Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/642741
provide less restriction as it fl ows through the fi lter, which can help improve engine effi ciency and fuel economy." The split category explained PC-11 will be different in that it is what lubricant suppliers are calling a "split cat- egory." In essence, this is because the new oil formulations will be required to service both older and new-generation diesel engines. But industry experts stress that careful thought is being given as to how these two oils will be marketed, packaged and presented to the industry to minimize confusion. "PC-11A (CK-4) oils will replace today's lubricants and will be completely backwards-compatible with all current vehicles," Arcy says. "They will be designed with improved oxidation resistance, shear stability and aeration control." The second oil, designated FA-4, also will meet those new requirements while add- ing lower-viscosity grades. "These oils are designed for next-generation diesel engines to help maximize fuel economy without sacrifi cing engine protection," he says. That requirement reinforced the need for a split category because some older engines were not designed to operate with lower-viscosity grades. "Testing already has confi rmed that the new oils will deliver fuel economy boosts from 2 to 4 percent depending on the engine and application," Arcy says. PC-11 will not affect every business the same, says Paul Cigala, commercial vehicles applications engineer for ExxonMobil Fuels & Lubricants. "It's possible that some fl eets will only see a small impact from PC- 11," says Cigala, who cites an example of a fl eet operating older equipment and mixed engine types. In this scenario, he says, the fl eet only may need to transition from its cur- rent CJ-4 engine oil to the newer CK-4 formulation. This also would apply to off-highway equipment used in operations such as mining and construction, which are expected to use only the CK-4 formu- lation for the time being. "In comparison, a fl eet with a mix of older and newer equipment may choose to stock both CK-4 and FA-4 formulations," Cigala says. "CK-4 oils will be suitable for use in both older and newer equipment, but if the fl eet is looking to enhance the fuel economy of its newer engines, it will likely decide to use the new FA-4 formulation." Fleets operating newer trucks with ad- vanced engines should consult their OEM for recommendations on using both CK-4 and FA-4 formulations, Cigala says. "While some OEMs may factory-fi ll newer engines with FA-4 oils, they will likely not require fl eet managers to fi ll with FA-4 oils," he says. 16 www.FlatbedTruckingJobs.com March 2016 PRODUCT PROFILE Lower high-temperature high-shear (HTHS) viscosity means thinner oil that can improve fuel economy by reducing the amount of horsepower required to pump it throughout the engine. But a lower HTHS viscosity also usually comes at the expense of wear protection.