How do synthetic oils reduce vehicle emissions?

You may be thinking that the only way for synthetic oil to reduce vehicle emissions is if the engine is consuming oil because it needs a rebuild: Not so emissions related to green house gases are far more complex than that.

Currently the EU emissions regulations require manufacturers to meet 120g/ km travelled. This is not only linked to how clean the engine burns
but also how much fuel the engine burns. In other words fuel consumption is critical when looking at vehicle emissions.

Synthetic oils can reduce vehicle emissions by reducing fuel consumption.

Many later vehicles use low viscosity engine oils to reduce fuel use, lower emissions and improve engine responsiveness. Its common to find synthetic oils such as 0W 20 or 5W 30 specified for even run-of-the-mill later model vehicles.

However producing oils of low viscosity that provide the necessary engine protection and minimal oil consumption levels presents certain technical difficulties.

Where a low viscosity oil is recommended by a vehicle manufacturer to derive the fuel efficiency benefits, this oil must be the prime recommendation for the engine. The maker isn’t permitted to produce a claimed fuel consumption figure using one grade of oil and then specify a different oil grade for service.

Because synthetic oil is thermally more stable than crude based oils it’s possible to use a thinner (Lower viscosity number) oil (Whether engine oil or gear oil) without compromising the lubrication or durability of the vehicle.

Lower viscosity oil means that there’s less “drag” to overcome during operation, meaning that the efficiencies are higher and performance is improved. This reduction in losses by using synthetic oils to reduce vehicle emissions equates to an improvement in fuel consumption.

This has an even greater effect when the vehicle is cold and the oil is thick: Regular engine and gear oils are more viscous than similar synthetic oils when cold. However because the engine is on the warm up phase it’s already running rich and the extra drag results in an exponential increase in fuel consumption and therefore emissions.
Caution! Use of these low viscosity oils in older model engines, and engines not specifically designed for such oils, may result in oil consumption and engine durability problems.

The vehicle owners handbook should always be consulted to determine the correct oil specifications for the vehicle. Major lubricant makers technical help-desks and web sites are helpful also.

Synthetic oils reduce vehicle emissions by decreasing the amount of oil burnt.

In an engine the lubricant is in a precarious position: It has to lubricate the moving parts surrounding the combustion process, and in so doing is exposed to high temperatures and pressures. Under these circumstances it’s quite normal for some oil to be squeezed past the piston rings and end up being burnt before exiting the exhaust pipe. This is a direct contributor to exhaust emissions.

Good synthetic oils reduce vehicle emissions by being stable at high temperatures (Espescially those using synthetic base oils) and pressures thereby remaining viscous enough not to be squeezed past the rings.

In this case older vehicles which are beginning to show signs of cylinder liner/ piston wear may well find a significant improvement by switching to synthetic oils to reduce vehicle emissions. For more information on how synthetic oils can save you money in a green environment contact Habot Synthetic Lubricants and speak to one of our professionals.