Friction is the worst enemy of efficiency, as demonstrated by the 100 million terajoules needed worldwide annually to overcome it (1). However, improved-technology lubricating oil can significantly boost efficiency; most modern cars, for example, use very low viscosity engine oils while being much more efficient, powerful, and reliable than past models. As mineral oils have become replaced by synthetic types, specialty lubricants and meticulous monitoring can also benefit industrial applications – for example in the chemical industry, which is the largest user of both energy and fossil fuels.