The American Petroleum Institute (API), working with engine manufacturers and oil makers, are completely redesigning heavy duty engine oil specifications.
“The current CJ-4 standard has lasted well beyond the life of the typical engine category. Some of the engine tests required to qualify an oil are no longer available or no longer relevant to next-generation engines, ” according to Dan Arcy, Chair, New Category Development Team, API, and Global OEM Technical Manager, Shell Lubricants.
Defining the category
Engines have improved fuel efficiency and increased power outputs since CJ-4 was introduced. New EPA and NHTSA emission legislation requires improvements in fuel consumption that will reduce carbon dioxide emissions. This has created the need for a new category of lubricant specifications, collectively called Proposed Category 11 (PC-11).
These oils, targeted for licensing in December 2016, will replace the current CJ-4 heavy duty oils. The API will introduce two types of heavy duty diesel oil as part of PC-11:
- PC-11A (CK-4) oils will replace today’s lubricants and will be completely backwards compatible with all current vehicles. They will be designed with improved oxidation resistance, shear stability and aeration control.
- PC-11B (FA-4) oils will meet these new requirements and include lower viscosity grades designed for next-generation diesel engines to help maximize fuel economy without sacrificing engine protection. These oils will have limited backwards compatibility because some older engines were not designed to operate with lower viscosity grades.
PC-11 engine oil updates
New PC-11 oils should be available in late 2016. Shell Rotella created the website, WhatIsPC-11.com, as a resource for topics such as the fundamentals of PC-11, impending changes, testing updates and how it is expected to affect new, current and older engines when the category replaces API CJ-4 engine oils.
Information provided by: Shell Lubricants
