Shell 0W-10 gives 6.5% FE benefit over 10W-30

[SubLGT]

I wonder how it does compared to a 0W-20.

http://www.shell.com/home/content/lubes/..._lubricant.html

SAE is considering oil viscosities below SAE20, in anticipation of demand by auto manufacturers:

Extending SAE J300 to Viscosity Grades below SAE 20
http://papers.sae.org/2010-01-2286/

"The SAE Engine Oil Viscosity Classification (EOVC) Task Force has been gathering data in consideration of extending SAE J300 to include engine oils with high temperature, high shear rate (HTHS) viscosity below the current minimum of 2.6 mPas for the SAE 20 grade."..........................................

"Several Japanese OEMs have expressed interest in revising SAE J300 to allow official designation of an engine oil viscosity category with HTHS viscosity below 2.6 mPas to enable the development of ultra low friction engines in the future."

 

[beanoil]

Madness. Soon, I'll have to put two drops of 3-in-1 in a couple of cups on an electric motored car once a year, just like my furnace. What is a BITOG'er to do?

 

[67Customs]

That will really screw up all of the xW-20 v. xW-30 arguments.

 

[chubbs1]

If it works and proper, rigorous testing is done (and is successful) then I would be open to it. The problem is we don't want little tiny cars like that and even if some did the safety would be questionable. ie. SUV hits T.25=dead T.25 occupants.

 

[Samilcar]

Originally Posted By: 67Customs
That will really screw up all of the xW-20 v. xW-30 arguments.


Well, sure. But just think of all the new xW-10 vs. xW-20 arguments!

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: beanoil
Madness. Soon, I'll have to put two drops of 3-in-1 in a couple of cups on an electric motored car once a year, just like my furnace. What is a BITOG'er to do?


LOL Isn't 3-in-1 oil a 20 grade oil?

 

[addyguy]

I still don't understand why oil developers aren't exploiting the lower limits of the 20-weight range.

'Most' 20-weight oils are between 8.0 cst and 9.0 cst at 100C. Yet the 20 grade oils 'officially'start at 5.8 cst...so why aren't they working on making stable 5W-20 and 0W-20 oils that are between 6.o cst and 7.0 cst @100C???

 

[A_Harman]

The new proposed viscosity grades of Xw-5, Xw-10, and Xw-15 don't extend the limits of kinematic viscosity lower, only HTHS viscosity. The HTHS would work down in steps from 2.3 min for 15-weight, to 2.0 for 10-weight, and 1.7 for 5-weight. With oils that light, I wonder if conventional hydrodynamic bearings would still be viable. Maybe they would have to be upsized so much that no real benefit to friction would be realized. I think going to thinner and thinner oils is the land of diminishing returns. Once the oil film thickness becomes less than the roughness of the bearing and journals, the bearing is operating in the region of mixed lubrication, and friction increases.

Or, maybe engines would have to be designed with all rolling-element bearings.

 

[RF Overlord]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
why aren't they working on making stable 5W-20 and 0W-20 oils that are between 6.o cst and 7.0 cst @100C???
They already have...it's called Dexron VI.

 

[Colt45ws]

Originally Posted By: addyguy
I still don't understand why oil developers aren't exploiting the lower limits of the 20-weight range.

'Most' 20-weight oils are between 8.0 cst and 9.0 cst at 100C. Yet the 20 grade oils 'officially'start at 5.8 cst...so why aren't they working on making stable 5W-20 and 0W-20 oils that are between 6.o cst and 7.0 cst @100C???

Because they have to be there to meet the minimum 2.6HTHS. That is why they are talking about a grade with a lower HTHS. I bet they split 20 grade and the lower half becomes 10 with a 2.4HTHS or so.

 

[Vikas]

I just read that report. How many cars were involved in that test? One. How many samples were taken? It was not mentioned.

I am shocked that it came from Shell. To be fair, this was a marketing blurb and not a technical article published in a peer reviewed journal.

Bottom Line:- Even if you eliminate *all* of the friction losses in an engine, you will *NOT* get 6.5% extra fuel efficiency. I don't care what press release is put out by Shell. If this claim was made by any other snake oil manufacturer, I will be equally hard on them too.

If you have an engineering background, you should be able to see the "bogusity" of this claim.
- Vikas

 

[nooil]

Can't wait for the new 0w-0, now thats thin

 

[mechtech2]

Nascar has used 5W oil for qualifying for years.
Thin oils are not new.