SJ,SL,SM.......***?

[j_mac]

Hello guys.
Can someone explain or provide a link to describe what the deal is with SJ,SL,and SM oils and the government reducing the amounts of the "good" additives the manufacturers can put in the motor oil?
I was at Wal-Mart tonight and noticed that ALL the oil on the shelf is rated SJ,SL,and SM.

Does this mean that you cant buy a "good" oil anymore? Or are the newest oils as good as s SG oil?

I really don't have a clue. Can someone explain this stuff to me?

thanks.

 

[Colt45ws]

The government didnt specify to reduce the amount of phospherous in motor oil, the car makers themselves did. Although they did it because the government mandated emissions warranty will be 10/120k soon. Phospherous poisons catalytic converters when it gets into the exhaust. So I guess in a round about way I guess you could say they did...
I would take a SM or SL over SG or SJ. While they did have to reduce the amount of this one additive, they tightened many other specifications, including wear performance, that make the oil overall, better.

 

[OVERKILL]

Good 'ol slow sales in Peterborough. There are still a number of the CI4 grade bottles of Mobil 1 Turbo Diesel Truck at my Walmart. May have to grab them.

 

[bmwtechguy]

Unless your engine has the older style flat tappet (non roller follower) valvetrain or modified with high spring pressures and high lift cams, the newest SM oils should provide all the protection you really need. They will still put SL,SG on the bottle too to show that it supercedes or meets those older specs as well. Diesel-rated oils and some motorcycle specific oils will have higher levels of some of the antiwear additives that were lowered when these specs changed. Part of what automakes were trying to do is lower certain additives like the phosphorous-containing ZDDP that can shorten the effective life of your catalytic converter if it gets in the exhaust stream.

 

[hate2work]

go to google.com

type in your search criteria

browse for answers, there will be many to choose from

thanks

 

[JHZR2]

the higher levels of Zn and P are not necessarily "good" adds.

There are lots of advanced chemistries that sometimes will not even show up in UOA/VOA.

The best oil is the one that produces the lowest wear rates for YOUR situation, equipment, driving style and usage profile... going off of a ppm reading from an oil analysis to judge the best additives is not a sound method.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: j_mac

I was at Wal-Mart tonight and noticed that ALL the oil on the shelf is rated SJ,SL,and SM.

Does this mean that you cant buy a "good" oil anymore? Or are the newest oils as good as s SG oil?

I really don't have a clue. Can someone explain this stuff to me?



If Walmart had all three of the current API S classes, then they have a great selection!

Assuming SG oil is the best standard is unwise. Better.

I will say. Lot's of reading. Go here:

http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/pubs/index.cfm

http://www.amsoil.com/lit/g52.pdf

These won't explain everything, but will get you focused so you can ask more precise questions. I doubt one of the knowledgeable folks here will take the time to answer such a broad question in detail.

 

[Johnny]

Sorry, I just cannot resist. ***? (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) What are you going to use on MTSS?

 

[TallPaul]

Think Walmart oil had all three classes on same bottle, meaning can use in cars speced for SL, SJ, but also SM. But I don't recall ever seeing the *** oil classification--is that something specific to Walmart?

 

[Zaedock]

Originally Posted By: bmwtechguy
Unless your engine has the older style flat tappet (non roller follower) valvetrain or modified with high spring pressures and high lift cams, the newest SM oils should provide all the protection you really need.


SM oil is perfectly fine for flat tappet cams.

 

[Vilan]

Originally Posted By: j_mac
Does this mean that you cant buy a "good" oil anymore? Or are the newest oils as good as s SG oil?


No, the new oils are not as good as SG.

They are better. Much better.

Newer oil ratings supersede previous ones. So any car that required SG when it was made can use SJ or SL or SM. This isn't quite 100% true... some oils do have a reason to keep the old-school specs (you can find motorcycle oils that are still rated SG, for instance) but for the average engine there is no need to worry.

 

[Gary Allan]

Originally Posted By: Johnny
Sorry, I just cannot resist. ***? (Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) What are you going to use on MTSS?


Michael Corleone: In English!
Apollonia: I know English... Monday, Tuesday, Saturday ..