Some Effects of Motor Oils and Additives on Engine Fuel Consumption

MANY rather intriguing claims have been made about reduction of engine friction and increase of power and fuel economy through the use of certain types of motor oils and motor-oil additives.

However, this paper shows that engine fuel-consumption measurements to determine the effects of different oils and oil treatments indicate that the only significant property of the engine lubricant relating to engine power, friction, and fuel economy is viscosity. The data also indicate that the “engine viscosities” of some motor oils may be somewhat different from their “laboratory viscosities” as measured in conventional Saybolt or Kinematic viscosimeters.