Engine Oil

Jim Halderman

Introductions: Jim Halderman
Former flat-rate technician,
instructor and a business
owner. Author of many
automotive books and lives in
Dayton, Ohio.
http://jameshalderman.com

jim@jameshalderman.com


Topics to be Discussed

Types of oils
API grades
SAE grades
ACEA specifications
OE specifications
(GM, Ford, BMW
etc.)
Ever hear this?
Do we have to know all of this?

Therefore I started labeling content:
A. Need to know
B. Nice to know
C. Miscellaneous useless information
Determine Four Things
1. The recommended
oil change interval
2. The recommended
viscosity (SAE
rating)
3. The recommended
API rating
4. The vehicle specific
specification
Need to know-right?


Looks like a good oil Is it?
Does Not Meet GM and Others
Meets GM, Ford, Chrysler
and Honda
Meets Ford and Chrysler
but not GM
API Groups of Oil
API=American Petroleum Institute
Group 1- Solvent
refined
Group 2- Hydro-
refined (most oils)
Group 3- Hydro-
refined;Castrol Syntec;
Group 4- Poly-Alpha-
Olefins (PAO);
synthetic; Mobil 1
Group 5- Other Base
Oils usually esters;
Redline
Nice to know stuff
API Ratings
Gasoline Engine Ratings
SA-SJ=older and now
obsolete ratings
SL-2001-2003
SM-2004+
Diesel Engine Ratings
CA-CC=obsolete
Current ratings = CF-4
(four cycle); CG-4 and
CJ-4 (low ash) (2007+
Engines using ULSD)
Need to know stuff
ILSAC Ratings
ILSAC=International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee
GF-1-First used in 1993
GF-2-updated in 1997
GF-3-Updated in 2000
GF-4-Updated in 2004
GF-5-Scheduled for
summer 2010 for use in
2011+ engines
Star Burst is always
on the front
GF means gasoline fueled
engines
Need to know stuff

Whats Falling?
The viscosity is
falling





The sky is NOT
falling
Viscosity
epc graphics
Viscosity is a lubricants
resistance
to flow
The viscosity of an
industrial lubricant is
normally given in:
cSt (centistokes) or
mm/second
measure of kinematic
viscosity
Viscosity is the main
feature which influences the
efficiency of lubrication
Calibrated
orifice
40C or
100 C
Measured by timing oil flow
through a calibrated
orifice @ 40C (104 F)
and/or 100C (212 F)
Viscosity Measurement
Effect of Temperature on Viscosity
Viscosity is a
measure of a
fluids
resistance to
flow (how thick
it is)

Viscosity of a
fluid is a
function of
temperature
0 50 100
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
TEMPERATURE (C)
K
I
N
E
M
A
T
I
C

V
I
S
C
O
S
I
T
Y

c
S
t
VI Improvers -Polymers (very large
molecules) which inhibit the oil from
thinning out at high temperatures
In the Cold

With Heat

Uncoiling Counteracts the Normal Thinning
of Oil
Viscosity Index Improvers
VI Improver
Viscosity
(log. scale)
SAE 40
SAE 10W
SAE 10W40
Temperature (C)
-18 100
Multigrade Oils
Viscosity Chart
SAE Grades
SAE = Society of
Automotive Engineers

5W = The W means
winter and the oil is
tested at -30 C (-22F)

SAE 5W-30 = The 30
is the viscosity
measured at 100 C (212
F)
Need to know stuff
Flow Rates and Temperatures
Do customers know?
Do service technicians know?
SAE=? (Society of Automotive
Engineers)

API=? (American Petroleum
Institute)

ILSAC=? (International
Lubricant Standardization and
Approval Committee)

ACEA=? (Association des
Contructeurs European
dAutomobiles)

Need to know or nice to know?
New car; FREE first oil change
Dealer used SAE 10W-30 and not the
specified SAE 0W-20 (Owners manual)
When talking to service manager he
said that it was OK to use and that
DSM can change any specifications at
any time
Service manager said that he was not
reimbursed for the more expensive oil
ACEA Gasoline Ratings
Association des Contructeurs European dAutomobiles
A1-Low friction; low
viscosity
A2-General use with
regular oil changes
A3-High performance
and/or extended oil
change intervals
A4-For gasoline direct-
injected engines
A5-Low friction; low
viscosity; extended oil
change intervals
Nice to know stuff
ACEA Diesel Ratings
B1-Low viscosity passenger
vehicle indirect-injected
diesel engines
B2- Passenger vehicle
indirect-injected diesel
engine. Low viscosity.
B3-High performance
indirect-injected diesel
engines; extended oil
change interval
B4-Direct-injected diesel
engines
B5-Low viscosity and
extended oil change interval
Nice to know stuff
ACEA Combined Ratings
A1/B1-Low HTHS, semi-
synthetic
A3/B3-High HTHS; Mineral or
semi-synthetic
A4/B4-High HTHS; synthetic
A5/B5-Low HTHS, High fuel
economy additives;
extended oil change
intervals; synthetic
HTHS =High temperature/
high shear rate viscosity
(ASTM D-4683)


Miscellaneous useless information
ACEA C ratings
C1- Basically an A5/B5 oil with low
SAPS, Low HTHS.
C2- A5/B5 with low HTHS and mid level
SAPS
C3- A5/B5 (meets 229.3) with high
HTHS and mid level SAPS
C4-Low SAPS; High HTHS
SAPS means Sulfated Ash, Phosphorous and Sulfur
C rating are catalytic converter compatible oils
Vehicle OE Specifications
BMW-Long Life (LL-98; LL-01; LL-04)

General Motors-
GM 6094M (many GM vehicles);need to know stuff
GM 4718 (synthetic- Corvette);
LL-A-25(gasoline engines); LL-B-25 for
diesels and for vehicles equipped with
European engines (i.e. Cadillac Catera)


OE Specifications-continued
Ford-
WSS-M2C153-H;(SAE
5W-20 GF-3)
WSS-M2C929-A (SAE
5W-30; 4.0 Liter; 2.0
Liter)
WSS-M2C930-A (SAE
5W-20; GF-4
Need to know

OE Specifications-continued
Chrysler-MS-6395
(2005+ vehicles);
MS-10725 (older
than 2005)
Need to know stuff

Honda-HTO-06
(Mobil 1 for Acura
RDX turbo only)

OE Specifications-continued
Mercedes-
229.1 -Super high
performance diesel-
(SHPD)
229.3-SHPD extended
drain
229.3-gas and diesel;
extended drain
229.31- gas and diesel low
ash (LA)
229.5-long life (LL)
229.51-low ash and LL

Fleece Oil Filters
229.5 engine oils must be
used with fleece oil filter
when used with the
Mercedes Maintenance
System (MY2005+)
The filter has a polyester
fleece filter element designed
to work for 30,000 km (18,641
mile) drain interval
Uses a special support
structure that helps the filter
last

Miscellaneous useless information
OE Specifications-continued
VW and Audi-

Gasoline
engines:502.00;
505.00;505.01; 503;
503.01; 505;

Diesel engines: 506
;506.1;507


What is different with
European ratings?
Usually very high viscosity index (VI)
meaning that the SAE grade is broad;
often requiring SAE 10W-50 or 5W-40
Extended oil change intervals requiring
a robust additive package
Low SAPS (Sulfated Ash, Phosphorous
and Sulfur)
Higher HTHS (High temperature/ high
shear rate viscosity)

ACEA and Specific Oil Ratings
Most of the tests are not performed in API
tests
A VW 502 5W-30 must have a HTHS of 3.5
while an API-SM/ILSAC GF-4 only requires a
HTHS of 2.9.
For example: a VW 502 approved 5W-30 oil has
about the same HTHS as an API approved 15W-40.
The other tests within these approvals can not be
compared directly.

Case Study
2003 VW Passat with a
1.8 liter turbocharged
four cylinder that had
been using API
approved oil instead of
VW 502 oil developed
serious oil gelling
problems
Some similar vehicle
engines have seized

Motorcycle Oil
Be sure to use oil designed for use in
motorcycles which usually has the
following characteristics
1. Higher level of ZDDP
2. Broader viscosity range (usually
SAE 10W-40 or SAE 20W-50)
3. Often designed to work with a wet
clutch
Need to know?
Fluid
Molecules
Why is Friction Reduced?
There is less friction between fluid
molecules moving over each other than
between the two surfaces moving across
each other.
The for mation of an oil wedge in a plain bear ing
Metal-to-metal contact Oil wedge suppor ts load
Connecting Rod Example
STRIBECK CURVE

Wear Region
Increasing Film Thickness
Safe Region
F
r
i
c
t
i
o
n

Z=f(Speed*Viscosity)/(Load*Finish)
0
CHART 1
boundary
metal
to
metal
contact
theoretical optimum range
friction
increase due
to fluid shear
Full Fluid
SYNTHETIC OILS MINERAL OILS
Large Molecules thicken at low temp
Small molecules
vaporize at high temp
All molecules same size
H-C-C-C-C-C-H
H H H H S
H H O N H
Impurities oxidize
C
10
H
20
C
10
H
20
C
10
H
20
C
10
H
20
Additives Improve the Base Oil
Viscosity Index (VI) improver
modifies the viscosity of the base
fluid so that it changes less as the
temperature rises allows the
lubricant to operate over a wider
temperature range
Pour point depressant
keeps the lubricant flowing at low
temperatures
Antifoam
foam reduces the effectiveness of a
lubricant
antifoams reduce/stop foaming
when the lubricant is agitated or
aerated
Additives Protect the Base Oil
Antioxidants
slow down the breakdown of the
base fluid caused by oxygen (air)
and heat
oxidation is the main cause of
lubricant degradation in service
Oxidation of the base fluid
causes:
acid formation (corrosion)
sludges, varnishes (blockages)
Life of a lubricant in laboratory
oxidation tests is often used to
give an indication of service life
Oxidation
Additives Protect the Engine
Rust inhibitor
inhibits the action of water on
ferrous metals (e.g. mild steel)
Corrosion inhibitor
protects non-ferrous metals
(e.g. copper)
Anti-wear additive
forms a protective layer on metal
surfaces to reduce friction and
prevent wear when no lubricant film
is present such as ZDDP.
Extreme pressure additive
as for anti-wear additive but
functioning only when heavy loads
and temperatures are encountered
Roller
bearing
wear
Gear tooth
wear
ZDDP
The phosphorous content of ZDDP=
Zinc Dialkyl Dithiophosphates (commonly called zinc and/or
phosphorous or ZDP)
Ford says that the number one reason for catalytic converter failure in
gasoline engines is phosphorous poisoning.

The phosphorous content of current motor oils is being limited by API.

CJ-4 is a great example. Phosphorous does not burn and collects in
particulate filters in the form of ash

Lots of research is being done to find an effective anti-wear additive
that does not use phosphorous.

Need to know?
Total Base Number (TBN)
Typical TBN levels are between 60 and 100
which is dependent on the fuel sulfur level-
the higher the sulfur percentage in the fuel
and higher the TBN required.
Sulfated ash has been used to help
neutralize acids in the oil, but its use is now
being limited by the API

Reserve alkalinity (higher TBN) determines
oil change intervals
Nice to know
High-Mileage Oil
Usually higher viscosity
and therefore can not
meet ILSAC GF-4 rating
Has esters to swell
seals
To be used in engines
with higher than 75,000
miles
Does not have the
energy rating of
conventional oils
Need to know?
G-Oil
Made from cow parts
Ultimate
Biodegradable is the
highest
biodegradability
ranking determined by
ASTM Standards (2.1
ASTM D-5864)
API rated=?
ILSAC rated= no
www.getg.com
Miscellaneous useless information


What About Older Engines?
If flat-bottom
(non-roller)
lifters are used
then a ZDDP
additive may be
needed:
During break-in
During service
Need to know?
How much zinc is needed?
Shell Rotella T 15W-40 ( API CJ-4) has about 1200
ppm zinc. This is 50% more zinc than current engine
oils (API SM, GF-4) which typically contain about 800
ppm zinc

Engine oil had about 1200 ppm zinc prior to 2001

In 2001 the zinc was reduced to 1000 ppm and in
2005 reduced again to the current 800 ppm

These are typical zinc levels; API ratings do not
specify the zinc content, just oil performance

Shell Rotella T
Use Shell Rotella T diesel oil
which does still have enough
ZDDP to protect the engine
Other Additives?
Dont
Most if not all oil
experts warn about
adding anything to the
oil.
Vehicle manufactures
warn not to add any
additives
Most are friction
reducers such as posi
additive
Letter
Sir:
Although they are in the field of art, not
engineering, our son has multiple college degrees
and is a very smart fellow. However, he has
recently shared a rather bizarre opinion with us.
He says that changing one's motor oil is a gigantic
conspiracy foisted upon consumers by the
petroleum industry in collusion with the
automotive industry. He cites a number of
persons he knows who claim not to have changed
their vehicles' oil and yet received hundreds of
thousands of miles of service from their
engines. They only add oil as the level goes
down.
Please provide evidence to refute this idea.

What would you say?
I Heard That Oil Does
NOT Wear out
The viscosity increases due to wear
metals (iron, tin, copper etc.)
Light ends evaporate
The additives are consumed
The VI improver long chain polymer is
broken into short segments and no
longer able to stabilize the viscosity
The 3,000 Mile Myth
Californias 3,000 mile myth program
was started because research showed
that 73% of California drivers change
their oil more frequently than
recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer

General Motors has joined the
campaign.
Oil Life Monitor
algorithm Computer programs contain
algorithms that specify the specific
instructions a computer should
perform (in a specific order) to carry
out a specified task
Mileage (3,750-7,500 miles) (usually
every 5,000 miles)
Capacitance sensor
GM Oil Life Monitor
GMOLS (GM Oil Life System)
Case Study
2007 Dodge Durango 5.7 liter
Hemi with MDS (multiple
displacement system)
Oil change using SAE 10W-
30
Check engine light came on
and stored P0521 DTC
stored
Description=Oil pressure not
reaching specified at 1250
RPM
Changed to specified SAE
5W-20; cleared DTC ; now no
MIL
Need to know
Testing Oil
oil sample to lab
for analysis
For example:
Blackstone
Laboratories-
$22.50
www.blackstone-
labs.com
Nice to know

Oil Test Results
Spectral Exam: Establishes the levels of wear metals,
silicon, and additives present in the oil. Also checks for
coolant.
Note: Silicon = dirt; not sealer

Viscosity: Determines the grade of oil.

Insolubles: Quantifies the percentage of solids present
in the oil.

Flash Point: Determines the flash point of the oil to
determine whether any contamination is present in the
oil

Understanding the Lab Report
Aluminum: Pistons, bearings, cases (heads & blocks)
Chromium: Rings, a trace element in steel
Iron: Cylinders, rotating shafts, the valve train, and any steel part
Copper: Brass or bronze parts, copper bushings, bearings, oil coolers
Lead: Bearings
Tin: Bearings, bronze parts, piston coatings
Molybdenum: Anti-wear additive, some types of rings
Potassium: Antifreeze inhibitor, additive in some oil types
Boron: Detergent/dispersant additive, antifreeze inhibitors
Silicon: Airborne dirt, antifreeze inhibitors
Sodium: Antifreeze inhibitors, additive in some gasoline engine oils.
Calcium: Detergent/dispersant additive
Magnesium: Detergent/dispersant additive

Nice to know
Oil Related Faults
Gelling and
sludge:
Usually caused by
extended oil change
intervals
Can be caused by
coolant in the oil
Engine design or
cooling system fault
that causes a lot of
heat to be in the
cylinder which bakes
the oil
Need to know?
Oil Related Faults
2007 Toyota lawsuit
Several others
facing similar
actions
Audi
BMW
Chrysler
Saab
VW
No recalls
No admission of
fault
Toyota Class-Action
Lawsuit Affected Models
Model
Years
Affected
Avalon 6 cyl 1997 - 2002
Camry 4 cyl 1997 - 2001
Camry 6 cyl 1998 - 2002
Celica 4 cyl 1997 - 1999
Highlander 6
cyl 2001 - 2002
Lexus ES300 1997 - 2002
Lexus RX300 1999 - 2002
Sienna 6 cyl 1998 - 2002
Solara 4 cyl 1999 - 2001
Solara 6 cyl 1999 - 2002
Watch Out for
Recommended for use where.....
May be used where the following
specifications apply.....
Recommended/Approved by.??
Racing/Track formula - What does this
mean?
Synthetic blend" - How much
synthetic?
Need to know?
Sample- not API approved
Please do the following:
Check the oil level BEFORE
changing the oil and document
the work order
Check and use the oil specified
by the vehicle manufacturer
Recommend that the oil be
changed according to the
specified distance/time interval
Reset the oil monitor light.
Always wear PPE
Keeping updated
Go to:
www.gf-5.com

Information on the new ILSAC GF-5
rating due out in 2010 plus other good
oil information

Summary
Go to
HTTP://jameshalderman.com
for the chart that shows how
to reset the light for all
vehicles. FREE
Click on Charts and
Specifications then look
under Engine Repair (A1)
Genie light>>>>>>>>>>>>
Information
http://www.mobiloil.com/USA-
English/MotorOil/Files/Mobil_1_Product
_Guide.pdf

Go to Mobil 1 web site and search for
chart
Contact Information
Jim Halderman:
jim@jameshalderman.com
http://storage.jameshalderman.com