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Lubricants Beyond Today's Standards TM
Petro-Canada™ Lubricants' distribution network extends to over 80 countries worldwide
Excluding the regions of Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk
Petro-Canada™ Lubricants' distribution network extends to over 80 countries worldwide
The passenger car industry has been transitioning to lower viscosity engine oils over the past decade. With lower viscosity grades such as 0W-16 oils being recommended by Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), what does this mean for your customers?
The article will explore the benefits of low viscosity engine oils and how they affect your customers’ vehicles.
A low viscosity engine oil is less viscous – or flows more easily – at both cold and hot temperatures. These engine oils can be identified through their motor oil classification. For example, in a 0W-30 grade, the ‘0’ refers to the oil’s viscosity characteristics at low temperatures, and the ‘30’ its viscosity characteristics at high temperatures. The ‘W’ also stands for ‘winter’ highlighting the oil’s suitability to be used throughout the colder months.
Multi-grade low viscosity engine oils typically fall at the SAE xW-20 classification or below. The formulation of multi-grade lubricants means that they can be used all year around, during warmer and colder months to provide vital protection to the engine’s internal components.
Switching to multi-grade low viscosity engine oils is one of the simplest changes that can be made to reduce fuel consumption and improve the vehicle’s engine efficiency. Low viscosity engine oils flow more easily through the engine – this is particularly important for new engines where the engine architecture includes much narrower clearances – and in turn reduces viscosity drag on moving parts. This helps reduce parasitic losses in the engine, which can improve the vehicle’s fuel economy.
Low viscosity multi-grade engine oils also present benefits for customers in colder regions that experience harsh winters. Multi-grade lubricants with a lower viscosity flow more easily at cold temperatures, which helps reduce the warm-up time of the engine and provides protection during this crucial period when the engine is at increased risk of wear.
A common misconception surrounding low viscosity engine oils is that they do not offer the same level of protection as their predecessors. This is often combined with the perception that low viscosity lubricants cannot be used all year around.
This is not the case. The multi-grade engine oils have been formulated to offer superior protection for both cold and hot operating conditions. However, before selecting a low viscosity engine oil it is vital to start the process by consulting with the OEM manual for its recommendation.
The transition to lower viscosity lubricants is a gradual process, during which you can be a vital source of insight and advice for your customers. For customers that may have previously used heavier and thicker engine lubricants, helping them understand the benefits of low viscosity engine oils will be crucial. This will allow you to support them through the transition and position yourself as an expert on low viscosity engine oils.
The most important fact to reiterate to all customers is that, as ever, the engine oil specification should align with the OEM manual recommendation – this is crucial for maintaining a vehicle’s warranty and performance when it comes to both protection and fuel economy.
