Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/859318
Engine Oils Background & Properties castrol.com/GPS 800 255 4417 May 2025 GPS Industry Specifications CK-4 and FA-4 oils are designed for different applications, making it important that technicians consult a vehicle's owner's manual or the engine manufacturer to determine whether CK-4 or FA-4 is recommended. API CJ-4: e Previous Spec e previous API CJ-4 engine oil specification was released into the marketplace on October 15, 2006 as a result of the EPA's mandate to further control exhaust emissions from on-road truck diesel engines. is previous regulation, known as US EPA 07, required that all 2007 model year vehicles emit lower levels of NOx and PM. Changes in engine design alone were not sufficient to reduce emissions to the EPA 07 required levels. erefore, original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) had to use supplementary technologies such as Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs), oen known as exhaust aertreatment. EGR has been used on many diesel engines since EPA 02 and oen had the effect of introducing more soot into the oil, decreasing engine efficiency, and increasing fuel consumption. At that time, DPFs were new to the diesel engine; they work by trapping the soot particles from the exhaust and were sensitive to certain performance-enhancing additives in API CI-4 oils. e combination of these two extra demands upon the lubricant led to the introduction of the API CJ-4 lubricant performance category. New technology was employed when developing CJ-4 lubricants because 2007 and newer engine components were sensitive to sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur (SAPS). API CJ-4 lubricants had to be low SAPS engine oils, while still delivering the same or in many aspects, better performance than their predecessors. CJ-4 lubricants could be used in place of CI-4 Plus, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, and CF-4 lubricants. Wear Protection in the Presence of Soot Maintaining wear protection and engine durability in the presence of heavily sooted engine oil is a primary performance criterion for API CK-4 oils. Mack had long-standing interest in proper control of soot, with tests in each category since CF-4. Other OEMs joined in, starting with the Cummins M-11 in CH-4, M-11 EGR in CI-4, and the ISM and ISB in CJ-4. All major OEMs share the concern of soot-related wear and corrosion that can result from high percentages of EGR, promoting an environment in which acids are created. API CK-4 Engine Tests Caterpillar C-13 ASTM D7549 Scope: e test method defines a heavy-duty diesel engine test procedure conducted under high output conditions to evaluate engine oil performance with regard to piston deposit formation, piston ring sticking and oil consumption control in a combustion environment designed to minimize exhaust emissions. is test method uses a Caterpillar production C-13 diesel engine. Test operation includes a 60-minute warm-up and break-in, followed by a 4-hour cool down and a valve lash adjustment. Following the valve lash adjustment and any other needed adjustments, a 500-hour test is begun. e engine is operated under steady-state, rated power conditions known to generate excessive piston deposits and/or oil consumption. Test Conditions: Engine speed: 1800 rpm Test length: 500 hours API CK-4 Pass/Fail Criteria: 1000 merits A4 ecastrof