Tata Motors says synthetic engine oil a more sustainable option

Tata Motors, India’s largest commercial vehicle manufacturer, announced the launch of its SAE 5W-30 synthetic engine oil, formulated with Group III base oil and advanced additive technology, developed specially to boost the performance of its new-generation Bharat Stage 6 (BS6) diesel engines and to reduce the carbon footprint of its traditional vehicles running on fossil fuels.

The new synthetic engine oil has been extensively tested in varied and stringent conditions for more than three years, accumulating more than one million kilometres in challenging terrains, according to Tata Motors. In addition, the synthetic engine oil clocked more than 35,000 hours at Tata Motors’ powertrain testing facilities. 

“Sustainability today has evolved from being just a niche engagement to an absolute necessity. It forms the core of everything we develop at Tata Motors. An effective and efficient engine oil is one of the most convenient and cost-effective ways of reducing a vehicle’s carbon emissions. The cumulative impact of such simple measures judiciously taken across all commercial vehicles plying on roads will result in an exponential improvement in carbon footprint reduction. Our team at the Engineering Research Centre (ERC) has been co-engineering and developing lubricant formulations in-house, while closely working with strategic partners from the field of additive manufacturing. This has enabled us to traverse all unexplored innovative paths and this product is an outcome of such an approach,” said Rajendra Petkar, president  and chief technology officer, Tata Motors.

Global priorities are now increasingly anchored around environmental, social, and governance (ESG) factors. With its commitment to reduce emissions intensity of its gross domestic product (GDP) by 45% by 2030, from 2005 levels, India has also made reduction in carbon footprint a national priority.

Tata Motors too has embarked on its journey of defining ESG aspirations with a view of holistic sustainability. The introduction of a synthetic engine oil is a step forward by helping improve vehicle fuel economy, prolong oil drain intervals and extending the life of the oil, thus conserving resources, and enhanced engine wear protection, resulting in reduced carbon footprint of its vehicles.

Tata Motors has been spearheading technology changes across the automobile industry in India through its stewardship in the areas of efficiency improvements, alternative and new energy paradigms, safety, digitalization and in-cabin experiences through connected vehicle technologies and a host of other value enhancers. All of these are glued together to institutionalise sustainable practices in every aspect of its business of developing innovative mobility solutions.