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Truck and van engines are becoming more complex as every
Page 41
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stage of the EU's emissions regulations is implemented. And it's not Kist engines that are being developed; the oils and lubricants that keep the power plants running are undergoing their own transformation as the shift towards greener LCVs and HGVs gathers momentum.
So how is the next generation of engine oils going to reduce operating costs? Marc Lawn, head of marketing for Castrol Europe and Africa, says: -For an engine oil to improve economy, it needs to have the right formulation. The correct oil will reduce friction on the moving parts and this will improve efficiency as the engine is working at its optimal temperature with little or no resistance
Castrol's latest synthetic product. called Elixion, is a low-viscosity, 5W-30 engine oil that is claimed to improve fuel consumption by up to 4%, while lowering oil consumption by 10%.
For some, these figures sound a little optimistic, especially when you consider the governmentcommissioned report from consultancy Ricardo into low-carbon technologies for HGVs. which says low-viscosity oil can really only achieve a maximum fuel saving of up to 1.5% Lawn adds: "Castrol oils have been extensively tested in labs as well as in controlled conditions. Along with that, we've also tested them in the real world. A prime example being the test we did with Austrian haulage firm Konig Transporte."
Improved consumption
The company, which operates throughout the Continent and the UK, drained the oil from 28 of its tractor units and topped them up with Castro] Elixion. Over a nine-month period, Konig reported a 2.2% improvement in fuel consumption compared with the 10W-40 lubricant it had been using Furthermore, Lawn says that Castro' also benefits from strategic partnerships with original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) such as MAN and Scania. He says. "Our engineers are continually working with OEMs in developing engine oils that meet legislative constraints and more stringent performance criteria."
However, operators on a full repair and maintenance contract don't usually request a specific brand or viscosity of engine lubricant — if it is approved by the manufacturer, that is what usually gets used.
But an engine oil's job is not simply lubrication, it has a range of other tasks to perform, such as cleaning the engine. Lawn says: "Elixion, for instance, can be used on any commercial vehicle and it will work just as well on a new engine as it does on an older one. The oil has to clean the engine and minimise sludge deposits and soot build-ups to ensure everything moves freely'