Does synthetic oil really improve gas mileage?

[TheJMan]

Just wondering, because I've seen a few topics claiming that synthetic oil improves gas mileage. Is this true? One more question, is it safe to run 0W-30 in my 93 Explorer?

 

[Jason_25]

Ford recommends 10W-30 in the OHV last time I checked. Why go against what they have to say?

And I would not purchase synthetic oil solely for the reason of getting better gas mileage. There will not be a noticeable increase in gas mileage. The only way to see a real gas mileage increase is make sure your engine is tuned up, your tranny is serviced regularly, and make sure that your tires/axles/hubs/wheel bearings are not causing any unnecessary drag.

 

[lo_jack]

It could be possible, but the most important thing that synthetic does is not heat up very well. This is important for many reasons, but the main one is reducing wear on the moving parts. It is concievable that at a minute level, the reduction of friction gained by synthetic will yeild power and milage. The worst enemy of internal combustion engines is heat because it wears them out and heat is responsible for the loss of a majority of the power produced in the internal combustion process. I run synthetic in my X, but mostly so it wont run so hot, and so i dont burn the bearings and valves.

 

[2001ExpSport]

Plain and simple...NO

 

[Magicfan25]

Sythetic doesnt break down on the molecular level like dyno goo, thats why it lasts longer. It heats up just the same, but it wont break down the way regular oil will.

As for gas mileage, not enough to notice in our applications really. However Ive seen some pretty convincing heavy truck (class 7/8 diesel) get a slight improvement. Its very small, like less than a MPG. But in a fleet that adds up in a hurry. Think about this, our fleet of 40 trucks (comprised of Mack front end loaders and roll offs) go through 32000 gallons of diesel EVERY MONTH. That 3/10 of a mile adds up.

6 x 32000 = 192000
6.3 x 32000 = 201600
9600 miles extra, saving 1600 gallons. (adds up to approx $2800!!!!!)

Im a math retard, so feel free to correct that if I fudged up. (6mpg is a guestimate, may be slightly more or less)

 

[MONMIX]

My average miles per tank did infact increase slightly.

Three or four more, based on an average.

Not a lot but I'll take waht I can get.

 

[Hokie]

Originally posted by MONMIX
Three or four more, based on an average.

Three or four more what? MPG? that would be a crazy difference!

EDIT: 3 or 4 more miles per tank?

 

[aldive]

The use of synthetics will definately improve gas mileage.

 

[FLYIN 5.0]

I RAN MOBIL1 IN MY RANGER FOR YEARS. NEVER NOTICED AN INCREASE WHEN I SWITCHED OVER FROM THE DINO STUFF. BUT AND THIS IS A BIG BUT. I JUST SOLD IT WITH 250,000 MILES ON IT AND IT STILL RAN STRONG AND PASSED SMOG WITH NO PROBLEMS.
THE ENGINE HAD NOTHING BUT TUNE-UPS DONE TO IT.

 

[Slick Rick]

I think it does, but a whole slue of other things have to be done right(I.E. driving style, traffic [ if applicable ] , and weather) in order to get the benefits of better fuel economy.


The main reason to get synthetic is to make you motor last forever, and that you wouldn't have to change the oil as frequently. Amsoil for example claims that you could go with out an oil change for 25000 miles. However, you have to change the oil filter every 3000 miles, and top up the fluid whenever it starts to run low. Good Luck!

 

[MONMIX]

Originally posted by HokieBert
Three or four more what? MPG? that would be a crazy difference!

EDIT: 3 or 4 more miles per tank?

Yeah it was per tank.

Heck, I'll take what ever I can get !!!!