Saw this on another forum.
Interesting to read that 0w20 in North America is only used because of the CAFE requirement.
G'day to you as well, sir.
The short answer to your question is 0W-20 weight oil is distributed principally in North America in response to the demands of the United States' automobile industry, which must meet the requirements of the U.S. "CAFE" (corporate average fuel economy) law or pay graduating penalties for failing to do so. The lower viscosity of 0W-20 weight oil saves fuel principally on start-up at lower temperatures, and it performs well in a relatively low rpm, light-load operating environment. Urban environments, in other words. When used in millions of automobiles, it results in a significant fleet-wide fuel savings. Moreover, to the extent that an automobile manufacturer's fleet average betters that required by U.S. law, a manufacturer can earn and sell the energy credits to other manufacturers, and Honda does this. Honda's U.S. energy credits are worth literally tens of millions of dollars each year. Last year, for example, Honda earned over $900 million from CAFE energy credit sales. Toyota Motor Company earned near three trillion US$. In the absence of those financial incentives, however, the potential fuel savings for individual vehicle owners are simply less important. And then there's the fact that 5W-30 and 10W-30 oils provide a greater margin of viscosity film-strength in a higher rpm, higher-temperature environment, which is what you are much more likely to experience in Australia.
Interesting to read that 0w20 in North America is only used because of the CAFE requirement.
G'day to you as well, sir.
The short answer to your question is 0W-20 weight oil is distributed principally in North America in response to the demands of the United States' automobile industry, which must meet the requirements of the U.S. "CAFE" (corporate average fuel economy) law or pay graduating penalties for failing to do so. The lower viscosity of 0W-20 weight oil saves fuel principally on start-up at lower temperatures, and it performs well in a relatively low rpm, light-load operating environment. Urban environments, in other words. When used in millions of automobiles, it results in a significant fleet-wide fuel savings. Moreover, to the extent that an automobile manufacturer's fleet average betters that required by U.S. law, a manufacturer can earn and sell the energy credits to other manufacturers, and Honda does this. Honda's U.S. energy credits are worth literally tens of millions of dollars each year. Last year, for example, Honda earned over $900 million from CAFE energy credit sales. Toyota Motor Company earned near three trillion US$. In the absence of those financial incentives, however, the potential fuel savings for individual vehicle owners are simply less important. And then there's the fact that 5W-30 and 10W-30 oils provide a greater margin of viscosity film-strength in a higher rpm, higher-temperature environment, which is what you are much more likely to experience in Australia.
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