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Old 01-08-2008, 09:44 AM   #3 (permalink)
MetroMPG
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Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: 1000 Islands, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 22,513

Blackfly - '98 Geo Metro
Team Metro
Last 3: 70.09 mpg (US)

MPGiata - '90 Mazda Miata
90 day: 52.71 mpg (US)

Even Fancier Metro - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage top spec
90 day: 70.75 mpg (US)

Appliance car - '14 Mitsubishi Mirage ES (base)
90 day: 60.16 mpg (US)
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Synthetics will outperform non-synthetics at low temperatures while the machinery is warming up to normal operating temperature. So there would be an efficiency improvement during that time vs. regular mineral oils that don't have the same stability. Though, I'm with Daox and would say the improvement (comparing the same weight oil) would be hard to detect.

You'll also note that none of the major auto lubricant makers claims efficiency improvements in their marketing by going to synthetics (of the same weight).

My opinion is that synth is worth pursuing (for a fractional efficiency gain) if you live in a cold climate, or if you normally only do very short trips.

You're more likely to get an improvement in efficiency by switching to the lowest viscosity lubricant that you can safely use in your application. See: Effect of gear oil viscosity on transmission efficiency (Metro owners take note)
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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
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