Is GF-4 rating the same as SM?

[thrace]

Hope this is not too basic. Concerning newer oil standards, is GF-4 the same as SM? Will a oil meeting GF-4 meet SM standards or the converse?

There is Chevron Supreme that is GF4/SL and not SM. I bought it anyway and will use it without any reservation.

Further info from the back of the bottle:
Chevron Supreme 5w30
Meets requirements of
GM 6094M
Ford WSS-M2C-929-A
DaimlerChrysler MS-6395L
ILSAC GF-4

STARBURST DONUT SAYS:
API SERVICE SL
SAE 5W30
ENERGY CONSERVING

Characters in black near bottom of bottle:
B856741-R-07/30/04-11:07

SKU NUMBER 0 23968 46723 4

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

I don't think so. GF-4 if the Fuel Efficient rating and SM is the emissions and performance based spec.

 

[BeltwayBandit]

Oil labels are in transition. No one can use the API SM donut until November 30, 2004, but they are allowed to state that the oil meets the SM spec. I have seen several different brands that state they meet the SM spec in the text of their labels.

Perhaps and over simplified way to look at this is that the SM oil spec is the oil industry's response to the auto makers' GF-4 performance specification.

I think the Cheveron label you have is product of the delayed timings of the approval of the various standards. For example, the GF-4 standard was approved several months before the API finalized its much delayed standard for SM and API further delayed approval of the use of the donut for several months. Cheveron ordered some oil bottles for their GF-4 blend when they knew what the spec was for GF-4, but not the spec for SM and they may not have wanted to bother with a non-donut label. By your next oil change you probably will be seeing Cheveron's bottles with the SM donut.

 

[Ray H]

quote:

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Originally posted by ToyotaNSaturn:
I don't think so. GF-4 if the Fuel Efficient rating and SM is the emissions and performance based spec.

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The ILSAC rating (which includes input from the Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association - "JAMA") includes performance as well as economy parameters. Strictly speaking, the API service rating is performance related only, but the API "donut" additionally carries the familiar "Energy Conserving" notice in its lower half for appropriate viscosity ranges. The "distinction" of the whole API donut vs. the ILSAC counterpart is largely meaningless as it relates to qualified energy conserving motor oils.