The development of new lubricants continues at full speed. LIQUI MOLY is launching its thinnest motor oil to date on the market with the Special Tec AA 0W-8. “It offers the absolute maximum in fuel savings and at the same time comprehensive protection for the engine,” says Oliver Kuhn. He is Deputy Head of the Oil Laboratory at LIQUI MOLY.
LIQUI MOLY Special Tec AA 0W-8 meets the latest JASO GLV-1 standard, as required for hybrid models from Mazda and Toyota. The abbreviation AA in the product name indicates the vehicles. It stands for Asia & America. “The Japanese car manufacturers have always been very open to fuel economy. That was the driving force behind low-viscosity oils, starting with 0W-20,” says Oliver Kuhn. These viscosities are only possible for gasoline engines, which is why the land of the rising sun always played a pioneering role in the development of these special motor oils. This is also the case with hybrid-powered cars.
Modern engines require ever more modern motor oil, which is why the industry invests a great deal of development work in this area. Hybrids have special requirements in terms of motor oil. Oliver Kuhn knows that, although these units are smaller, they are not subject to less stress, but rather more: “Such an engine often has to cope with high revs from a standstill, i.e. when cold. This opens the door for water entry. Oxidation resistance as well as heat and corrosion protection are additional parameters that are incorporated into lubricant development. As a result, the choice of additives becomes more difficult, as does the selection of the base oil. Consistently highest quality is a basic requirement; the margin for tolerances is extremely small.” A comparison with high-performance sport suggests itself: In the competition of top athletes, the one who does all the little things right, too, has the edge.
Development outlook: “0W-8 is currently the lowest viscosity class,” says the LIQUI MOLY expert. “It would be possible to go even lower, but the effort required would be immensely high. In 2015, the viscosity grades were extended downward to 0W-16 /-12 /-8 by the ‘Society of Automotive Engineers’ (SAE). Correspondence in the API was not possible. This is why the ILSAC GF-6B standard was defined, which currently only extends to SAE 0W-16.” At the same time, the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) developed a new specification for extra low-viscosity oils called JASO GLV-1 (Gasoline Low Viscosity). It is the currently valid standard.
Incidentally, there is great demand for the new LIQUI MOLY Special Tec AA 0W-8 in Europe. Toyota specifies an oil with maximum fuel savings in the vehicle manual. For this reason, workshops and brands are eagerly awaiting the fuel-efficiency champion.
