Labels misleading or simple omission? (SL, SM designation)

[DirtyApe]

Was purchasing some oil for the Jeep today and noticed that both Pennzoil Conventional and Castrol GTX stated "SL" in the starburst. HOWEVER, in other wording on the label in back, it stated "Meets or exceeds SM/SL , SJ, SH" and Meets ILSAC GF-4, GF-3, GF-2"

SO... In purchasing one, am I getting SM, Group 4 oil or not?

 

[tdi jerry]

i dont think that sm is a group four oil.it is a gf4 oil. the group four oil is a synthetic.

 

[John_E]

These are reputable companies. I suspect you are seeing a mix of old and new labeling as the new standards come out. Use either oil with confidence, unless you really need a Group 4 oil, as I do with my VW turbo.

 

[DirtyApe]

Well, what is confusing is that both things I have in my post are on the back label of the jug. What I mean is that on the same label it states SL, but then says right across the label on the left side "exceeds SM/SL"..

Does'nt GF-4 stand for Group4? I take it not, if not, what does it designate?

 

[The_Jeff]

The SM thing is a licensing thing. They couldn't put it on the front of the bottle until, IIRC, Nov 30 2004. But they could pass the test for SM and brag about it last summer.

The GF-4 thing is another spec, again IIRC, tighter than APIs.

 

[427Z06]

SM, SL, SJ, etc, are API classifications. GF-2, GF-3, GF-4, etc, are ILSAC classifications, and GF-4 does not mean Group 4 base stock .

With the advent of API SM and ILSAC GF-4, the requirements of the classifications are almost identical. See: API Engine Oil Classifications 2004

Note the notes on the bottom of the chart.