Evaluation of fuel economy differences on a 1978 Volvo for two different motor oils. Technical report

Technical Report · Sat Nov 01 00:00:00 EST 1980

OSTI ID:5894153

Penninga, T J; Lawrence, D

This report presents the results which were gathered to determine the fuel economy difference between a low viscosity multigrade, synthetic motor oil and a straight 30 weight motor oil. The test vehicle was a 1978 Volvo which was modified to give consistent vehicle emissions and fuel economy. The car was tested with each oil at ambient temperatures of 40 degrees F, 75 degrees F and 90 degrees F. The low viscosity synthetic showed no improvement on the Federal Test Procedure (FTP) at 40 degrees F and 90 degrees F and a .74% increase in fuel economy for the 75 degrees F tests. The Highway Fuel Economy Tests (HFET) showed a 2.13% increase at 40 degrees F, 2.48% increase at 75 degrees F, and 2.71% at 90 degrees F for the low viscosity synthetic multigrade oil.

• Research Organization: Environmental Protection Agency, Ann Arbor, MI (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5894153
• Report Number(s): PB-81-205585
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
AUTOMOBILES
FUEL ECONOMY
LUBRICATION
FUEL CONSUMPTION
LUBRICATING OILS
PERFORMANCE TESTING
VISCOSITY
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
LUBRICANTS
OILS
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OTHER ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
TESTING
VEHICLES
320203* - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Transportation- Land & Roadway