All of the oil specifications.

[stchman]

Isn't this getting a tad absurd? Sad thing is I probably missed quite a few.

dexos1
dexos2
MS-6395
BMW LL-01
BMW LL-04
Porsche A4
API SN
ILSAC GF-4 and GF-5
ACEA A3/A5
MB 229.5
MB 229.5
JASO M345
CJ-4
HTO-06
WSS-M2C945-A
WSS-M2C930-A
Renault 0710, 0700
Volkswagen 502.00, 505.00

 

[Hermann]

^^^^

Doesn't matter your engine can't read.

 

[ExMachina]

We could pass a law and go for a tiered oil quality system.
I think it would work. I really don't see all the engines being that different, where they each need their own spec.
For gasoline engines, we could do 4 tiers easily, adopting the MB229.5 and A40 specs for those high HTHS oils at the top tier.
Anyway, similar to what ACEA does, but 4 distinct quality levels. Then tell the automakers they only get to specify one of the 4 oil categories in their gasoline engine. Simple and restores sanity.

 

[crazyoildude]

and some people still say oil is oil...Even some in the engine business

 

[slacktide_bitog]

Should we list all the specs, or simply all the organizations/companies that have specs? Also, most of the European specs are based off of ACEA A1/B1 or A3/B4 or C-spec and are somewhat close. Dexos encompasses SN/RC/GF5. And keep in mind you only need one or two or three for any specific car/engine.

Fun fact: the proliferation of specs is part of the reason why ACEA stopped allowing A and B to be separate. Instead of A3 only o B4, now they have to meet A3/B4

For example the list could be:
ACEA
API
GM/dexos
Ford M2C
ILSAC
M-B
BMW
VW
...

or it could be
API SN
ILSAC GF-5 (aka SN/RC)
ACEA A1/B1
ACEA A5/B5 (encompasses A1/B1)
ACEA A3/B3
ACEA A3/B4 (A3/B3, and sometimes written as A3/B3/B4)
ACEA C1
ACEA C2
ACEA C3
ACEA C4
dexos1 (SN/RC and GF5)
dexos2
BMW LL-01
BMW LL-04
Porsche A40
Porsche C30
VW 502.00
VW 505.00
HTO-06
Nissan GT-R (no name for the spec, M1 0w40 just lists GT-R)
...

 

[weasley]

Originally Posted By: stchman
Sad thing is I probably missed quite a few.


Loads!

MB 229.3, 229.31, 229.52 (and many older ones)
VW 504 00/507 00, 505 01 and older ones
Ford - there are LOADS of these
Porsche (assume you meant A40), C30
BMW LL-13, LL-12FE
Volvo
Jaguar Land Rover
Fiat
...und so weiter.

And it is only going to get worse. Oil is becoming such a critical factor in enabling the modern efficiency and power demands that it is having to be more specific and less generic. Also some OEM gasoline and diesel specs are diverging again, after being brought together.

 

[TFB1]

Originally Posted By: crazyoildude
and some people still say oil is oil...Even some in the engine business

And for most part are correct... ANY SN oil from 0W-20 to 10w30/40 used in a normally aspirated engine will run for 200-300K mi or more...

Too thin oil in a boosted engine is asking for trouble, but again I doubt there'd be a issue with any API SN oil...

 

[bruno]

Boosted engines today are specced for 0-20.
What do you consider too thin ?

 

[4wheeldog]

Interesting how the list of special requirements is from a pretty narrow set of countries. The Japanese don't seem to have the same issues with oil specs as German and American manufacturers.

I think the Germans do it because they are control freaks. The Amercans do it because they can charge money for the certification.

OK, in some instances, the Germans have to do it, because the oil has to stay in the sump for a bunch longer. But not the Americans.....

 

[DeepFriar]

PCMO is a kind of commodity. As such, if you are going to sell the stuff, it is necessary for you to differentiate your product, somehow, to support pricing/profit strategies. It is always helpful if your corn is differentiated from Farmer John's corn. To the extent that different specifications are required, when and IF they are required, it is still something of a godsend to the marketing guys. The wide array of specifications is probably not something the oil companies resist. Myself, I wonder that we don't reach a point like Dexos2/MB229.52 that would obsolete most of PCMO altogether.