Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/859318
Engine Oils 1 800 255 4417 www.castrol.com/GPS Background & Properties Industry Specifications July 2017 API CK-4 The current engine oil specification, API CK-4, was released into the marketplace on December 1, 2016, replacing the previous API CJ-4 engine oils specification. API CK-4 is backward compatible with most applications where engine manufacturers recommended CJ-4. CK-4 was developed to better protect new and older engines, improve engine oil performance, and help engine manufacturers meet 2017 U.S. government emissions standards. The new CK-4 oils provide a number of improvements over CJ-4 standards such as improved shear stability and aeration control; they also offer enhanced protection against oil oxidation and engine wear, catalyst contamination, particulate filter blocking, piston deposits, soot-related viscosity increase, and degradation of low- and high-temperature properties. The CK-4 category addresses diesel engine changes that have occurred since the 2006 introduction of CJ-4, thus meeting the needs of today's more fuel-efficient engines with their increased power and use of such hardware as high pressure, common-rail injection systems and advanced turbocharger technology. CK-4 is the result of EPA and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) emission legislation for diesel-powered commercial transport vehicles. It requires significant improvements in fuel consumption to help reduce carbon dioxide emissions. CK-4 is specified for high-speed four-stroke cycle diesel engines designed to meet the 2017 model year on-highway and Tier 4 non-road exhaust emission standards, and for use in all applications with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 500 ppm. CK-4 exceeds performance criteria of API CJ-4, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, and CH-4. While this category was under development, it was referred to as American Society for Testing and Materials' (ASTM) Proposed Category (PC) 11A. The API CK-4 Donut looks the same as the previous CJ-4 Donut. API FA-4 Like CK-4, API FA-4 also launched on December 1, 2016. API FA-4 oils provide similar improvements over CJ-4 oils, but are intended for use only in newer on-highway diesel engines. FA-4 oils have limited or no backward compatibility with on- and off-highway diesel engines where engine manufacturers recommended CJ-4. However, FA-4 oils are expected to play an important role in some current and new diesel engines by protecting those engines while also helping them meet more stringent emissions requirements. FA-4 was created for certain XW-30 oils that are specifically formulated for use in select high-speed four-stroke cycle diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model year on-highway GHG emission standards and on-highway applications with diesel fuel sulfur content up to 15 ppm. FA-4 offers enhanced protection against oil oxidation, viscosity loss due to shear, and oil aeration as well as protection against catalyst poisoning, particulate filter blocking, engine wear, piston deposits, degradation of low- and high-temperature properties, and soot related viscosity increase. FA-4 is not interchangeable or backward compatible with API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, and CH-4 oils, nor is it recommended for use with fuels having greater than 15 ppm sulfur. While FA-4 was under development, it was referred to as the ASTM Proposed Category (PC) 11B. The API FA-4 Donut features a shaded section to differentiate API FA-4 oils from CK-4 oils. 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. A 3