API SL/SM Spec in the middle of SN era

I read in another thread that modern lubricants containing "a healthy dose of boron" are supposed to increase the load-carrying capacity of the oil by up to 8 times. The reduction in ZDP levels was offset with newer anti-wear technology.

Have you ever seen an ILSAC spider chart showing a degradation in oil performance with each new generation?

I also read in another thread that low SAPS oils come with performance compromises or can cost a lot because low-SAPS substitutes for those additives are very expensive ... or something to that effect. I think this was from one of the real experts!

I assume some of the cheaper oil may not be up to par unless they pass or have certain approvals dealing with the impacted areas ... But I ain't no expert. 👈 🤣
 
Since I’ll be a good sport this evening, I’ll say this: I would buy a good part of it if you said it was a combination of thinner recommended oils, single row timing chains, increased fuel, soot, and longer recommended oil change intervals.
Plenty of, for example, PFI Ford Cyclone V6s out there that have run 5W-20 their whole lives with no timing chain or wear related issues. Add GDI and suddenly engines start to have these sorts of issues.

Agreed totally that there are a combination of factors as you’ve listed, but soot is abrasive and certainly is a large contributor to timing chain wear.
 
But yet nearly all of the GDI UOAs we see (that are measured by good labs) have soot at 0.1% or less. That’s 10ppm. I find it hard to believe that alone would cause the number of failures reported.
Are those looking for GDI soot? Because my understanding is that GDI soot is considerably finer than diesel soot, I posted the size specs on here some time back. So that number may not accurately reflect both the volume, and subsequently the effect that GDI soot has on engine parts.
 
API SM/SN/SP oils are NOT backwards compatible with API SL. Certain engines designed prior to 2004 that specify API SL oil can be ruined by API SM/SN/SP oils. I found out the hard way after many years running M1 and PP SN in my Toyota 2ZZ-GE engine that calls for API SL:

View attachment 239917 + API SN = View attachment 239918
The 800ppm phosphorous limit on API SM and newer only applies to xW-30 grades and lower. xW-40 and 50 oils were/are not subject to the limit. This is why the full-SAPS Euro xW-40 oils continue to have considerably more phosphorous in them despite being API SP now.
 
Are those looking for GDI soot? Because my understanding is that GDI soot is considerably finer than diesel soot, I posted the size specs on here some time back. So that number may not accurately reflect both the volume, and subsequently the effect that GDI soot has on engine parts.
Right now it’s a guess on my part, but when the engine is clearly identified as a gasoline engine why would they be testing for diesel soot?
 
I think th
The 800ppm phosphorous limit on API SM and newer only applies to xW-30 grades and lower. xW-40 and 50 oils were/are not subject to the limit. This is why the full-SAPS Euro xW-40 oils continue to have considerably more phosphorous in them despite being API SP now.
Is is why the Edge 5W30 is SL rated: It gets the same add pack as the XW40 including the higher ZDDP, which is above the xW30 range for SM and newer, but is the same add pack as for XW40 SP.
So the OP has nothing to worry about.
 
And yet, with today’s oils there are more timing chain failures and stretching than ever before. Something’s not the same…
BMW has had chainwear issues on and off for decades.

The problem is probably a result of design choices, reduction in width of timing chains, materials choices.
 
I think th

Is is why the Edge 5W30 is SL rated: It gets the same add pack as the XW40 including the higher ZDDP, which is above the xW30 range for SM and newer, but is the same add pack as for XW40 SP.
So the OP has nothing to worry about.
The ONLY reason is phosphorous.
It is a better oil than 90% of offerings on Wal Mart shelves, all being SP.
 
BMW has had chainwear issues on and off for decades.

The problem is probably a result of design choices, reduction in width of timing chains, materials choices.
Many chains aren’t fully floating in oil with adequate flow rates either but they are a lot smaller supposedly for “performance “.
 
The ONLY reason is phosphorous.
It is a better oil than 90% of offerings on Wal Mart shelves, all being SP.

This is also a Wal-Mart oil. 🤣

I had bought some Euro 0/5W-40 on sale and this was a narrower spread and a good oil (based on the aporovals) that caught my attention! Then I noticed the API classification ... and doubled checked the owner's manual and wondered why it doesn't say API SN in 2014?

I wasn't chasing a specific API necessarily and it wouldn't have stopped me from buying this oil anyway. Now if it was a dino, blend or a generic syn with API SL and no other approvals, I would have moved along. 👈
 
This is also a Wal-Mart oil. 🤣

I had bought some Euro 0/5W-40 on sale and this was a narrower spread and a good oil (based on the aporovals) that caught my attention! Then I noticed the API classification ... and doubled checked the owner's manual and wondered why it doesn't say API SN in 2014?

I wasn't chasing a specific API necessarily and it wouldn't have stopped me from buying this oil anyway. Now if it was a dino, blend or a generic syn with API SL and no other approvals, I would have moved along. 👈
Nah, I wasn’t mocking oils available in Wal Mart. I am saying, of oils offered, all of them, this would be top 10% together with M1 ESP, PPE 5W30 L, M10W40 etc
 
Nah, I wasn’t mocking oils available in Wal Mart. I am saying, of oils offered, all of them, this would be top 10% together with M1 ESP, PPE 5W30 L, M10W40 etc

I know.

This Wal-Mart has all sorts of fancy oil. I've bought PP Euro L but haven't seen it lately. It's like Costco, if you see something you like, you should buy it right then. If I'm not mistaken, I even recall seeing Castrol 0W-30 but the price was kind of low and I figured it can't be the real GC.

Maybe it was 0W-20. I just checked and Castrol doesn't have any inexpensive 0W-30.
 
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I know.

This Wal-Mart has all sorts of fancy oil. I've bought PP Euro L but haven't seen it lately. It's like Costco, if you see something you like, you should buy it right then. If I'm not mistaken, I even recall seeing Castrol 0W-30 but the price was kind of low and I figured it can't be the real GC.

Maybe it was 0W-20. I just checked and Castrol doesn't have any inexpensive 0W-30.
I have never see GC 0W30 in Wal Mart. Euro L is readily available in my Wal Mart for 10yrs. Never out.
 
Castrol Edge Euro A3/B4 5W-30.

This oil is API SL but the jug says "Exceeds API SL".

Other stuff on back of the jug:
Approved & Licensed Specifications:
  • ACEA A3/B4
  • BMW LL-01
  • MB 229.5
  • VW 502 00 / 505 00
Suitable for use in the following specification: MB 229.3
Found it on my local Walmart shelves. Snapped a photo. Great to see a brand new, reasonably priced API SL 5W30 on the market again. I wish they had introduced it 10 years ago. I'd buy it and use it if I hadn't already stocked up on 0W40 API SL which is what I'm running now. The API SN/SP oils proved to be no good in my older cars. Someone please do a VOA or UOA on this unique oil!

Castrol API SL.webp
 
Found it on my local Walmart shelves. Snapped a photo. Great to see a brand new, reasonably priced API SL 5W30 on the market again. I wish they had introduced it 10 years ago. I'd buy it and use it if I hadn't already stocked up on 0W40 API SL which is what I'm running now. The API SN/SP oils proved to be no good in my older cars. Someone please do a VOA or UOA on this unique oil!

View attachment 244336
Mobil has one too. Currently more expensive at $31. But, the price seems to fluctuate. I got it for $26 a few months ago and delivered for free.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-...-Synthetic-Motor-Oil-5W-30-5-Quart/1222098962

IMG_0150.webp


VOA:
https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/m1-fs-5w-30-euro-voa.386137/

Edit: both are in the VOA database that @himemsys maintains.

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/voa-database.360118/
 
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