Machinery Lubrication magazine published by Noria Corporation
Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/756816
56 | November - December 2016 | www.machinerylubrication.com BACK PAGE BASICS tional Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) and the Association of European Automotive Manufacturers (ACEA). API and ILSAC are based in the United States, while ACEA is in Europe. These organizations help to specify automotive and diesel engine oils throughout the world. Other Considerations There are many things to consider when choosing an engine oil for your car, including the weather conditions in which the vehicle will be operating. For instance, in the middle of winter, you want to select an oil that will stay sufficiently viscus to ensure it flows to the engine's vital components. The oil's viscosity is another critical factor for ensuring the engine's moving parts are sufficiently sepa- rated to minimize wear. The oil's additive package is also important. Too high anti-wear additive levels can cause your catalytic converters to clog prematurely, while excessive detergent additives can lead to piston blow-by, loss of compression and premature oil degradation. If you have doubts as to the type of oil you should be using in your vehicle, be sure to follow the manufacturer's recommendations. About the Author Michael Brown is an associate technical consultant with Noria Corporation. He has more than 20 years of experience in heavy manu- facturing and holds Machine Lubrication Technician Level I and Machine Lubricant Analyst Level I certifications through the Interna- tional Council for Machinery Lubrication. Contact Michael at mbrown@noria.com. SAE 5W-30 AP I S E R V I C E SN E N E R G Y C O N S E R V I N G API (American Petroleum Institute) Service Classification: S = gasoline engine C = diesel engine Quality rating Donut Symbol API Introduces New Diesel Engine Oil Standards The American Petroleum Institute (API) is introducing two new standards to take into account the latest technology in diesel engines. API CK-4 and FA-4 will first appear in the API service symbol donut on Dec. 1, 2016. These new service categories improve upon existing standards by providing enhanced protection against oil oxidation, engine wear, particulate filter blocking, piston deposits, and degradation of low- and high-temperature properties. API CK-4 describes oils for use in high-speed, four-stroke- cycle diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model-year on-highway and Tier-4 non-road exhaust-emission standards as well as for previous model-year diesel engines. These oils are formulated for use in all applications with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 500 parts per million (ppm). However, the use of these oils with greater than 15 ppm sulfur fuel may impact exhaust aftertreatment system durability and/or oil drain intervals. CK-4 oils exceed the performance criteria of API CJ-4, CI-4 with CI-4 Plus, CI-4, and CH-4, and can effectively lubricate engines calling for those API service categories. When using CK-4 oil with higher than 15 ppm sulfur fuel, consult the engine manufacturer for service interval recommendations. Most truck manufacturers recommending API-licensed CJ-4 engine oils will likely recommend truck owners start using licensed API CK-4 oils as soon as they are available. The API FA-4 standard designates certain lower viscosity oils specifically formulated for use in select high-speed, four- stroke-cycle diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model-year on-highway greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards. Some engine manufacturers might recommend FA-4 oils for their previous model-year vehicles, but it is more likely that manufacturers will recommend the oils starting with the 2017 model-year engines. These oils are neither interchange- able nor backward compatible with API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 with CI-4 Plus, CI-4 or CH-4 oils. Therefore, you should heed the engine manufacturer's advice for API FA-4 oils. New 2017 API FA-4 donut GASOLINE DIESEL Standard From To From To API SA SN CA CJ-4 ILSAC GF-1 GF-5 N/A N/A ACEA A1 (A4) A5 B1 B5 Cross-reference for API, ILSAC and ACEA