MPG vs. 40 weight oil

[fisher83]

I had a 2001 Accent and ran everything from 5w20 to 10w30 and the oil weight didn't seem to have a noticeable effect on anything. The OEM filter does quiet it down nicely. Here in the Midwest the cheapest gas is 89 octane which contains 10% ethanol. I always got the best mileage out of our Accent when I ran the 87 octane gas. I usually saw a pretty consistent 2 mpg difference between the two. I just started using the OEM filters on our Elantra and it is the quietest it has ever been. I'd try the OEM filter and stick with 5w30. Gas was pretty cheap when I bought the Accent so I never really checked my mileage with the 5w20 but I can say it was just as quiet with the 5w20 and OEM filter as it was with 5w30.

 

[jjcom]

I can't say I noticed anything change for MPG with the current fill of T6 in my 07 Grand Prix. 5-40 seems to quiet down the lifters a little when it's hot out. MPG on the computer and by hand is still pretty much the same. Pretty consistent 23.5.

 

[bigjl]

Originally Posted By: Snacks
There was no statistical difference in 5w20 and 0w40 for me. My data below:


2006 Ford Focus 2.0 Duratec w/140k
M1 & NAPA gold
25 fill ups each at same pump
Same route each day (I only drive this car to work)
Checked tires 1/week
97% hwy - 3,250 avg RPM - 98.5 miles each way (197/day)

MPG 5w20
avg - 28.5 (27.2-29.6)

MPG 0w40
avg - 28.3 (26.8-29.9)

I think there is more variability in gas/weather/driving than in 5w20 and 0w40.


The Focus in diesel or petrol flavour is specced for a 5w30 in the UK. In fact this was the case for the older Zetec engines in use prior to your Duratec.

Though the interesting thing is it was always a very specific specification.

A fuel economy A1/B1, the Ford oil was a Semi Synthetic, Formula F or something from memory.

But newer Fords specify this or A5/B5, 5w30.

I think.the issue was top end issues specifically with the Zetec. Indeed Castrol still market Magnatec 5w30 A1/B1- A5/B5 as Ford oil.

I am.curious do folks in the US use these fuel economy oils?

I would never put a 5w30 A3/B3/B4 specced oil near my Volvo or any Ford.

But as these are Acea specs. Do folks in the US have an equivalent.

It seems to me that perhaps the use of thin oils like 5w20 or 0w20 is done in part to aide economy?

Or is it to just assist in warm-up?

I would need to check but I would suspect that there is no differentiation between oils if they meet say SN? Whereas the Acea specs seem to allow for differentiation without the same oil viscosity. Such as 5w30 for Ford/ Volvo in UK.

One reason I am.interested is my Pathfinder takes 5w30 but a C3. The Volvo needs A5/B5. So I need two different oils.

Would the C3 work for the car needing A5/B5?

Hope I haven't performed a thread hijack. Just thinking out loud.

 

[Merkava_4]

Quietness takes precedence over fuel mileage for me any day.

 

[Snacks]

Originally Posted By: fdcg27

28-30 mpg is all you get out of that little thing?


The car is EPA rated 31 mpg at 65 mph, so my averages at 80+ mph are right in line.

I agree the efficiency isn't as good as other compacts, but when I was looking, I was able to get this for $4,000 less than a Civic, which was my other choice.

 

[4x4chevydude]

Hyundais are nice little cars and the MPG isnt bad either they do cost alot less the Honda

 

[ChileanSeaBass]

I'd love to get 30+ MPG, but I haven't had much luck getting it past 28. I think a lot of that has to do with my driving style lol. I bought this car a year ago for $1,000, so I can't complain.

I met a guy the other night who has an '01 Accent, manual trans, and he claims to get 41 MPG.

 

[mechtech2]

bigjl -

X-20 oils were not spec'd because they did not exist, or in the numbers needed to facilitate vehicles. Widespread availability allowed mfrs. to spec them for their inherent benefits.

What benefits?

Lighter oils help CAFE, fuel economy, and cold/cool engine operation. They flow better, can lube ring areas and valve guides better, and cool better. Variable valve systems work consistently in all conditions. and they are tough - resistant to shearing.
So it is not one or the other reason. It is all.

 

[bigjl]

Not sure I follow you mechtech2?

I assumed that w20 oils have been around in the states for at least 5 or 6 years.

The Zetec specs are indeed old, going back to the early '90s, from memory it was the first vehicle to use the new fuel (A1/B1, A5/B5) economy oils, to use a more normal A3 oil would cause the vales to stick, causing misfires and flatspots.

A. Castrol Magnatec 5w30 A1/B1, A5/B5 is an API SL oil.
B. Castrol Magnatec 5w30 A3/B3/B4 is also an API SL oil.
C. Castrol Magnatec 5w30 A3/B3/B4/C3 is API SN oil.

This was what I was thinking about when I made the last post, oil A is a fuel economy oil, B is not but they are both API SL.

I was concluding that the problem is the same, reduced fuel consumption to meet environmemtal targets.

Europe seems to use special fuel economy spec oils, the US uses oil of certain viscosities, ie 0w20 or 5w20, I think I read somewhere that it may be to do with the way cars are used in the US, freeway speeds are possibly slightly lower than autobahn and motorway speeds due to the lower speed limits in US.

To this end I think a good A1/B1 spec oil such as Amsoil 5w30 would quite probably have just as good economy and also help CAFE, in the same way as a 5w20 oil of similar quality.

The interesting thing is two different ways of dealing with similar circumstances.

 

[fisher83]

I drove mine about 70% highway and usually got 32-33 mpg with the automatic. I don't think it ever dipped below 30 unless I stayed in town. I got as high as 37-38 on long vacations a couple of times. I'm not surprised to hear of someone getting over 40 with the manual. I really thought
my Elantra would get better mileage than it does. My wife drives harder than I do and gets about 25-26 mpg but it rarely gets driven on the interstate.

 

[ChileanSeaBass]

Originally Posted By: fisher83
I drove mine about 70% highway and usually got 32-33 mpg with the automatic. I don't think it ever dipped below 30 unless I stayed in town. I got as high as 37-38 on long vacations a couple of times. I'm not surprised to hear of someone getting over 40 with the manual. I really thought
my Elantra would get better mileage than it does. My wife drives harder than I do and gets about 25-26 mpg but it rarely gets driven on the interstate.


I got it up to 32 earlier this summer on a long vacation, but here where I live it's a bit hilly, so even though I'm about 50% highway I think the in-town driving really hurts the overall MPG.