Although the American Petroleum Institute rolled out the high-performance FA-4 oil category for heavy-duty engines five years ago, there have been fewer than expected takers in the trucking industry.
The low-viscosity lubricant has reportedly demonstrated an ability to produce 2-percent fuel economy benefits. Given the rising price at the pump for diesel, it may be an opportune time for fleet outfits and owner-operators to rethink their oil choices.
It’s essential to keep in mind that FA-4 engine oils are designed to deliver enhanced benefits to newer model trucks. For oil testing purposes, this involves commercial motor vehicles with engines newer than 2010. Those semis have been widely purchased at an increased rate at least since 2016.
Lubrizol rolled out a version of FA-4 in 2016 with the understanding it would be compatible with newly-minted engines. Daimler Trucks North America officials indicated, at the time, that its factories would adopt the lubricant, and vehicles dating back to 2010 were suitable for FA-4 use.
“We’re committed to providing our customers with every opportunity to improve their real cost of ownership,” Daimler’s Greg Braziunas reportedly said. “And using a low-viscosity oil furthers this cause.”
Boaty’s Transport CEO Michael Boatwright indicated that the Georgia fleet used FA-4 oil products in its Freightliner fleet during 2013. The DD13 engines enjoyed a 0.15 MPG fuel efficiency increase that added up to a cost improvement of 2.3 percent. Those and other benefits may be why Phillips 66 and Kendall brought FA-4 products to market a few years back.
“Phillips 66 is committed to developing oils that support OEMs’ advanced technology and modern engine design, reduce emissions and offer performance benefits to fleets,” Shawn Ewing reportedly said of the products. “We’ve spent the past four years testing and formulating these four new products to ensure they meet and exceed specifications from the major OEMs.”
The motor oil producer indicated that fuel economy proved significant after four years of testing its version of FA-4 products. According to the company, Class 8 rigs using FA-4 5W-30 Phillips 66 Triton FE and Kendall SHP FE enjoyed a 2 percent improvement, and Ford Transit Class 6 vehicles presented a 3-percent uptick when using FA-4 5W-30. According to a joint study conducted by the North American Council for Freight Efficiency and Carbon War Room, widespread agreement about fuel efficiency was reached.
The groups published a Confidence Report: Low-Viscosity Engine Lubricants analysis that reportedly states: “Class 8 over-the-road fleets can realistically expect fuel savings in the range of 0.5 percent to 1.5 percent by switching from 15W-40 to 5W/10W-30 engine oil.”
Some estimate that fuel expenses account for upwards of 24 percent of a fleet’s per-mile costs. Given that diesel recently hit a 13-year-high, truckers would be well-served to leverage every cost-lowering strategy available.
Sources: ccjdigital.com, fleetequipmentmag.com
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