{"id":13932,"date":"2022-06-25T10:10:18","date_gmt":"2022-06-25T08:10:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=13932"},"modified":"2022-06-25T10:10:18","modified_gmt":"2022-06-25T08:10:18","slug":"lubricants-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2022\/06\/25\/lubricants-3\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Take Advantage of Low-Viscosity Lubricants"},"content":{"rendered":"

Photo: Lubrizol<\/i><\/p>\n

For fleet owners, FA-4 can raise some natural questions. But working through these questions carefully can be worthwhile for any fleet.<\/b><\/p>\n

Operational efficiency and profitability are top priorities for fleet owners and operators \u2014 and as of mid-2022, fuel prices have become a major threat to both of those goals.<\/p>\n

Recent data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) shows<\/a> that diesel prices have skyrocketed, rising more than two dollars per gallon versus this time just last year. Meanwhile, higher costs at the pump have combined with ongoing\u00a0driver shortages<\/a>, which have led freight professionals to optimize load sizes to get more out of every mile. In the western United States, for example, some fleets have reportedly sought to increase agricultural and commodity hauls from 106,000\u00a0pounds to 129,000 pounds, which can potentially lead to greater overall wear and tear on a vehicle.<\/p>\n

As fleet owners deploy every strategic tool they can to optimize costs under challenging conditions, there is one option that has largely gone underutilized: low-viscosity engine oils, which can reliably help heavy-duty trucks become more fuel-efficient in their everyday operations.<\/p>\n

According to \u201cTrucking Efficiency Confidence Report: Low-Viscosity Engine Lubricants<\/a>,\u201d a joint report from the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room, the benefits of upgrading to available low-viscosity lubricants are clear-cut. \u201cClass 8 over-the-road fleets can realistically expect fuel savings in the range of 0.5%\u20131.5% by switching from 15W-40 to 5W\/10W-30 engine oil,\u201d the report says.<\/p>\n

Even greater fuel savings can be achieved when the right choices are made based on the composition of your fleet.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s explore how and why low-viscosity lubricants make sense for today\u2019s challenging market conditions:<\/p>\n

Why Aren\u2019t Low Viscosities Used More Frequently?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Given lower-viscosity formulations\u2019 ability to deliver fuel efficiency, which can lower a fleet\u2019s fuel costs, it leads one to question why they aren\u2019t used more widely. Consider that nearly 81% of heavy-duty diesel lubricants sold in the North American market are 15W-40. No other available grade (including 10W-30 and 5W-30) breaks the 10% threshold.<\/p>\n

One reason for slow adoption of low-viscosity lubricants is that the trucking industry has enjoyed historically low fuel prices for the past five years. Fleets\u2019 interest in adopting lower viscosity oils has had lower focus versus other areas of their business.<\/p>\n

Another reason is the myth that lower-viscosity engine oils do not provide the same kind of robust protection as a higher-viscosity oil. Though this may have once been true, advances in formulation technology and additive chemistry have enabled modern heavy-duty engine oils to deliver outstanding engine protection in lower-viscosity formulations. Proof lies within today\u2019s API CK-4 and FA-4 performance categories, no matter the viscosity grade. While CK-4 defines more conventional engine oil formulations, the FA-4 category<\/a> was engineered to deliver enhanced fuel economy benefits in newer-model diesel engines (more on this later). Per API requirements, both CK-4 and FA-4 oils deliver the same levels of high performance and engine protection.<\/p>\n

Consider also that North American OEMs factory-fill most new-model engines with 10W-30 grade engine oils, indicating confidence that lower viscosities are a good choice for modern trucks. Together, additive companies, oil companies and OEMs have generated hundreds of millions of miles on lower-viscosity oils and API FA-4 oils in real-world field testing, covering all major OEM engines in a wide variety of duty cycles. This testing is done to validate the performance and durability of lower-viscosity engine oils in both the CK-4 and FA-4 categories.<\/p>\n

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Higher costs at the pump have combined with ongoing driver shortages, which have led freight professionals to optimize load sizes to get more out of every mile. Source: EIA<\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Overcoming Hesitancy<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If simply switching to a lower-viscosity formulation can have clear fuel economy benefits, going further to FA-4 formulations where applicable can provide even greater savings. \u201cThe savings from switching to the fuel-efficient FA-4 variant \u2026 can be expected to add a further 0.4%\u20130.77% of increased fuel efficiency,\u201d according to the Trucking Confidence Report.<\/p>\n

FA-4 lubricants, however, hold a lower market share than CK-4 formulations. This is due in part to the fact that FA-4 lubricants are designed for newer-model engines and are not backward compatible with engines older than model-year 2010. Meanwhile, some truck manufacturers have simply not approved the use of FA-4 oils in their vehicles.<\/p>\n

For fleet owners, FA-4 can raise some natural questions. But working through these questions carefully can be worthwhile for any fleet. Throughout the lifetime of service, which may include more than a million miles on the road, FA-4 has the potential to deliver significant operational cost savings via improved fuel efficiency. Especially in light of dramatically rising fuel prices and increasing cargo loads, which can lead to additional maintenance needs, lower-viscosity lubricants can help you achieve fuel economy gains that may help offset maintenance costs.<\/p>\n

How to Switch to Lower-Viscosity Formulations<\/strong><\/h2>\n

If you\u2019re interested in exploring lower-viscosity lubricants, a recently approved recommended practice<\/a> from the Technology and Maintenance Council (TMC) is a good place to start. Per TMC, here\u2019s a short breakdown on how to make the switch:<\/p>\n