THE EFFECTS OF ENGINE OIL ADDITIVES ON VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY, EMISSIONS, EMISSION CONTROL COMPONENTS AND ENGINE WEAR

Potential improvements in fuel economy to be gained from using current technology fuel-efficient oils are explored. Legislated fuel economy standards have necessitated investigations to determine the cost-effectiveness of low-friction engine lubricants. Preliminary testing indicates that friction-reducing engine oil additives may provide potentially significant improvements in fuel economy over conventional and low-viscosity engine oils. Vehicle test programs were undertaken to evaluate the effects of molybdenum disulfide, graphite, and soluble additives on fuel economy, engine cleanliness and wear, exhaust emission levels, and engine and emission component durability. Program results show that engine oils containing either colloidal or soluble friction modification systems may provide measurable and appreciable fuel economy, although friction modification improvements observed in Environmental Protection Agency testing do not appear to reach their full potential at the critical 6437-kilometer test point and require considerably more kilometer accumulation for maximum fuel economy. Friction-modified oils exhibit greater fuel economy during cold and transient engine conditions due to decreased friction at the piston ring/cylinder wall interface during periods of high cylinder gas pressure. Friction-modified fuel-efficient oils do not appear to cause abnormal engine wear, emission component deterioration, or catalyst poisoning. Further research and development in fuel-efficient oil technology are recommended through optimizing and combining viscometric and boundary lubrication friction reduction to achieve fuel economy benefits.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/01487191
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Presented at SAE International Fuels and Lubricants Meeting, Toronto, 13-16 November 1978.
• Corporate Authors:

  Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)

  400 Commonwealth Drive
  Warrendale, PA  United States  15096
• Authors:
  • McDonnell, T F
  • Tempe, S A
• Publication Date: 1978

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 25 p.
• Serial:
  • SAE Technical Paper
  • Publisher: Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE)
  • ISSN: 0148-7191
  • EISSN: 2688-3627
  • Serial URL: http://papers.sae.org/

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air quality management; Development; Engine oils; Exhaust gases; Friction; Fuel consumption; Oil additives; Research; Wear
• Uncontrolled Terms: Research and development
• Old TRIS Terms: Exhaust emission control
• Subject Areas: Energy; Research; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00399221
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
• Report/Paper Numbers: SAE 780962, HS-025 907U
• Files: HSL, USDOT
• Created Date: Oct 31 1985 12:00AM