How using the right lubricants can help improve fuel efficiency

The right lubricants help keep your equipment running smoothly and helps reduce the need for maintenance and downtime. But there’s another key benefit that often flies under the radar: improved fuel economy. When fuel costs are high, fleet managers look for new ways to save–and the right lubricants can pay off big time.

 Where do lubricants come in?

It’s simple: lubricants reduce friction. Lower friction means higher economy, which translates to better fuel economy. Compared to a mineral lubricant, synthetic lubricants lower friction due to two key properties: a higher viscosity index and a lower traction coefficient.

 A higher viscosity index means relatively less change in viscosity as temperature changes. Synthetic lubricants offer less resistance to flow at lower temperatures and increased film strength at higher temperatures, both of which help reduce friction and improve fuel economy.

 Synthetics are often formulated from higher quality base stocks that have a lower traction co-efficient compared to a mineral lubricant. A lower traction co-efficient translates to lower friction, leading to better fuel efficiency.

 As engine friction goes down, fuel efficiency goes up.