How long do you think API SN will last?

[addyguy]

Simple question....some specs meet current needs for a long time (API SE, 1971-1981), while some are very short and 'transitionary' in nature (API SL was what, 3 years?)

I think API SN will be with us for a while - engine technology, I think, has hit a 'plateau' - hybrids and small-displacement, DI and turbo engines are going to be the 'answer' for a while.

Also, I think SN has taken us to the ceiling of the use of 100% 'conventional' oil - ie, group II. You can meet SN with a mostly or all group-II-/II+ oil. Next spec probably won't allow the use of anything less than a group-III.

What say you?

 

[saberz]

Will be around probably less than SM was. Given the quick advancements in engine design in the past 10 years, let alone 5 years it will be overshadowed quickly. I mean look at DVD players which were super hot and must have items back in 2000-2001, less than a decade(and much shorter than VHS's lifespan) it is a dying medium. Even Blue-ray isn't selling well. Everything is digital and live-streaming.

I give it 5 years.

 

[lexus114]

then we`ll have SO oil.

 

[wallyuwl]

I don't know, I guess it depends on if SN is really the best they can do with base II or if they can go further.

Blue-ray isn't selling because it is so expensive. The players are reasonable now, but the discs are not. Hulu, by comparison, is free. I have a really nice Pioneer Blu-ray player and I still just buy DVDs and it upconverts them and the picture is great. Not worth paying double the price for a movie for me to have Blu Ray discs. When the price of the discs come down I'll start buying them.

 

[Jaymus]

Wow, I don't have the internet for 2 months... and now I'm reading that there is SN oil? Is SN already out, or am I missing something?

 

[addyguy]

Yup, API 'SN' and ILSAC GF-5 are out as of Oct. 1, 2010.

 

[Turk]

I'd say 3 years.

 

[Brian Barnhart]

3 months or 3000 miles, whichever occurs first.

 

[JHZR2]

Im not really concerned. Each oil seems to be better than the last, unless you are set on obsolete ZDDP being the only metric you go off of...

And yet the cost relative to the commodity costs doesnt seem to have gone up much if any at all...

 

[nooil]

Originally Posted By: Brian Barnhart
3 months or 3000 miles, whichever occurs first.



Thats a good one

 

[NismoMax80]

any guess how long SM will stay on the shelves? how soon can one be sure to find SN? does it really matter?

 

[JHZR2]

Till they run out...

 

[beast3300]

If car makers go to a spec like "Dexos" that requires grp 3 then maybe SN will last longer than SM.

As a side note, I seen SN 10w30 PYB at WM. Soon it will all be the same.

 

[webfors]

3-5 years is my guess.

 

[KieferS]

now - is SN even better than SM? How do we not know it is just more "catalytic and enviroment" friendly or some nonsense like that.

You know - I might just start using only SL

 

[Whimsey]

I just used the last of my Schaeffers Supreme Blend SL 5w30 in my 1996 Contour. It was spec'd for SJ so I guess using the SL was an improvement

. It runs great, uses no noticeable oil in 8,000 to 10,000 mile OCI's. It's absolutely clean under the valve covers, not even any varnish. The oil drains out a dark honey color, if that means anything. For the last six years I've been also using LC20 & FP60 pretty much faithfully so maybe that's been a factor.

Whimsey