AUTOMOTIVE HDDO
Rethinking lubrication:
How lubricant technology is engineered to reduce heavy-duty trucking’s emissions
Andrew Gibson, Global Sector Marketing Manager, Shell
To remain competitive in what is an increasingly dynamic environment, fleet operators must keep their finger on the pulse when it comes to new technologies, competitors, vehicle models or regulations. While it may be tempting to solely focus on basic operational costs, these areas all in fact contribute to the reduction of most fleets’ largest operating cost: fuel.
With fuel costs comprising approximately 55% of total cost of ownership (TCO), improving fuel efficiency can directly improve fleet competitiveness.1
Or, put another way, any component that
is overlooked or undervalued as part of this equation can, over time, become a huge, missed opportunity. And with margins for error shrinking, only those that identify and then act quickly on these developments are likely to pull ahead.
Why lubrication is a critical fleet component Fleet operators today need to think of lubrication as more than just an operational necessity because it’s a valuable efficiency driver. Your choice of lubricant can have an instant effect on fuel economy. But to switch from viewing lubrication as a financial outlay to seeing it as a fuel efficiency opportunity, it can be helpful to understand the science behind this impact.
The energy required for your engine to push lubricant through the system has a substantial say in how efficient your vehicle’s total operation can be. For example, if this process is difficult for the engine,
less energy is available to drive the truck along the road, increasing fuel consumption and the associated emissions. On the other hand, if the engine is not forced to expend so much energy in pushing the lubricant out, then the opposite is true. The energy required for your engine to push lubricant through the system directly affects your vehicle’s performance.
So, what makes a lubricant easier for the engine to deal with? The short answer is viscosity – the lubricant’s resistance to flow. Ultimately, the thicker a fluid, the greater resistance experienced within the
1 North American Council for Freight Efficiency. “2022 Annual Fleet Fuel Study.” 2022.
LUBE MAGAZINE NO.189 OCTOBER 2025
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