LIQUI MOLY launches low-viscosity oil for Mazda and Toyota hybrids

LIQUI MOLY has launched its thinnest motor oil yet, the Special Tec AA 0W-8. This low-viscosity premium motor oil is designed to offer maximum fuel efficiency and comprehensive engine protection, the German lubricant manufacturer said.

The new oil meets the latest JASO GLV-1 standard, required for hybrid models from Japanese automakers Mazda and Toyota. 

“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, deputy head of the Oil Laboratory at LIQUI MOLY.

Though hybrid engines are smaller, they are not less stressed, requiring high-performance motor oil. 

“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,” says Kuhn.

SAE 0W-8 is currently the lowest viscosity grade, though Kuhn says it’s possible to go lower. The standards for low-viscosity engine oils have been defined by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO).