Fuel Economy, Hypermiling, EcoModding News and Forum - EcoModder.com - View Single Post - Oil: Conventional vs. Synthetic Blend vs. Full Synthetic

MetroMPG · 10-16-2009, 11:15 PM

The secondary advantage of synthetics is more stable viscosity at low temperatures. Which in a cold climate translates into easier starts & better efficiency but only while the engine is coming up to normal operating temps. The actual fuel economy gain in that scenario would be tiny, though.

It's worth noting that no major motor oil company (that I know of) claims "improved fuel economy" as one of the benefits of its synth motor oils relative to the same weight non-synth.

10-16-2009, 11:15 PM	#3 (permalink)
MetroMPG Batman Junior Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada Posts: 22,534 Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro Team Metro Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US) MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata 90 day: 54.46 mpg (US) Appliance car Mirage - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base) 90 day: 57.73 mpg (US) Thanks: 4,082 Thanked 6,979 Times in 3,614 Posts	The secondary advantage of synthetics is more stable viscosity at low temperatures. Which in a cold climate translates into easier starts & better efficiency but only while the engine is coming up to normal operating temps. The actual fuel economy gain in that scenario would be tiny, though. It's worth noting that no major motor oil company (that I know of) claims "improved fuel economy" as one of the benefits of its synth motor oils relative to the same weight non-synth. __________________ Project MPGiata! Mods for getting 50+ MPG from a 1990 Miata Honda mods: Ecomodding my $800 Honda Fit 5-speed beater Mitsu mods: 70 MPG in my ecomodded, dirt cheap, 3-cylinder Mirage. Ecodriving test: Manual vs. automatic transmission MPG showdown EcoModder has launched a forum for the efficient new Mitsubishi Mirage www.MetroMPG.com - fuel efficiency info for Geo Metro owners www.ForkenSwift.com - electric car conversion on a beer budget