Artigo Completo:

The global focus on fuel economy is driven by high fuel prices and the desire to reduce pollution from automotive emissions. This is reflected in continued worldwide legislated decreases in fleet average fuel consumption per mile as well as in greenhouse gas emissions per driven mile. In Brazil, the Inovar-Auto program requires automakers to improve their corporate average vehicle efficiency for new light duty vehicles (LDV) by about 12% from 2012 levels by October 2017 to qualify for significant tax breaks. The target was based on Europe’s 2015 target for new LDVs of 130 g CO2/km, and adapted to Brazil based on regional differences. These ever-tightening requirements pose a significant challenge for original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) and lubricant formulators. The engine lubricant plays a significant role in reduction of frictional losses and thus fuel consumption, as well as in engine protection from wear. Various additive components in the lubricant are designed for friction reduction in different lubrication regimes thus minimizing the overall friction and resulting in optimal fuel economy. In this paper we demonstrate the fuel economy that lubricant additives as well as lubricant viscosity and viscometric profile can provide while maintaining excellent engine protection.