required synthetic oil have different engine design. Just read the manual if your car required synthetic.

I will not use synthetic because it is expensive. I use mobil super 5000 and chevron supreme with 6k oci hwy. and ofcourse with the toyota oem filter.

 

[HTSS_TR]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
What would make a car require synthetic oil? Marketing ploy (when a car says for instance,"Use Only Genuine *such and such* oil". Especially when there aren`t many true synthetics on the market.

Engines that have extended OCI up to 12-15k miles or longer. MB, BMW, Audi, Porsche ...

 

[JOD]

Yeah, synthetic base stocks do offer an advantage in FE, both because they're generally higher VI (and hence thinner before they get up to temps) and because they have a lower coefficient of friction; but the gains due to base stock differences are small--small enough that you won't be able to tell given all of the other variables which affect FE.

Viscosity, base stocks and anti-friction additives all play a part in increasing efficiency, but you have to realize the gains are pretty small.

 

[dave1251]

Originally Posted By: JOD
Viscosity, base stocks and anti-friction additives all play a part in increasing efficiency, but you have to realize the gains are pretty small.




Often so small that the gains are hard to tell from noise. If a gain or loss is that small I will just keep my 40-60% I save on my OCI's using conventional oil. That being said I will use synthetic transmission/differential fluid.

 

[tommygunn]

It definitely won't hurt your MPG but at the same time even if it does, it'll be an absolute fraction of an improvement.

I mean some guys even say switching from 5w-30 to 5w-20 they only get a tiny fraction of a boost in MPG. Its there, sure, but its so little its almost worthless to bother.

If you can save money by buying synthetic and extend your OCI...thats where you're getting your moneys worth. Personally, I've run tons of different oils, and haven't seen any change on any front really.

 

[levi]

Any real MPG gain with synthetic motor oil?

No.

.

 

[Scotty59]

No. Advertising hype. I check my gas mileage at every fill-up, never saw any difference between conventional and synthetic.

 

[aquariuscsm]

Originally Posted By: Scotty59
No. Advertising hype.


^^this

 

[Jim Allen]

Like JOD says, the gains are there but too small to measure without very precise instrumentation. People who do a lot of cold starts and short hops might notice more of an uptick using syn because of the cold flow characteristics. By "cold" I don't necessarily mean winter cold, though it could be. That warmup phase, when the oil is still thick, an area where the syn's cold flow will reduce fluid friction...possibly enough to show on your mileage calcs. Still won't be a lot... if it shows up at all.

 

[Rob_Roy]

I think synthetic engine oils would have the most impact on fuel economy (still small) in short-trip and/or cold weather applications. The longer it takes for the lubricant to reach operating temperature (and the intended viscosity) the more of an advantage a high VI synthetic would offer.

Edit: Jim beat me to it.

 

[Mr_Incredible]

I did 10k miles in my truck on conventional, and another 10k miles on M1. Absolutely no difference.

The answer is no. The best chance for mpgs is a lighter oil within the weight you use, a lighter weight in general, or paying attention and driving right.

 

[exranger06]

Originally Posted By: aquariuscsm
What would make a car require synthetic oil? Marketing ploy (when a car says for instance,"Use Only Genuine *such and such* oil". Especially when there aren`t many true synthetics on the market.


Engines that have high oil temps. Synthetic handles high temperatures better than conventional. Cars that are "high-performance" and meant to race will typically require synthetic. (Racing = high oil temps) I once heard that Chevy had a choice of installing an oil cooler in the Corvette and saying conventional oil would be suitable, or leave the oil cooler out and simply require synthetic. They didn't have any room to install a cooler, so they made synthetic a requirement.

I've never noticed a MPG improvement with synthetic.

 

[SteveSRT8]

I can't imagine any modern oil making much difference in mpg's.

10 years ago it would have been a different story. But even then the difference was so small it was within a reasonable margin of error, like less than one mpg.

I have seen actual hp increases in an old Neon racer with synthetic over dino, never even took the car off the rollers and got 4 hp, but again it's within a reasonable margin of error so it can easily be discounted.

In my car, where track oil temps easily exceed 275 degrees I would not run anything else!