Does engine oil affect fuel consumption increase?
2 Answers
Engine oil affects fuel consumption. It provides good lubrication for the engine, reducing friction, cleaning, cushioning, and sealing. Poor lubrication: If the engine oil provides poor lubrication, it will increase the engine's movement resistance, leading to higher fuel consumption. Therefore, engine oil not only affects fuel consumption but also the engine's lifespan. It is recommended to change the engine oil every 5,000 kilometers. Long-term use of engine oil: After prolonged use, engine oil gradually deteriorates, reducing viscosity and lubrication efficiency, which increases friction. Over time, this causes severe engine wear, enlarging the gaps between moving parts. As a result, the engine may produce abnormal noises, which grow louder with increasing wear.
Engine oil can indeed affect increased fuel consumption. Through my long-term research in automotive technology, I've observed that the key factor is the oil's viscosity grade. If your engine oil is too thick—for instance, using a high-viscosity SAE 10W-40 instead of the manufacturer-recommended 0W-20—the engine will encounter more frictional resistance during operation, requiring more fuel to maintain speed. This is especially true during cold starts, where thicker oil's poor flowability forces the engine to work harder, leading to additional consumption. Additionally, when engine oil degrades or is of poor quality, its lubricating performance declines, similarly driving up fuel consumption. I always recommend selecting the correct viscosity as specified in the vehicle's manual and using full synthetic oil to enhance efficiency. Regularly checking the oil's condition is also crucial, such as changing it every 5,000 kilometers, which not only reduces fuel consumption but also protects the engine from wear.
