Federal regulations are dictating that
medium- and heavy-duty diesel vehicles
must reduce fuel consumption and
greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent
by model year 2018, driving major
changes in the diesel world. The API
CJ-4 specification that has represented
the standard for diesel oil performance
for the past decade will soon give way
to new specifications that will evolve
with diesel technology to help ensure
manufacturers meet federal mandates.
Two Specifications Replace CJ-4
Initially labeled Proposed Category 11
(PC-11) in its working stages, the new
API specification has been split in two
(API CK-4, FA-4) to accommodate the
different requirements of older and newer
engines. Both specs focus on drastically
reducing emissions and improving fuel
economy, while providing increased
engine-protection benefits through
improvements in oxidation stability,
shear stability and resistance to aeration.
Engine oils meeting the new specs will
begin launching Dec. 1, 2016.
API CK-4
- Offers traditional viscosity grades of
15W-40, 10W-30, 5W-40 and 5W-30
- Designed for current model-year and
older diesel engines
- Backward-compatible with API CJ-4
(and prior) oils
API FA-4
- Designed for certain 2017 and newer
diesel engines
- Not backward-compatible
- Designed to improve fuel economy
and reduce emissions
- Primarily features 10W-30 viscosity grade
AMSOIL Prepared for Change
AMSOIL Dealers can be wellassured
that we will be ready
for the implementation of the
new diesel specifications
with top-performing synthetic
formulations. Details will be
unveiled in upcoming issues of
AMSOIL Magazine.
New Test Requirements
In order to meet federal
regulations, original equipment
manufacturers (OEMs) are
relying on engine designs
that produce ever-increasing
operating temperatures.
The new API CK-4 and FA-4
specifications introduce new
shear-stability requirements to
minimize viscosity loss, as well
as two new and updated tests
to ensure additional protection
benefits in the areas of oxidative
stability and aeration resistance:
New Mack T13 Test
Measures oil oxidation under the
higher temperatures common with
modern engines.
New CAT Aeration Test
Replaces the Engine Oil Aeration
Test (EOAT), which used hardware
that isn’t available anymore.
The rest of the tests carry over
from API CJ-4.