SN obsolete on May 1, 2021
- Thread starter Snagglefoot
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Yep; magically and overnight an existing specification is sunsetted and all oil meeting that specification is also unusable. 
Good riddance. SP is superior in every way to the SN licensed oil.
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
" The Petroleum Rapture"
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
The owners manual for my 2021 BMW motorcycle still lists SL rated oil as acceptable.
Well now KITT says he only wants Mobil 1 Executive Class, extreme extended mileage 10W-40 "Turbo boost" performance SP++++ made with natural gas aloe Vera annual protection up to 50,000 miles motor oil or he wont even leave the garage or flash his scanner for me
Such a snobby Trans am now that he's almost 40 years old !!!
Such a snobby Trans am now that he's almost 40 years old !!!
I NEVER look or pay attention to these rating when choosing an oil . Weight is the only thing I looking at . I always drove vehicles that are few years old . So these rating are useless to me .
Pfffft...
if you look at the API on line they list SJ is still "current" spec.
I just used some SL in the kids car yesterday outa me stash.
if you look at the API on line they list SJ is still "current" spec.
I just used some SL in the kids car yesterday outa me stash.
You'd be hard-pressed to find anything pre-SN on the shelves anyway so yeah, it's not really a concern. I'm sure someone will mention some hole-in-the-wall parts store that found some buried and tried to sell it to someone though....
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
All European full SAPS oils W30 grade are API SL.
On their label or in their formulation ? They could be SM, SN, or even SP and still be labeled as SL since the newer are backwards-compatible.
That's not what backwards compatible means with API licenses. You can use an oil with a later license in those applications that list a previous one but it doesn't mean the oil is the same, nor does it mean it necessarily meets prior license requirements. If it does meet the requirements then all prior and current licensing standards will be listed.
I other words, an oil with an API SP license may or may not meet all the requirements for API SM. However the API SP oil can be used in the application that lists API SM.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Nope, they are labeled API SL.
Not that they care about API. Here are just a few examples. They can't meet new API requirements bcs. Zinc levels in oil. But, API is irrelevant in these applications.
https://www.castrol.com/en_us/unite...nd/castrol-edge-euro-car.html#tab_0w-30 a3/b4
http://www.pentosin.net/specsheets/Pento_High_Performance_5W-30.pdf
http://pqiadata.org/BMW_5W30.html
So is my SM oil is still OK to use?
I have a few bottles of it in my stash.
None of the vehicles I service require SP. All of them can use at least SM, with my motorcycle being SG, and truck is SJ.
I am fine with my SM, SN and SN+ oil stash.
I have a few bottles of it in my stash.None of the vehicles I service require SP. All of them can use at least SM, with my motorcycle being SG, and truck is SJ.
I am fine with my SM, SN and SN+ oil stash.
Last edited:
Hermann
Site Donor 2023
I have several quarts of oil marked SM/SN that I bought right after the switchover to SN
Pour it in to the engine using your left hand.So is my SM oil is still OK to use?
Huh ?
I realize that newer oils might not be backwards-compatible real far back, i.e. using SP in a vehicle that spec'd SH but when it's for "current" API specs, i.e. SJ through SN, you can safely use SP in them.
Yes. That’s not what I was saying nor what I thought you were saying.
And technically there are no exceptions for backwards compatibility no matter how far back.
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