David Kolman 5 14 Color 586401f037d72

Kolman’s Komments: The survey says “no”

Jan. 16, 2017
Knowledge lacking about the new CK-4 and FA-4 heavy duty diesel engine oils.

In my previous blog, I discoursed about the new American Petroleum Institute (API) performance category of heavy duty diesel engine oils. These came into the market on this past December 1.

An independent survey conducted by API prior the introduction of CK-4 and FA-4 oils found that truck dealers, fleets, drivers, owner operators and retail workers need to be taught about new categories. That’s the word from Kevin Ferrick, API’s senior manager, Engine Oil Licensing And Certification System (EOLCS).

API (www.api.org) is the only national trade association that represents all aspects of America’s oil and natural gas industry.

Survey Results

Based on the findings, survey respondents claimed to know what they put into their trucks, and 67 percent said they know current oil specs.

But diving deeper into data, respondents equate viscosity grade with spec so spec equals SAE 15W-40, says Ferrick.

The survey found that the API Service Symbol Donut meant little to respondents, and no one looks at back of diesel oil packages. More troubling, he notes, is that 65 percent of the respondents stated they are were not aware of the proposed API CK-4 and API FA-4 specs.

Comments from Respondents 

Ferrick provided some comments from the API study that he said are “worth reading:”

- “Can you mix these? Or is it like synthetic and traditional … they can’t be mixed …?”

- “Diesel has always been 15W-40 … I don’t know that I would switch from 15W-40 even if they told me to …”

- “I don’t get how they are different viscosities. They are the same … they’re both 10W-30. That’s the viscosity to me … and it’s already different than what I’m used to.”

70 Years

API has been setting engine oil standards for almost 70 years and has been licensing oils against these standard for more than 30 years standards. For the past 23 years, the organization has been auditing licensed and unlicensed oils

API’s EOLCS is a voluntary program that licenses oils that meet API’s globally recognized engine oil standards.

These standards are developed in cooperation with oil marketers; additive suppliers; trade associations ASTM, American Chemistry Council (ACC) and SAE; and vehicle and engine manufacturers represented by the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association and Truck and Engine Manufacturers Association.

Engine oils are monitored in marketplace through API’s Aftermarket Audit Program

DEF

API also certifies that diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) meets ISO standard 22241 through a voluntary program. Like engine oils, DEF fluids are monitored in marketplace through the API Aftermarket Audit Program.

About the Author

David A. Kolman | Contributor - Fleet Maintenance

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