The first 5W-30 fully synthetic diesel engine oil with CH-4 certification, Castrol Elixion will improve fuel economy, reduce oil consumption, allow extended drain intervals and reduce engine wear, according to the manufacturer Castrol Heavy Duty Lubricants Inc. Fuel-economy gains are particularly strong for waste hauling and other stop-and-go applications, averaging 2 to 3% in field tests, the company says.

To back up Elixion fuel economy claims, Castrol has also launched SynStat, a fuel-economy comparison program run by independent fleet performance specialists. The tests are run over an 8- to 12-week period with fleet equipment, generating an accurate fuel-economy comparison of the fleet's usual oil and the new 5W-30 synthetic.

Fleets moving to Elixion will also be offered Castol Labcheck oil diagnostic monitoring free of charge for one year, the company says.

In addition to meeting the new CH-4 standards for diesels with cooled EGR technology, Elixion 5W-30 meets or exceeds the new Cummins, Mack, Volvo, Mercedes Benz and other OEM standards.

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