Oil & Fuel Economy

[wolf_06]

Hi,

Im running mobil 1 5w30 in my 1.8 non turbo chevy cruze.

I managed to do 360 km on half a tank, 29 liters, its a very respectful number.

It was -6 degrees C most of the time, driving 110 km/h, did s bit of city driving, but 90% was highway driving. I was driving in hills and it was a bit windy, i did pass two cars on top of that.

Is there any difference in mpg using diffrent oil in the same weight? or maybe diffrent tires maybe would help?

 

[Zaedock]

I don't think you would see a perceptible difference in MPG's running different brands in the same weight. There would probably be a slight difference if you compared the lowest HTHSV to the highest HTHSV in the range of the grade, but it would be very hard to replicate the test in actual use due to many other variables.

A quality low resistance tire may also make a difference, but I imagine an economy car comes with them already.

 

[simple_gifts]

Quote:

Is there any difference in mpg using diffrent oil in the same weight?


The best way to maximize mileage is proper tire inflation and attend to how the car is driven. Those are the "worthwhile" considerations.

 

[gregk24]

I know Pennzoil Platinum 5w30 is a thin 30 weight, but as others have said, driving easy and proper maintenance of the car will go a lot further to maximize MPG's then different brands of oil.

 

[Hyde244]

The biggest changes in MPG would be in between oil weights, such as a 20 or 30. Within each oil weight, it is very, very difficult to show any difference in MPG. Weather, driving behavior, etc. will carry a much larger effect.

Properly inflated tires will help with MPG, and is estimated to decrease MPG by 0.3% for every 1 PSI a set of 4 tires is below their recommended inflation.

http://www.afdc.energy.gov/conserve/vehicle_maintenance.html

 

[Clevy]

I've gone from 20 grades to 40 grades in my charger and fuel economy was imperceptibly affected.
I'm sure it does add more drag going a couple grades thicker but different brands within the same grade would be impossible to measure a difference.

 

[Michael_P]

Ive done the same as Clevy with my F150. Though I did have to look up the word imperceptibly.

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
The best way to maximize mileage is proper tire inflation and attend to how the car is driven. Those are the "worthwhile" considerations.

Absolutely, as I showed in a thread a while back, I was getting better fuel economy with 5w-40 than the 5w30. Why? Because I was using the 5w30 in the winter with idling, winter gas, traffic moving at a crawl, and so forth.

 

[Capa]

Originally Posted By: Clevy
I've gone from 20 grades to 40 grades in my charger and fuel economy was imperceptibly affected.
I'm sure it does add more drag going a couple grades thicker but different brands within the same grade would be impossible to measure a difference.


I've tried 20 and 30 weight in my Lexus V8 and really couldn't tell a difference MPG wise (though I'm sure there was a very slight gain with the 20 weight). However, I also tried a 40 weight and there definitely was a perceptible loss not only in MPG but also in peppiness.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Capa
Originally Posted By: Clevy
I've gone from 20 grades to 40 grades in my charger and fuel economy was imperceptibly affected.
I'm sure it does add more drag going a couple grades thicker but different brands within the same grade would be impossible to measure a difference.


I've tried 20 and 30 weight in my Lexus V8 and really couldn't tell a difference MPG wise (though I'm sure there was a very slight gain with the 20 weight). However, I also tried a 40 weight and there definitely was a perceptible loss not only in MPG but also in peppiness.



I noticed going from a 0w-40 to a 5w-20 for winter that the engine revved up quicker,so I certainly believe your comment.
Once oil temps hit 213f though it wasn't as pronounced.

 

[SteveSRT8]

Originally Posted By: simple_gifts
Quote:

Is there any difference in mpg using diffrent oil in the same weight?


The best way to maximize mileage is proper tire inflation and attend to how the car is driven. Those are the "worthwhile" considerations.


Exactly. At least you may be able to discern a difference!

For super small hi revving engines I can imagine the oil being a 'sort of' contributor but in any bigger V8 there is no way you would be able to tell anything much at all...