Get Ready For New Diesel Oils

With the arrival of two new diesel engine oils categories in December 2016, shops need to be prepared for accommodating them and training technicians and service people about their application.

American Petroleum Institute CK-4 oils succeeded CJ-4 engine oils and are backward-compatible diesel oils. Backward compatible means CK-4 may be used where CJ-4, CI-4 with CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, CH-4, and earlier service categories are recommended. API FA-4, on the other hand, is a new arrival intended for engines built beginning with the 2017 model year. There are currently 430 CK-4 oils and 65 FA-4 oils licensed by API and more are expected.

CK-4 provides improved shear stability, oxidation resistance, and aeration control over CJ-4 in the familiar SAE 15W-40 and 10W-30 viscosity grades. FA-4 provides similar protection to CK-4 oils, but in lower viscosity grades to meet the needs of next-generation diesel engines being built for the 2017 model year and onwards. FA-4 oils meet the same performance measures as CK-4 but they also help increase fuel economy in engines designed for the lower viscosity FA-4 grades.

Oil improvements noted

Key improvements to the new oils include the following:

• Shear stability, which is the resistance of oil molecules to shearing or breaking down under extreme stress inside the engine. Shear causes oil to decrease to a lower viscosity, and excessive viscosity loss could affect how well the oil can protect the engine. CK-4 and FA-4 oils with have improved shear stability compared to CJ-4 oils.

• Oxidation stability, which is one of the main reasons for oil breakdown and it occurs more readily under higher engine operating temperatures. With many newer engines running hotter, CK-4 and FA-4 standards deliver improved oxidation stability versus CJ-4 oils.

• Aeration, which is the entrainment of air bubbles in the oil, which can limit the ability for oil to cool and protect the engine. Newer engines with higher operating temperatures and pressures can increase the amount of air trapped in oil. As oil is more regularly used as a hydraulic fluid for valve-train actuation, this task can be compromised by aerated oil. CK-4 and FA-4 oils provide greater protection against aeration; and

• Fuel economy. You may have heard of the term high temperature high shear, or HTHS, as the new oils were being developed. CK-4 oils are being called “high HTHS” engine oils because their viscosities are the same as those found in CJ-4 oils. In contrast, FA-4 oils are being called “low HTHS” oils because their viscosities are lower. These low HTHS oils have been developed to provide engine manufacturers with a tool that will help them meet more stringent fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions requirements.

Create a transition plan

With some new diesel engines requiring FA-4 oils, fleets, shops and technicians need to know how to manage CJ-4, CK-4, and FA-4 oils in their facilities. It is recommended that you create a transition plan for the shop. Should you need to increase storage, the clear identification of the lubricants will reduce confusion.

Estimate the volumes of each oil you will require, particularly if you own or service 2017 trucks. Always check with the truck manufacturer to see whether it requires FA-4 or CK-4 oil and what viscosity grade is needed.

Be sure to mark tanks, storage, tools, etc. in advance of the first delivery of product to avoid co-mingling different products and misapplication of them. Assess your shop’s need for both oils and check on the availability from your supplier. Also ask about specific viscosity grades since some are changing.  Identify a clear date to incorporate the new oils into the shop and clearly communicate that information to staff.

What to watch for

The following are six areas to be aware of in order to ensure the new oils are being installed and dispersed properly:

• Engine requirements — FA-4 oils may not be recommended for all new engines, so be sure to check with engine manufacturers about which engines are supposed to use FA-4 oil.

• Bulk tanks — Replacing CJ-4 with CK-4 should be a simple transition because CK-4 is backward compatible and an improvement over CJ-4. You can still carry CJ-4 oils in drums if you want to keep some on hand.

• Inventory — Monitor volumes of API CJ-4 lubricants vs. API CK-4 & FA-4 to ensure proper supply.

• Identification — Clearly mark all bulk or packaged oil as appropriate for API CJ-4, CK-4 & FA-4 oil

• Dispensing oil — All dispensing equipment should be properly labeled with product name and viscosity grade to prevent misapplication.

• Education — Technicians should be made aware of the changes to oil categories and requirements for each.

To help technicians and consumers differentiate between the two new oils, API developed a special service symbol doughnut. The new FA-4 doughnut features a shaded section that sets it apart from the traditional donut being used with API CK-4.

Visit www.dieseloilmatters.com for more information about the API CK-4 and FA-4 service categories for on- and off-highway vehicles and equipment.

Kevin Ferrick is senior manager for engine oil licensing with the American Petroleum Institute.