energy efficiency – one quart at a time

April 3, 2008

Mobil 1 AFE can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent versus motor oils most commonly used.*

With gasoline prices at record highs, consumers are no doubt increasingly focused on making every gallon count. And with the risks from climate change high on the public agenda, it is important we reduce greenhouse gas emissions, too.

Improving the efficiency of the vehicles people drive is one way to do so. By enabling cars and trucks to travel farther on a gallon of fuel, drivers not only spend less money per mile, they also emit less carbon dioxide (CO₂) per mile.

Many might be surprised to learn that most internal-combustion engines fueled by gasoline are only about 15 percent efficient. In other words, only about one-seventh of the energy from the fuel actually powers the car. The rest is lost to engine and driveline inefficiencies, idling, and internal friction of the engine parts. Clearly, there is room for improvement.

What can an energy company do to help make the vehicles we drive more fuel-efficient? At ExxonMobil, we have developed new lightweight plastics that have helped reduce the weight of automobiles by about 10 percent, resulting in improved fuel economy. We have also introduced a new tire lining technology that make tires lighter and keeps them properly inflated longer, which also saves gasoline. And working with leading automobile and engine manufacturers, ExxonMobil is researching ways of making internal combustion engines significantly more efficient.

Another ExxonMobil advancement now available is Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy (AFE), a lower viscosity synthetic motor oil. Mobil 1 AFE builds on a 30-year tradition of providing outstanding engine protection, while at the same time providing the better fuel economy that comes with lower viscosity, since less energy is required to circulate the oil in the engine. That leaves more energy to drive your car forward.

And it also helps reduce emissions. Mobil 1 AFE can improve fuel economy by up to 2 percent versus motor oils most commonly used.* That may not seem like much, but if one-third of U.S. motorists reduced their gasoline consumption by 2 percent, almost 1 billion gallons of gasoline and 8 million tons of CO₂ emissions would be saved every year. This would be equivalent to taking around 1.5 million cars off the road.  

Using energy more efficiently and reducing emissions are goals we all share. Advances like Mobil 1 AFE can help us achieve them.

 

*Actual savings are dependent upon vehicle/engine type, outside temperature, driving conditions, and your current engine oil viscosity.