United States Air and Radiation EPA420-R-99-001
Environmental Protection January 1999
Agency
&EPA EPA Laboratory Evaluation of
PetroMoly HP Motor Oil
> Printed on Recycled Paper
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EPA Laboratory Evaluation of PetroMoly HP Motor Oil
EPA420-R-99-001 January 1999
Vehicle Programs Group
Vehicle Programs and Compliance Division
Office of Mobile Sources
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency
NOTICE
This technical report does not necessarily represent final EPA decisions or positions. It is
intended to present technical analysis of issues using data which are currently available.
The purpose in the release of such reports is to facilitate the exchange of technical information
and to inform the public of technical developments which may form the basis for a final EPA
decision, position, or regulatory action.
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EPA Laboratory Evaluation of PetroMoly HP Motor Oil
Introduction
This report describes EPA laboratory fuel economy and exhaust emission testing of PetroMoly
HP 5W-30 motor oil (hereafter, PetroMoly) at EPA's National Vehicle and Fuel Emissions
Laboratory (NVFEL) in Ann Arbor, Michigan. PetroMoly, a product of Worldwide PetroMoly
Corporation, is described in their Product Data Sheet as a high performance oil which, when used
as a replacement for a conventional motor oil, offers "Increased fuel economy up to 10%" and
"Reduced toxic emissions up to 60%" in addition to other claimed benefits. The testing reported
herein was volunteered and paid for by Worldwide PetroMoly Corporation.
Lubricants (i.e., motor oils) and lubricant additives are excluded from EPA testing under 40 CFR
Part 610.11. EPA engineers recognize that lubricants and lubricant additives have the potential to
impact fuel economy as measured in the FTP and HFET test protocols. EPA's Vehicle Programs
and Compliance Division (VPCD) agreed to test PetroMoly on one vehicle because evidence
from independent laboratory testing conducted on two vehicles exhibited a statistically
significant improvement in fuel economy of four to five percent in city driving and two to three
percent in highway driving (see the following documents in the Appendix: Application for EPA
Evaluation, Independent Test Lab Report, and Table A-l and Table A-2 for the EPA preliminary
analysis of the independent test laboratory data).
The conclusions drawn from EPA evaluation tests are necessarily of limited applicability. An all
encompassing evaluation of the effectiveness of a product in achieving performance
improvements on the many types of vehicles that are in actual use would require a large sample
of test vehicles. This is not economically feasible in the evaluation projects conducted by EPA.
Therefore, the conclusions from such tests can be considered to be quantitatively valid only for
the specific test cars used; however, it is reasonable to extrapolate the results from EPA tests to
other types of vehicles in a directional manner; i.e., to suggest that similar results are likely to be
achieved on other similar types of vehicles.
Test Program
The purpose of the EPA test program was to conduct a controlled technical evaluation of
PetroMoly in a manner that would address the manufacturer's specific claims for significant
improvements in fuel economy and reduction in emissions. An invitation was extended to
Worldwide PetroMoly Corporation to have a representative present for all phases of
maintenance and testing.
Among the product claims made by the manufacturer of PetroMoly the following were of the
greatest interest to EPA:
1. Increased fuel economy over conventional motor oils.
2. Reduce "toxic" emissions
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The confirmatory test plan developed by EPA (see Appendix document: Test Plan Agreement)
and agreed to by the manufacturer used a 1996 Chevrolet Lumina as a test vehicle. A description
of the test vehicle is as follows: Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) 2G1WL52M8T1162331,
Engine Family Code TGM3.1V8GFEK, 3.1 liter, with automatic transmission and 22,748 miles
on the odometer at the start of testing. The test vehicle was inspected and maintenance performed
identical to that employed on consumer owned vehicles in the VPCD in-use emissions program.
The vehicle was tuned to manufacturer's specifications, and any malfunctioning part was
replaced as necessary. Engine oil and filter change is included in the maintenance procedure. At
the time that this test program was performed, the laboratory was using 5W-30 commercial
engine oil made by Valvoline. Once the testing program was started, no adjustments were made
to the vehicle.
The test phases were:
1. Three Federal Test Procedure tests (FTP, the simulated city drive test) and three Highway Fuel
Economy Tests (FIFET) with the vehicle in stock configuration were performed to establish the
emissions and fuel economy characteristics prior to the installation of PetroMoly. No adjustments
were made to any engine components between tests.
2. After stock configuration testing with the recommended commercial weight oil (5W-30, in this
case Valvoline brand) was completed it was removed from the engine and the oil filter was
replaced with a new one, PetroMoly was added and triplicate FTP and FIFET tests were
conducted to measure emissions and fuel economy characteristics with PetroMoly in the engine.
No adjustments were made to any engine components between tests.
3. PetroMoly was removed after testing the product, the oil filter was replaced with a new one
and the recommended commercial weight oil (5W-30, in this case Valvoline brand) was added
prior to conducting another triplicate set of stock configuration tests. Again, no adjustments were
made to any engine components between tests.
Results
Use of PetroMoly in the single test vehicle demonstrated the following when compared directly
to the stock configuration test using a basic 5W-30 SAE motor oil as recommended by the
vehicle manufacturer:
There was a two percent improvement in fuel economy on the city drive test. On the city drive
test, there was a five percent increase in oxides of nitrogen (NOx), a nine percent reduction in
hydrocarbons (HC) and a ten percent reduction in carbon monoxide (CO) when compared to the
stock configuration test.
There was a three percent improvement in highway fuel economy.
After removing the PetroMoly and replacing it with the recommended commercial weight oil
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(5W-30, in this case Valvoline brand) as used in the first stock configuration test series, the three
additional returned to stock configuration tests showed three percent improvement in highway
fuel economy relative to the original tests with commercial engine oil. There was a one percent
improvement in city fuel economy compared to the first stock configuration test series. The
exhaust emissions were two, four and one percent lower for HC, NOx and CO respectively when
comparing the second stock configuration series with the first.
EPA used the same statistical analysis program for evaluating data results from independent
laboratory and EPA laboratory testing.
Complete consolidated results on emissions and fuel economy for each test along with the
average of each series are presented in Tables 1-3. Individual test bag results are to be found in
Table 4.
Conclusions
Data submitted in the application from independent (non EPA) laboratory testing of two different
vehicles demonstrated an improvement of four to five percent in the city driving test and two to
three percent in the highway driving test associated with PetroMoly. EPA analysis of these data
showed that the improvements were statistically significant. One of the two vehicles tested also
showed a thirteen percent reduction in oxides of nitrogen which was statistically significant.
There were no other statistically significant differences in emissions.
The three percent improvement in highway fuel economy and two percent improvement in city
fuel economy measured in the EPA confirmatory testing of PetroMoly were statistically
significant improvements for testing a single vehicle. The improvements in fuel economy appear
to be retained for at least some short period after PetroMoly is replaced with a commercial engine
oil. Testing performed by EPA does not allow quantifying the duration of this "carry-
over"period.
Although EPA testing showed reductions of nine percent and ten percent in hydrocarbon and
carbon monoxide exhaust emissions respectively, these changes were not statistically significant.
The five percent increase in oxides of nitrogen exhaust emissions measured in EPA testing when
PetroMoly was employed is a statistically significant difference.
Fuel economy improvements were measured, but were not as large as those measured by an
independent laboratory for Worldwide PetroMoly. With exception of NOx, changes in exhaust
emissions were not significant. On the vehicle tested by EPA a statistically significant NOx
penalty of five percent was measured. A statistically significant NOx reduction of thirteen
percent was measured on one of the two vehicles tested by an independent laboratory for
Worldwide PetroMoly.
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TABLE 1
PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil ~ Prior to Use of PetroMoly
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"City" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
"Highway" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
Commercial Engine Oil (Valvoline
5W30). Before use of PetroMoly
Test 1
0.1966
2.065
0.2292
23.02
38.50
Test 2
0.1713
1.933
0.2147
22.80
38.51
Test3
0.1785
2.067
0.2168
22.91
38.82
Average
0.1821
2.022
0.2202
22.91
38.61
PetroMoly
Test 1
0.1711
1.973
0.2365
23.77
40.05
Test 2
0.1667
1.854
0.2281
23.53
40.03
Test3
0.1606
1.661
0.2306
23.13
39.15
Average
0.1661
1.830
0.2318
23.48
39.74
Percent
Difference
-9
-10
+5
+2
+3
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
YES
YES
YES
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TABLE 2
PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil ~ After Use of PetroMoly
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"City" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
"Highway" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
PetroMoly
Test 1
0.1711
1.973
0.2365
23.77
40.05
Test 2
0.1667
1.854
0.2281
23.53
40.03
Test3
0.1606
1.661
0.2306
23.13
39.15
Average
0.1661
1.830
0.2318
23.48
39.74
Commercial Engine Oil (Valvoline
5W30). After use of PetroMoly
Test 1
0.1672
1.831
0.1900
23.23
39.50
Test 2
0.1621
1.809
0.2209
23.05
39.53
Test3
0.2039
2.379
0.2239
23.23
40.04
Average
0.1777
2.007
0.2116
23.17
39.69
Percent
Difference
-7
-9
+ 10
+1
0
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
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TABLE 3
Commercial Engine Oil, After Use of PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil, Prior to Use of PetroMoly
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"City" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
"Highway" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
Commercial Engine Oil (Valvoline
5W30). Before Use of PetroMoly
Test 1
0.1966
2.065
0.2292
23.02
38.50
Test 2
0.1713
1.933
0.2147
22.80
38.51
Test3
0.1785
2.067
0.2168
22.91
38.82
Average
0.1821
2.022
0.2202
22.91
38.61
Commercial Engine Oil (Valvoline
5W30). After Use of PetroMoly
Test 1
0.1672
1.831
0.1900
23.23
39.50
Test 2
0.1621
1.809
0.2209
23.05
39.53
Test3
0.2039
2.379
0.2239
23.23
40.04
Average
0.1777
2.007
0.2116
23.17
39.69
Percent
Difference
-2
-1
-4
+1
+3
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
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TABLE 4
INDIVIDUAL GAS BAG DATA FOR PETROMOLY FROM EPA LABORATORY TESTS
Test Test Bag 1 Bag 1 Bag 1 Bag 1
Date HC CO NOx FE
Bag 2 Bag 2 Bag 2 Bag 2
HC CO NOx FE
Bag 3 Bag 3 Bag 3 Bag 3
HC CO NOx FE
BL1-1 5/13/98
BL 1-2 5/14/98
BL1-3 5/15/98
PM-1 6/16/98
PM-2 6/17/98
PM-3 6/18/98
BL2-1 7/09/98
BL2-2 7/16/98
BL2-3 7/21/98
0.713
0.664
0.685
0.672
0.620
0.634
0.621
0.626
0.798
7.619
8.038
7.582
7.425
7.197
6.665
7.395
7.179
9.682
0.596
0.562
0.583
0.639
0.593
0.570
0.552
0.588
0.661
23.3
23.2
23.6
23.8
23.9
23.9
23.3
23.4
23.2
0.021
0.011
0.014
0.018
0.019
0.010
0.011
0.015
0.012
0.236
0.068
0.237
0.267
0.205
0.106
0.078
0.127
0.161
0.067
0.040
0.058
0.072
0.059
0.043
0.039
0.050
0.049
21.6
21.3
21.3
21.9
21.9
21.4
21.6
21.4
21.6
0.138
0.103
0.107
0.083
0.104
0.087
0.119
0.089
0.117
1.326
0.849
1.358
1.085
0.947
0.820
0.936
0.926
1.048
0.259
0.282
0.240
0.245
0.272
0.328
0.200
0.266
0.223
26.1
26.0
26.0
28.4
27.0
26.5
26.8
26.6
27.1
FTP FTP FTP FTP
HC CO NOx FE
0.197 2.065 0.229 23.0
0.171 1.933 0.215 22.8
0.178 2.067 0.217 22.9
0.171 1.973 0.236 23.8
0.167 1.854 0.228 23.5
0.161 1.661 0.231 23.1
0.167 1.831 0.190 23.2
0.162 1.809 0.221 23.1
0.204 2.379 0.224 23.2
HFE HFE HFE Final
HC CO NOx HFE
0.009 0.194 0.124 38.5
0.010 0.160 0.156 38.5
0.011 0.243 0.152 38.8
0.014 0.205 0.122 40.1
0.014 0.264 0.115 40.0
0.016 0.278 0.108 39.1
0.017 0.264 0.090 39.5
0.010 0.166 0.120 39.5
0.014 0.260 0.100 40.0
HC = Hydrocarbons, grams per mile
NOx = Oxides of nitrogen, grams per mile
CO = Carbon monoxide, grams per mile
FE = City fuel economy, miles per gallon
BL 1 = Baseline
PM = With PetroMoly installed
BL 2 = Baseline after removal of PetroMoly
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APPENDIX
1. Application for EPA Evaluation
2. EPA Analysis of Independent Laboratory Test Data, FTP (city drive test), Table A-l
3. EPA Analysis of Independent Laboratory Test Data, FTP (highway drive test), Table A-2
4. Independent Test Lab Report (Environmental Research &Development Corp.)
5. Test Plan Agreement
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TABLE A-l
Statistical Analysis of Independent Test Lab Data on PetroMoly Oil Using FTP (simulated city driving)
PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil- Independent Lab Test Vehicle 1
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"City" Fuel Economy
(mpg)
Commercial Engine Oil
Before use of PetroMoly
Testl
0.1421
1.9638
0.2549
20.33
Test 2
0.1584
2.3838
0.2325
20.26
Test3
0.1638
2.4890
0.2451
20.15
Average
0.1548
2.2789
0.2442
20.25
PetroMoly
Testl
0.1470
1.8812
0.2109
21.07
Test 2
0.1700
2.4157
0.2119
21.12
Test3
0.1825
2.7616
0.2121
21.14
Average
0.1665
2.3528
0.2116
21.11
Percent
Difference
+8
+3
-13
+4
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
YES
YES
PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil- Independent Lab Test Vehicle 2
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"City" Fuel Economy
(mpg)
Commercial Engine Oil
Before use of PetroMoly
Testl
0.1353
1.5538
0.1757
19.88
Test 2
0.1426
1.8295
0.1816
19.20
Test3
0.1651
1.6475
0.1836
19.86
Average
0.1477
1.6769
0.1803
19.65
PetroMoly
Testl
0.1251
1.3385
0.1688
20.78
Test 2
0.1462
1.8334
0.1888
20.87
Test3
0.1595
2.0420
0.1710
20.23
Average
0.1436
1.7380
0.1762
20.63
Percent
Difference
-3
+4
-2
+5
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
NO
YES
Vehicle 1 was a 1997 Dodge Stratus, 2.4 liter, Engine Family VCR2.4VJGKEK, VTN 1B3EJ46X1VN676211, with 8133 on the odometer miles at the start of the tests.
Vehicle 2 was a 1997 Dodge Stratus, 2.4 liter, Engine Family VCR2.4VJGKEK, VTN 1B3EJ46XOVN706007, with 3039 miles on the odometer at the start of the tests.
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TABLE A-2
Statistical Analysis of Independent Test Lab Data on PetroMoly Oil Using HFET (simulated highway driving)
PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil- Independent Lab Test Vehicle 1
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"Highway" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
Commercial Engine Oil
Before use of PetroMoly
Testl
0.1149
2.6632
0.1506
35.21
Test 2
0.1275
3.0881
0.1673
35.11
Test3
0.1158
2.7715
0.1498
35.18
Average
0.1194
2.8409
0.1559
35.17
PetroMoly
Testl
0.1216
2.943
0.1463
35.86
Test 2
0.1267
3.157
0.1589
35.80
Test3
0.1189
2.8865
0.1535
36.01
Average
0.1224
2.9955
0.1529
35.89
Percent
Difference
+3
+5
-2
+2
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
NO
YES
PetroMoly vs Commercial Engine Oil- Independent Lab Test Vehicle 2
Pollutant/ Fuel
Economy
HC (g/mile)
CO (g/mile)
NOx (g/mile)
"Highway" Fuel
Economy (mpg)
Commercial Engine Oil
Before use of PetroMoly
Testl
0.0942
1.4630
0.0451
34.83
Test 2
0.0843
1.4799
0.0565
34.12
Test3
0.1002
1.7029
0.0561
34.73
Average
0.0929
1.5486
0.0526
34.56
PetroMoly
Testl
0.098
1.7103
0.0560
35.88
Test 2
0.089
No Data
0.0511
35.77
Test3
0.088
1.7583
0.0598
35.27
Average
0.092
1.7343
0.0556
35.64
Percent
Difference
-1
+12
+6
+3
Statistically
Significant
NO
NO
NO
YES
Vehicle 1 was a 1997 Dodge Stratus, 2.4 liter, Engine Family VCR2.4VJGKEK, VTN 1B3EJ46X1VN676211, with 8133 on the odometer miles at the start of the tests.
Vehicle 2 was a 1997 Dodge Stratus, 2.4 liter, Engine Family VCR2.4VJGKEK, VTN 1B3EJ46XOVN706007, with 3039 miles on the odometer at the start of the tests.
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