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Sequence VIA Procedure
(ASTM D 6202)

 

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  image of stand that runs the 80-hour Sequence VIA test at SwRI during which fuel consumption is measured for 6 speed, load, and temperature test conditions for an SAE 5W-30 baseline oil (BC)
 

During the 80-hour Sequence VIA procedure, fuel consumption is measured for 6 speed, load, and temperature test conditions for an SAE 5W-30 baseline oil (BC).

The Sequence VIA (ASTM D 6202) procedure measures the effects of automotive engine oils on the fuel economy of gasoline engine passenger cars and light-duty (3,856 kg, 8,500 lb or less gross vehicle weight) trucks equipped with a low-friction engine.

 

Sequence VIA Test Equipment and Procedure

A 1993 4.6-liter Ford modular V-8 gasoline engine equipped with an external oil heating/cooling system and a flying flush system for changing oils without an engine shutdown is used for the Sequence VIA test.

 

During the 80-hour test, fuel consumption is measured for 6 speed, load, and temperature test conditions for an SAE 5W-30 baseline oil (BC). The candidate oil is introduced and aged for 16 hours; fuel consumption is measured for each of the 6 test conditions, then followed by a repeat of the BC at the 6 test conditions.

 

CONDITIONS

TEST STAGES

1

2

3

4

5

6

 Speed, rpm

800

800

1,500

1,500

1,500

800

 Power, kW

2.18

2.18

15.39

15.39

15.39

2.18

 Oil temp, °C

105

70

70

70

45

45

 Coolant temp, °C

  95

60

60

60

60

60

 

Sequence VIA Test Results

At test end, results are expressed as a percent of change in kg of fuel consumed for the candidate oil compared to the average of the BC. New oil and oil after Aging Phase II viscosities at 40 °C and 100 °C are required. Fuel economy improvement, which equates to the FTP chassis dynamometer test, is calculated by the following formula where units for BSFC are kg/kW-hr:

 

Stage

Actual (kg/kW-H)

Normal
Power (kW)

Time
Factor (H)

Fuel
Consumed (kg)

1

BSFC

×

  2.18

×

0.077472

=

 

2

BSFC

×

  2.18

×

0.082500

=

 

3

BSFC

×

  5.81

×

0.035417

=

 

4

BSFC

×

15.39

×

0.078250

=

 

5

BSFC

×

15.39

×

0.033139

=

 

6

BSFC

×

  2.18

×

0.045444

=

 

       Total mass fuel consumption for all five stages =
       In lieu of original Stage 7, which has been deleted, add 0.2540 kg

 

The total fuel consumed as shown above for the BC oil is computed for:

  • Before candidate oil

  • Candidate oil

  • BC after the candidate oil

The average BC fuel consumption is calculated for:

  • BC before candidate oil

  • BC after the candidate oil

The candidate oil fuel economy improvement (FEI) is computed as follows:
 

%FEI = [(BC average – candidate) / BC average] × 100

 

Sequence VIA Pass/Fail Criteria

Pass/fail criteria for ILSAC GF-2 for SAE viscosity grades are as follows:

 

SAE VISCOSITY GRADES

MINIMUM
FEI vs. BC (%)

 0W-20 and 5W-20

1.4

 Other 0W and 5W multiviscosity

1.1

 10W multiviscosity

0.5

 

For more information about the Sequence VIA (ASTM D 6202) procedure, or how you can contract with Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), please contact Guy Stubbs at gstubbs@swri.org or (210) 522-5039.

sequencevia.swri.org

 

Contact Information

Guy Stubbs

Sequence VIA Procedure

(210) 522-5039

gstubbs@swri.org

sequencevia.swri.org  

Related Terminology

Sequence VIA test

ASTM D 6202

ILSAC GF-2

engine oil

fuel economy

gasoline engine

low-friction engine

fuel consumption

candidate oil

baseline oil

Related Information

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Southwest Research Institute® (SwRI®), headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, is a multidisciplinary, independent, nonprofit, applied engineering and physical sciences research and development organization with 11 technical divisions.

December 28, 2012