New Fuel Efficient Motor Oils

[Blue99]

Would you buy a motor oil that was certified by ILSAC/API to provide, say 3% fuel economy improvement, over a non-certified oil?

Here is a quote from a Lubes N Greases Article :

"Today, oil marketers say, the(ILSAC GF-4) VIB test only allows them to claim minimal fuel economy benefits.
If the (proposed ILSAC GF-5)Sequence VID proves an oil offers substantial, discernible, fuel economy gains, experience suggests that a defined market may very well emerge, similar to that for higher-mileage engine oils, synthetics and high-endurance products."


My comments - Apparently, more fuel economy benefits are to be had with the increased use of both moly & organic friction modifiers. Formulators are only using the minimum amounts to pass the current Seq VIB test, which is not structured to reward the use of additional friction modifiers.

Would a boutique oil blended for better gas mileage be a instant hit for the motr oil buying public?

 

[ThirdeYe]

I think the costs would probably outweigh the benefits. If they could provide it for the same price, i'd be all over it.

 

[buster]

Finally, a new, good topic to discuss. One thing I was thinking about also is how ALL 20wt oils so far have a HT/HS of NO lower than 2.6. Which leads me to the question, can you go lower and not sacrifice wear protection? According to that dated study, you can't. But who knows with modern engine designs and oil additives.

The Havoline DS 5w-20 I'm running now is only 8.0 cSt @100C, which is the lowest 20wt oil on the market other than the bruce blend Gary is running.

I'm curious if we start seeing lighter 20wt oils. The Amsoil and Red Line 20wt oils are practically 0w-30's, although very low 30wts.

As long as fuel goes up in price, which I believe it will, fuel efficient lubes will be in high demand. In XOM's magazine, their TL stated that low viscosity fuel efficient lubricants are the future.

I'd like to see if using more high quality additives that are out there could even further improve gas mileage without lowering the viscosity.

 

[javacontour]

Let's see.

I run a conventional oil for 5K miles. My best MPG car averages 31.7 MPG over the past 100K miles.

So a 3% increase in fuel economy will improve that figure to 32.7 MPG (rounding up)

Difference in fuel used over 5K miles:

5K @ 31.7 MPG = 157.73 gallons
5K @ 32.7 MPG = 152.91 gallons

If gas is $3/gallon, my savings is under $14.50

So there is some room, even with economy cars.

If you cut my fuel economy numbers in half, then the fuel used doubles, making the savings about $29, if I understand the math in my scenario.

Let's plug some numbers in to verify

5000 Miles @ 15.85 MPG = 315.46 gallons of fuel
5000 Miles @ 16.33 MPG = 306.18 gallons of fuel

Saving 9.28 gallons @ $3/gallon is about $27.83 saved. Yeah, roughly twice as much, must be some rounding issues.

My vehicle only uses 3L of oil, so that will help too with the whole cost issue.

It will be a greater deal for those who get worse fuel economy, that is for sure.

 

[badtlc]

yes i would.

 

[Laminar Lou]

I am comparing Chevron 5W30 to Amsoil 0W30. Here have been my results so far:

 

[Laminar Lou]

I'd like to point out that my used oil analysis showed:

Chevron:
53ppm of Moly
76ppm Boron

Amsoil:
3ppm Moly
75ppm Boron

Note the Amsoil is lower in moly and equal in Boron, yet appears to be giving me better gas mileage.

 

[Dad2leia]

Considering the fact that I currently put over 100 miles/day on our vehicle, I'd use anything that would offer an improvement, provided that based on increasing OCI to compensate for the cost increase of the lubricant comes with the package.

That's why I'm trial running that Eneos in 5w20 weight, since my Brad Penn 5w20 was a little less than $30 per 12 quart case vs. $69 shipped for the 6 quart Eneos 5w20 case.

It may well come down to a happy comprimise for everyone based on several factors. Sounds all too familiar, doesn't it?

 

[Curious Kid]

Remember Laminar Lou that common UOA/VOA's are not going to show all the make-up details that can discern one lubricant blend from another. More extensive and expensive testing and someone in the know to interpret the results (GC study). Then again, one could just run an oil.?.

Take care.

 

[lars11]

An MPG improvment of 3% is a significant efficiency gain.
On a larger scale, if gasoline/fuel usage would go down 3% as a whole, prices wuold go up slower and oil would last longer.
If the oil cost is comparable to current, it would be a hit.

 

[oilyriser]

I noticed an increase in vibration at idle as the QS winter blend 5w30 got above 5000 miles. With Havoline 5w20, there was no change at all, after 6300 miles. It started out with a bit more vibration than fresh 5w30, but stayed exactly the same. The coefficient of friction probably stayed the same with the Havoline.

 

[Laminar Lou]

Quote:

---

Remember Laminar Lou that common UOA/VOA's are not going to show all the make-up details that can discern one lubricant blend from another. More extensive and expensive testing and someone in the know to interpret the results (GC study). Then again, one could just run an oil.?.

Take care.

---

That was the point I was trying to make. The fact that the Amsoil is lower in those additives yet appears to be giving me better MPG means that there is something else at work here. I guess I didn't really make that point, I just laid it out there for others to contemplate (but you figured it out).

I once added VSOT to my Odyssey (which is loaded with Moly) and my MPG dropped significantly.

I just take good notes at each fill up and "just run an oil" like you said. Next on the list is probably going to be some Chevron 5W20 in the Tundra, then a second one with 3 oz auto rx, then maybe Amsoil 0W20...

By the time I figure out what works best I will have probably sold the Truck - but it gives me something to do!

 

[MysticGold04]

Lou... how much is the Amsoil 0w30 saving you? I'm thinking of trying it for my next fill in my Tacoma V6 because I drive short trips now, 6 mi each way back and forth to work, etc... not many long trips. I'm wondering if the cost of the Amsoil will outweigh any benefits.

 

[TeeDub]

Using Lou's data:

1.05/13.63 * 100% = a 7.6% increase in fuel efficiency with the Series 2000, vs the 5w30 conventional oil.


Looking at it in terms of fuel savings:

100/107.6 * 100% = 92.9%, or a fuel savings of 7.1%


The Series 2000 is highly friction modified with chemical components that don't show up in a $20.00 oil analysis. In fact their latest API/SM version doesn't show any moly or boron, yet it meets the ILSAC, GF-4, energy conserving requirements.

In this case going to the Amsoil 0w-20 (HT/HS of 2.8 Cp) would yield additional gains over the Series 2000 (HT/HS of 3.2 Cp), in short trip service.

 

[MysticGold04]

Interesting indeed.. I noticed that his MPG went up on his 100 mile round trip on the freeway as well. Just might have to try the 0w-30!