Tom F&L GoR
Enthusiast
The technical societies are working on the next engine oil category, currently called GF-5, to be introduced in July 2009. An additive company participant calculated that the expected 0.5% fuel savings over the 5 year expected life span of the category is 650 million gallons of gasoline.
650,000,000 gallons x $3.00 per gallon = $1,950,000,000
over the 5 years that is $390,000,000 per year
and over 250,000,000 vehicles, it comes to saving $1.56 per car per year (if every car in the US used this new oil).
And since the consumer buys the oil, you wonder if this really worth it. Maybe a slightly smaller engine, slightly lighter car, slightly more aero design might be a better idea. But instead the OEMs will push an even thinner, expensive oil into the car fleet that now averages over 8 years old. Geez.
650,000,000 gallons x $3.00 per gallon = $1,950,000,000
over the 5 years that is $390,000,000 per year
and over 250,000,000 vehicles, it comes to saving $1.56 per car per year (if every car in the US used this new oil).
And since the consumer buys the oil, you wonder if this really worth it. Maybe a slightly smaller engine, slightly lighter car, slightly more aero design might be a better idea. But instead the OEMs will push an even thinner, expensive oil into the car fleet that now averages over 8 years old. Geez.
