Pennzoil - Low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) Q&A

[wwillson]

[Edit - Answers posted here] https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/pennzoil-low-speed-pre-ignition-lspi-q-a-answers.396806/

Hello BITOG Members:

Pennzoil here! Welcome to another virtual community event as we discuss relevant engine operation and motor oil topics. We invite members to join a Q&A related to low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI), which has been the topic of much industry discussion and has been addressed by the two most recent ILSAC gasoline motor oil specifications.

Low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) is an abnormal combustion event occurring at low engine speeds and high torque. In this event, the fuel/air mixture ignites prematurely, potentially causing catastrophic engine damage.

Pennzoil Technical Scientist and Automotive Lubricant Specialist Sean Nguyen will be responding to questions regarding the following topics:

• What is LSPI, and how it impacts engine operation
• Possible causes of LSPI

How the ILSAC GF-7 motor oil specification addresses LSPI

Sean has been with Shell for over 25 years and has held various positions, including Lubricant Technical Advisor, Lubricant Product Research and Lubricant Technology Trainer. He holds an MBA and B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Houston and a B.S. in Biomedical Science from Texas A&M University.

The thread will be open for submissions from 12:00 PM ET on Friday, May 30, until 6:00 PM ET on Friday, June 6. The Pennzoil team will provide answers to your questions. The responses will be posted in a separate thread on Wednesday, June 18.

Pennzoil is excited to kick off this opportunity! Please note:

• Please use this thread only to submit questions. If you see questions posed in other threads, please repost them in this thread to help us ensure we address everything.
• Please understand that we will not be able to answer some questions. We cannot divulge proprietary information and only speak about our products and areas of expertise.

We appreciate the BITOG community’s enthusiasm surrounding our community events and are excited to kick off another Q&A! Let the questions begin.

- The Pennzoil Team

 

[Klutch9]

Which of the common OEM oil specs (from VW, Mercedes, BMW, etc) include some form of LSPI test, and how do the tests vary? We know it’s a focus of API and ILSAC, but LSPI testing is also part of some of the other major euro OEM approvals, and even some diesel specs. Although, you often have to dig to see which ones have that test.

As an example: I’ll be using your Euro L 5w30 in my Explorer 2.3 TGDI at some point. It’s only API SN, so one would think it would not have been tested for LSPI. But it does carry the Dexos2 cert which, although being targeted primarily at diesels, actually contains an LSPI test. I only know this because I did a deep dive into the spec.

 

[wwillson]

What is the cause(s) of LSPI and how does the new formulation address LSPI? What are the test(s) the new LSPI formula is measured against? How well does it perform on those test(s)?

 

[himemsys]

Can LSPI be created in the lab, and if so, how easy is it to produce? Do you think it is easy for LSPI to occur "in the wild", or do you believe its' occurrence is rare? How do the answers to these questions dictate how Pennzoil approaches LSPI mitigation in their oil formulations?

 

[eljefino]

What is the history of this problem that wasn't a problem, until recently? Seems like a thing with today's tightly managed, high strung, small displacement, forced induction engines.

I haven't heard of it until this week, and consider myself a "car guy" in the know. Without giving up corporate strategies, of course, how should an oil company market their product's resistance to this issue?

 

[Lockasiam]

Why is different formulation of oil what’s mainly used to combat LSPI? How much does LSPI resistant oil really do before other factors like low quality fuel start causing it?

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

Is LSPI a phenomenon that has only been observed in direct-injection gasoline engines? It seems the finer, higher-pressure mist when combined with the added heat of adiabatic compression from forced induction would be conducive to rogue ignition events.

 

[TiGeo]

How does LSPI differ from "normal" pre-ignition and detonation/knock?

 

[OneLonelyBurrito]

We know that oil is a contributing factor to LSPI events, but how much does oil actually influence these events compared engine design/calibration choices? Is oil the main contributing factor? Or can engine design choices on the small turbo charged engine like piston design/ring pack design be the main cause of LSPI?

 

[TheBig2003]

In comparison of API SN+, SP and incoming SQ, what changes in the formulation have taken place to combat LSPI and what is the overall reduction goal in LSPI with SQ over SP?

 

[Glenda W.]

How do Euro formulas differ to combat LSPI?

 

[Boomer]

Is LSPI made worse by the US still hanging on to low octane fuels?

 

[burbguy82]

If an engine has an LSPI event, while exclusively using Pennzoil, will Pennzoil warranty the engine? If not why? Can a motor oil completely mitigate LSPI, assuming the engine is sound?

 

[RGlbk]

If an engine has an LSPI event, while exclusively using Pennzoil, will Pennzoil warranty the engine? If not why? Can a motor oil completely mitigate LSPI, assuming the engine is sound?

Is LSPI occurring because the oil is getting past the rings on the piston? I would think a tiny tiny tiny amount if any remains on the cylinder walls in a good engine

 

[wwillson]

Thanks to all that participated!