What Do Fleet Owners Need to Know About Oil Grades?
Fleet owners need to understand oil grades because they directly affects the durability and fuel efficiency of their engines. Oil grade is determined by its viscosity, which refers to a substance's ability to flow. For motor oil, oil grades can tell which motor oils will function best at certain temperatures. For example, a high viscosity indicates the oil is thicker and is ideal for warmer temperatures; in contrast, a thin oil flows easily in colder temperatures. There are also multi-grade oils such as SAE 5W and 10W-30 that can perform at both high and low temperatures. These multi-viscosity oils are great for trucks that may be traveling long distances from one climate to another. For more about oil viscosity and how grades are determined, see oil viscosity.How does oil viscosity affect fuel efficiency?
High-viscosity oils help large diesel engines withstand heavy loads and wear and tear. However, these oils require a lot of energy to pump, which uses up fuel. And as emissions regulations tighten, trucks also need lubricants with minimal amount of sulfur by-product. With diesel prices on the rise, considering the fuel economy of your fleet is becoming more important.Chevron has been testing lower viscosity oils on multiple engine types in various environments. They've found that switching from a 15W-40 to a 10W-30 oil increases fuel efficiency without sacrificing performance. For more information about these tests, see Chevron’s Key Considerations for Shifting to a Lower Viscosity Oil.