Decide Whether to Utilize Older CI-4 Rated Diesel Oil Instead of the Newer CJ-4?
It is common to hear individuals talking about the relative positives & negatives of the CJ-4 vs. the older CI-4 diesel engine oils. So, it seems worthwhile to layout the relative similarities and differences between using diesel engine oils that meet each of these respective API classifications.
Many of our customers are seeking our 15w40 viscosity AMSOIL synthetic diesel motor oil. Most often, this is either because they have some misgivings with regard to switching over to a "lower" viscosity oil or because they've been told "bad things" about the new CJ-4 oils.
Key Additives Reduced in CJ-4 Oils
For the record, our AME 15w40 synthetic diesel engine oil has not been blended to meet the latest CJ-4 specs because to meet CJ-4 classification requirements lubricant manufacturers were required to make significant reductions in the levels of key additives that play a significant role in acid fighting. In other words, the TBN was lowered.
Are Oil Drain Intervals Shortened?
As a result of these changes in TBN of CJ-4 oils, many diesel owners are making the assumption that the extended drain capabilities of CJ-4 oils have been compromised as compared to CI-4 oils with higher TBN values in order to blend a diesel motor oil that is more likely compatible with EGR systems found on those vehicles sold as a 2007 model or beyond.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation units installed on 2007 model and newer diesels are leaving very HEAVY soot load on the lubricant in the crankcase. This has necessitated an increase in detergents and dispersants in the new CJ-4 oils - keeping things clean is always a good thing.
Moreover, lesser quality CI-4 oils (those using petroleum or lower quality synthetic basestocks) have been forced to make improvements to their base stock quality in order to successfully meet CJ-4 specs. As a result, the API CJ-4 oils are, in respects to their basestock, a more advanced motor oil. However, if you are making comparisons between premium SYNTHETIC CJ-4 rated oils, the basestocks are likely pretty similar to their CI-4 precursors since the original basestocks were likely already able to meet CJ-4 classification requirements.
In actuality, in most respects, API CJ-4 rated diesel oils offer better performance than oils meeting only the CI-4 or CI-4+ classification. In actuality, the shorter drain interval possibility is really the only potential drawback to moving from a CI-4 to a CJ-4 oil. Of course, it's a pretty good bet that, if you don't often take your oil to the limit of it's drain interval capabilities anyway, you probably won't notice this difference between the two oils..
Chances are good that you are one of the many users that change their oil long before it's necessary, simply because they don't trust their oil to "go the distance". Thus, it's entirely possible that users may never even notice the potentially shorter CJ-4 drain interval, since they've never extended their oil drains with CI-4 rated oils.
Also important to note is that CJ-4 users' oil analysis results are beginning to paint a picture which suggests CJ-4 oils, although lower in INITIAL TBN, may have the ability to RETAIN their acid fighting ability better than their CI-4 predecessors. Thus, it is possible that, even with the lower initial TBN, the CJ-4 oils may still offer similar drain interval capability. Only time and more testing will show this for sure.
So, the end result is, if it is unlikely that you'll want to take your oil to the max drain intervals possible, and even if you do, you may not be at all affected by the lowering of the TBN values for CJ-4 oils. On the flip side, wear protection and detergency of a CJ-4 oil can only help make the switch to a CJ-4 oil a beneficial one. Hence, for many companies and individuals owning diesel engines, the CJ-4 rated oil MAY actually be the better choice, whether you have a newer model diesel or not. - 21396
Many of our customers are seeking our 15w40 viscosity AMSOIL synthetic diesel motor oil. Most often, this is either because they have some misgivings with regard to switching over to a "lower" viscosity oil or because they've been told "bad things" about the new CJ-4 oils.
Key Additives Reduced in CJ-4 Oils
For the record, our AME 15w40 synthetic diesel engine oil has not been blended to meet the latest CJ-4 specs because to meet CJ-4 classification requirements lubricant manufacturers were required to make significant reductions in the levels of key additives that play a significant role in acid fighting. In other words, the TBN was lowered.
Are Oil Drain Intervals Shortened?
As a result of these changes in TBN of CJ-4 oils, many diesel owners are making the assumption that the extended drain capabilities of CJ-4 oils have been compromised as compared to CI-4 oils with higher TBN values in order to blend a diesel motor oil that is more likely compatible with EGR systems found on those vehicles sold as a 2007 model or beyond.
Exhaust Gas Recirculation units installed on 2007 model and newer diesels are leaving very HEAVY soot load on the lubricant in the crankcase. This has necessitated an increase in detergents and dispersants in the new CJ-4 oils - keeping things clean is always a good thing.
Moreover, lesser quality CI-4 oils (those using petroleum or lower quality synthetic basestocks) have been forced to make improvements to their base stock quality in order to successfully meet CJ-4 specs. As a result, the API CJ-4 oils are, in respects to their basestock, a more advanced motor oil. However, if you are making comparisons between premium SYNTHETIC CJ-4 rated oils, the basestocks are likely pretty similar to their CI-4 precursors since the original basestocks were likely already able to meet CJ-4 classification requirements.
In actuality, in most respects, API CJ-4 rated diesel oils offer better performance than oils meeting only the CI-4 or CI-4+ classification. In actuality, the shorter drain interval possibility is really the only potential drawback to moving from a CI-4 to a CJ-4 oil. Of course, it's a pretty good bet that, if you don't often take your oil to the limit of it's drain interval capabilities anyway, you probably won't notice this difference between the two oils..
Chances are good that you are one of the many users that change their oil long before it's necessary, simply because they don't trust their oil to "go the distance". Thus, it's entirely possible that users may never even notice the potentially shorter CJ-4 drain interval, since they've never extended their oil drains with CI-4 rated oils.
Also important to note is that CJ-4 users' oil analysis results are beginning to paint a picture which suggests CJ-4 oils, although lower in INITIAL TBN, may have the ability to RETAIN their acid fighting ability better than their CI-4 predecessors. Thus, it is possible that, even with the lower initial TBN, the CJ-4 oils may still offer similar drain interval capability. Only time and more testing will show this for sure.
So, the end result is, if it is unlikely that you'll want to take your oil to the max drain intervals possible, and even if you do, you may not be at all affected by the lowering of the TBN values for CJ-4 oils. On the flip side, wear protection and detergency of a CJ-4 oil can only help make the switch to a CJ-4 oil a beneficial one. Hence, for many companies and individuals owning diesel engines, the CJ-4 rated oil MAY actually be the better choice, whether you have a newer model diesel or not. - 21396
About the Author:
To find more details in regard to our 5w40 CJ-4 synthetic diesel oils (and CI-4 rated oils) as well as quite a few other lubricant and filter related articles & FAQs please visit my BestSyntheticOil.com AMSOIL website.
posted by X - Men @ 2:07 AM
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