Oil Specs - what do they mean???

[BennyL]

SM, SL, SJ, SG... what do all these mean?

Can someone fill me in on this stuff plz!

 

[Ron AKA]

Generally you have listed these API specs in order of most recent to oldest. Some would disagree but the most recent ones are intended to reflect the lastest standard and highest quality, and they go down as they get older. Further the intent is that these standards are backwards compatible. I.e. SM oils are suitable for SL, SJ,....

The attached two documents give you the specific details as to what is required by each level. And this API documents gives it in more general terms.

http://www.infineum.com/information/api-passenger-sj-sl-2004.html
http://www.infineum.com/information/api-passenger-sm-2004.html
http://api-ep.api.org/filelibrary/API_MotorOilGuide_2004.pdf

And then there is the GF-4 standard. SM was basically prepared to comply with GF-4. Here is the GF-4 spec, and a bit dated article discussion the histor of how it was developed.

http://www.ilma.org/resources/ilsac_finalstd011404.pdf
http://www.northamericanlubricants.com/news/gf4specs.htm

 

[BennyL]

wow, looks like i have alot of reading ahead of me. but it needs to be done! i must be in the loop when discussing these things.

thanks for the response Ron... your very helpful.