Equipment World Digital Magazine
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/652983
EquipmentWorld.com | March 2016 63 maintenance | by Jack Roberts The NEXT OIL A new engine oil cat- egory being intro- duced at the end of this year promises better fuel economy and longer change intervals. The new oil, designated PC- 11 (Proposed Category 11) by the Diesel Engine Oil Advisory Panel, will be marketed in two subcategories as early as Decem- ber. One will be for new 2017 emissions-compliant engines, the other for all previous engines. "Testing has already confi rmed that the new oils will deliver fuel economy boosts from 2 to 4 per- cent, depending on the engine and application," says Dan Arcy, global OEM technical manager for Shell Lubricants and chair- man of the American Petroleum Institute committee developing the PC-11 category. The biggest single performance improvement the new oils will offer involves oxidation control, says Shawn Whitacre, senior staff engineer of engine oil technol- ogy for Chevron Lubricants. Oxi- dation control helps the oil with- stand high temperatures without breaking down, which can create longer change intervals. The last round of emissions regulations, in 2010, focused on nitrogen oxides (NOx) and par- ticulate matter. The new, more stringent standards set for next year target carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. "Add a whole host of engine design changes that will enter the market in 2017, and the need for a more modern engine oil be- comes obvious," Whitacre says. The two main components that impact change intervals PC-11 made for improved effi ciencies in highway trucks One PC-11 subcategory will be suitable for all pre-2017 engines.