New Diesel Engine Oil Technologies Lead To Improved Performance and Efficiency

Photo by Josiah Farrow on Unsplash

Since the mid-1970s the U.S. government has taken on the role of setting standards for fuel efficiency and reduction of emissions. In 1975 Congress implemented Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards, which has been a driver for much of the change that has occurred in engine design during the past five decades. The trigger at that time was the OPEC oil embargo that caused shortages and a spike in fuel prices, so the initial standards were more focused on fuel consumption.

Efforts to reduce emissions gradually increased in importance in subsequent decades. Along with engine design improvements it became apparent that more advanced lubricants were needed to achieve the goals being required by the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Near the end of July Fleet Owner magazine published a story about emissions efficiency related to new diesel engine oil technologies. The aim of this story is to help fleet owners and managers understand the new formulations being introduced to satisfy global fuel economy targets. What follows are some highlights from this article.

An engine oil's main task is to reduce friction and ensure that moving parts are kept from coming in contact with one another. (This latter function is why film strength is increasingly important.) Oil is also necessary to transfer heat away from the engine and remove impurities and debris that might collect on critical parts.

With the technical advances taking place in diesel engine, driven by the need for greater efficiency, the lubricants are experiencing greater stress. Not only must they perform under harsher conditions for longer oil-drain intervals, they must do so in the presence of biofuels, without compromising protection.

In recent decades we've seen the introduction of significantly thinner oils for automobiles. It's been recognized that there are also gains to be made in the heavy duty truck market by means of lower-viscosity oils. How far can one go without compromising engine durability?

The rest of this article presents the results of field trials by Shell pertaining to fuel economy in Class 8 trucks. The data they have analyzed is drawn from 39 million miles of testing with CK-4 and FA-4 technologies. (See: Understanding CK-4 and FA-4) 

The first benefit is that lengthened oil drain intervals can result in major oil savings for fleets due to fewer oil changes. Using a higher quality oil, as opposed to one meeting minimum standards, drain intervals would nearly double and oil usage nearly cut in half.

A higher quality diesel engine oil is more impervious to oil breakdown, which makes longer oil drain intervals possible. The majority of these oils use synthetic or hybrid basestocks. The article details Shell's tiered offerings for the various engine types. You can find the Champion Brand diesel oils for your application here.

Related Links

Here's help to select the right diesel oil for your application:
www.DieselOilMatters.com

OEMs, Fleets Improve Performance and Efficiency with New Engine Oil Technologies

Champion Launches API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil

Champion Brands has been celebrating 65 years in business this year by introducing new products and noteworthy specials. Yesterday they released a new API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil which has been designed to provide robust performance for the next generation of diesel engines. 

The new oil is a response to the new American Petroleum Institute (API) diesel specs that were launched a few years ago. The objective with these new specifications is to give extra protection for heavy duty engines while helping them meet environmental regulations. API CK-4 effectively replaces API CJ-4 and is backward compatible with most diesel applications where API CJ-4 has been previously recommended. The new oil spec requires better shear stability, oxidation resistance and aeration control than its predecessor.

Champion's cost-efficient petroleum-based diesel engine oil provides increased power density while reducing oil volume and extending drain intervals. It also controls oxidation by-products and deposits. Its high wear protection and viscosity stability helps maximize the performance life of today's advanced diesel engines.

Champion API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil controls oxidation, aeration, corrosive acids, sludge and varnish precursors which allow for extended drains and minimized wear even under the most extreme conditions. It has higher resistance to permanent shear loss and exceptional wear protection, providing unmatched value for many diesel owners.

Champion API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil (Part# 4154N) meets or exceeds the following specifications: API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, ACEA E7-16, E9-16, JASO DH-2, Volvo VDS-4.5, VDS-4, Cummins CES 20086, Detroit Diesel. DFS93K218,  Cummins CES 20081,Detroit Diesel DFS93K222, Ford WSS-M2C171-F1, Renault VI RLD-3, MCK EO-O Premium Plus, CAT ECF-3.

Specific Properties Include: Viscosity Index -6200 @-25C, HTHS @ 150C -3.5, Distillates (Petroleum), Hydrotreated Light and Heavy Paraffinic.
https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/ 

About the company: Champion Brands, LLC, is a globally recognized industry leader in specialty lubricants for over 65 years. Champion produces and blends over 300 products including fuel, oil, engine additives, and lubricants for the automotive, racing, heavy truck, agricultural, industrial, commercial, and specialty markets. For more information about Champion API CK-4 Premium Heavy-Duty SAE 10W-30 Diesel Engine Oil (Part# 4154N) contact your nearest Champion distributor or call Champion at 660-890-6231. Champion Brands, LLC; 1001 Golden Drive, Clinton, MO, or go to www.championbrands.com

* * * 

2021 Champion New Products
and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Champion Oil's Winter-Blend Diesel Flo Fuel Additive Gets an Upgrade

Highlighting A New All-Season Air Brake Anti-Freeze from Champion Brands

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil for Vintage Trucks

Blue Flame Contingency Program for Drag Racers: How to Get Your Piece of the Action

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid
Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members
Champion Offers Power-Shield Assembly Lube & Oil Booster to Diesel Engine Builders

Champion’s Limited-Slip Friction Modifier Additive Formulated for Diesel Pick-Ups

 

May Special: Motor State Distributing Offering 10% Discount on Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils to Wholesale Accounts.

“Founded in 1964 as a part-time venture in George Lane’s garage, Lane Automotive (Retail) and Motor State Distributing (Wholesale) has become a speed equipment industry phenomenon,” stated Karl Dedolph, Director of Performance and Racing at Champion Oil.

“Since the days when local racers lined up to buy racing parts at that tiny, one man shop, the company has grown and is comprised today of four separate divisions. One thing has remained the same throughout the years of growth - the desire to provide the best parts and the best service at competitive prices.”

 

Dedolph added, “Known the world over as a premier supplier of performance parts and accessories for racers, hot rodders, truck and off-road enthusiasts, Lane Automotive, Motor State Distributing, ALLSTAR Performance, and Lane Automotive Collectables serve customers around the world located in Watervliet, Michigan, at the intersection of Interstate 94 and Michigan 140. / 1-800-772-2678.    https://www.motorstate.com/

 

During the month of May, Motor State Distributing is offering a 10% discount on Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils to wholesale accounts.

Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils are formulated with workhorse high-zinc performance additives, superior protection, advanced polymer technology, and high TBN, supported by a carrier blend of synthetic fluids. 

In addition, Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oils deliver unmatched high temperature film strength and lubricity protection, with the muscle to combat oil shear and maximize sustained cylinder compression. They also inhibit oxidation, corrosive acids, sludge and varnish build-up. 

 

These robust performance oils keep diesel engines going longer by reducing soot-induced engine wear, controlling abrasive soot contamination and preventing high temperature corrosion, even while allowing for improved fuel economy and lower total cost of ownership. They are proven to increase engine horse power and torque. https://www.championbrands.com/diesel-engine-oils/

Motor State Distributing also has a 10% off Wholesale Special in May for Champion Race Motor Oils, Classic & Muscle Motor Oils, Power Shield Engine Builder Products, Modern Muscle Motor Oils, and everything else Champion. https://www.motorstate.com/ 

* * * 

2021 Champion New Products
and Announcements

Champion Brands Celebrates 65 Years in the Lubricant Business

Champion Oil's Winter-Blend Diesel Flo Fuel Additive Gets an Upgrade

Highlighting A New All-Season Air Brake Anti-Freeze from Champion Brands

Champion’s Classic & Muscle 15W-50 Motor Oil for Vintage Trucks

Blue Flame Contingency Program for Drag Racers: How to Get Your Piece of the Action

Champion Oil Seeking Diesel Vehicle Builds for SEMA 2021

Special Offer For New Champion Diesel Oil Distributors

Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Recommended for Limited-Edition Shelby F-250 Super Baja Pick-Up

Champion Oil Introduces a Professional Grade 80% Ether Starting Fluid
Champion Blue Flame Diesel Engine Oil Supports OOIDA Members

Champion Offers Power-Shield Assembly Lube & Oil Booster to Diesel Engine Builders

World's Fastest Door Slammer

It’s been an on-again, off-again year for the Outlaw Diesel Super Series (ODSS). However, most recently the ODSS finale event sparked national attention with a new speed record for the Firepunk Diesel S-10 Pro Mod Race Truck.

The S-10 diesel powered pick-up not only retained its title as the world’s fastest diesel door slammer, but it also extended the world record to 4.213 seconds at 178 mph in the eighth-mile at the Hardway Sunshine Showdown at Emerald Coast Dragway. The run also secured another Pro Mod championship for the Firepunk Diesel S-10 Pro Mod race truck.

“We finished the season undefeated without losing a single race and topped it off by setting an all new world record as the fastest diesel truck on the planet," said Kyle Fischer, Hot Shot’s Secret Director of Branding & Promotions and a sponsor of the S-10. “You can’t ask for a more exciting finish to this season. It was amazing to be there and see the results. Congratulations to Lavon Miller and to the entire Firepunk Diesel team.”

Firepunk Diesel purchased the S10 in 2019 and gave it a Hot Shot’s Secret themed wrap at the beginning of the season. The season began at the Suncoast Spring Shakedown where Larson Miller collected gold in the Pro Mod where he pulled off a 4.28-second pass in qualifying and a 4.36 at 173 mph in the semi-finals. Throughout the season Miller, car #3393, never lost a race. He finished the season with 198 points followed by Ben Shadday, #6250, at 98 points. The diesel S-10 will finish racing this year at South Georgia Motorsports Park in October.

CK-4, FA-4? Still Confused About Diesel Engine Oil Specs?

CK-4, FA-4? Are you still having diesel engine oil confusion? Consider this post simply as a tutorial about the differences between the current diesel engine oil standards known as American Petroleum Institute’s (API) CK-4 and FA-4. These service categories came out a few years ago as an improvement over the previous API Diesel Engine Oil Standards by providing enhanced protection against oil oxidation, engine wear, particulate filter blocking, piston deposits, and degradation of low- and high-temperature properties.

API CK-4 describes oils for use in high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model-year on-highway and Tier-4 non-road exhaust-emission standards as well as for previous model-year diesel engines. That is, they are backward compatible.

These oils are formulated for use in all applications with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 500 parts per million (ppm). However, the use of these oils with greater than 15 ppm sulfur fuel may impact exhaust aftertreatment system durability and/or oil drain intervals.

CK-4 oils exceed the performance criteria of API CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4, and CH-4, and can effectively lubricate engines calling for those service categories. When using CK-4 oil with higher than 15 ppm sulfur fuel, consult your original engine manufacturer (OEM) for service interval recommendations. Most diesel OEMs are recommending you use API CK-4 oils as a replacement going forward.

The API FA-4 standard designates certain lower viscosity oils specifically formulated for use in select high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model-year on-highway greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards. Diesel OEMs are recommending this new oil spec for most late model-year engines. These oils are neither interchangeable nor backward compatible with API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 Plus, CI-4 or CH-4 oils. Therefore, you should follow the OEM’s advice when they recommend API FA-4 oils.

_______