Breaking the Cycle: Lubricants as a Key Driver of Emissions Reduction and Fuel Savings
In today’s dynamic transportation industry, fleet operators face mounting pressure to stay competitive amid tightening emissions regulations, evolving vehicle technologies, and rising fuel costs. With fuel accounting for approximately 55% of a fleet’s total cost of ownership, every decision that impacts efficiency matters. In her recent article, “Breaking the Cycle: How Lubricant Technology Helps Reduce Heavy-Duty Truck Emissions,” Karin Haumann, OEM Technical Manager at Shell Global Solutions, explains how something as routine as an oil change can yield meaningful operational and environmental gains.
Haumann argues that lubricant choice is often an overlooked opportunity for fleets striving to reduce costs and emissions. While traditionally seen as a necessary expense, modern lubricants, especially full synthetic and synthetic blend engine oils, can deliver significant fuel efficiency benefits when chosen with care. The science is simple: the engine uses energy to circulate oil through the system. If the lubricant is thick or offers high resistance (viscosity), more fuel is consumed just to maintain operation. In contrast, lower-viscosity lubricants reduce friction and energy loss, freeing up more power to drive the vehicle and, in turn, improving fuel economy.
These incremental gains have an outsized impact on emissions, especially in heavy-duty trucking. Despite representing just 1% of global vehicles, heavy-duty trucks contribute 25% of road-related emissions. And while much of the public discussion around emissions centers on CO₂, the trucking industry is also under increasing scrutiny for particulate matter (PM) and nitrogen oxides (NOx), which are factored into global emissions standards. Because fuel consumption is directly linked to CO₂ output, choosing a high-performing lubricant becomes a critical tool in reducing a fleet’s environmental footprint.
Haumann emphasizes that not all low-viscosity oils are created equal. While producing a thin oil is relatively easy, ensuring it maintains durability and engine protection throughout its service life is a more complex engineering challenge. That’s why OEMs are partnering with leading lubricant manufacturers—like Shell—to co-develop products that meet both the mechanical demands of modern engines and the regulatory push for lower emissions.
Read the full article here: Maximize Fleet Efficiency: The Crucial Role of Lubrication in Reducing Fuel Costs and Emissions