Discuss Whether to Choose an API CI-4 or CJ-4 Rated Diesel Motor Oil?
I often hear companies arguing the relative benefits and drawbacks of the newer CJ-4 diesel motor oils vs. the older CI-4 diesel motor oils. So, why don't we spend a few minutes explaining why you might or might not want to utilize a CJ-4 or CI-4 rated diesel oil in your engine(s).
Quite a few folks are wanting to purchase our 15w40 viscosity AMSOIL synthetic diesel oil. Generally, this is either because they fear moving to a "lower" viscosity 5w30, 10w30, 5w40 or 10w40 oil or because they've heard horror stories regarding the new CJ-4 rated oils.
Key Additives Reduced in CJ-4 Oils
For the record, our AME 15w40 synthetic diesel engine oil has not been blended to meet the latest CJ-4 specs because to meet CJ-4 classification requirements lubricant manufacturers were required to make significant reductions in the levels of key additives that play a significant role in acid fighting. In other words, the TBN was lowered.
Are Oil Drain Intervals Shortened?
Because the TBN of CJ-4 oils has dropped, many diesel owners are making the assumption that the extended drain capabilities of API CJ-4 oils should be much less as compared to the older CI-4 oils with better acid fighting ability in order to make the oils more compatible with Exhaust Gas Recirculation systems found on those vehicles sold as a 2007 model or beyond.
These newer EGR systems are putting HEAVY soot load on the oil. As a result, oil manufacturers have increased the dispersant and detergent additives in the new CJ-4 oils - keeping things clean is always a good thing.
Moreover, lesser quality CI-4 oils (those using petroleum or lower quality synthetic basestocks) have been forced to make improvements to their base stock quality in order to successfully meet CJ-4 specs. As a result, the API CJ-4 oils are, in respects to their basestock, a more advanced motor oil. However, if you are making comparisons between premium SYNTHETIC CJ-4 rated oils, the basestocks are likely pretty similar to their CI-4 precursors since the original basestocks were likely already able to meet CJ-4 classification requirements.
The truth is, in most respects, API CJ-4 rated diesel oils offer better performance than oils meeting only the CI-4 or CI-4+ classification. In actuality, the shorter drain interval possibility is really the only potential drawback to moving from a CI-4 to a CJ-4 oil. But, you may very well not even notice the difference between a CI-4 and a CJ-4 rated oil if you typically don't extend your drain intervals all that far.
It's actually very common for users to change their oil before it's really necessary simply because they don't trust the longer drain intervals to protect their expensive engines. Hence, even though the CI-4 15w40 oil MIGHT offer a longer drain than our CJ-4 5w40, it's likely that most end users will not notice because they never take their oil to the limit anyway.
An additional valid consideration is that oil analysis results of CJ-4 users are painting a differnt picture - one which suggests that CJ-4 oils, even though lower in INITIAL TBN, may actually have the capability to RETAIN their ability to fight acid build-up better than CI-4 rated oils. Time will tell if these initial oil analysis results prove to hold true and CJ-4 rates oils will be able to offer long drain capability such as that found in higher TBN CI-4 rated oils.
So, the end result is, if it is unlikely that you'll want to take your oil to the max drain intervals possible, and even if you do, you may not be at all affected by the lowering of the TBN values for CJ-4 oils. On the flip side, wear protection and detergency of a CJ-4 oil can only help make the switch to a CJ-4 oil a beneficial one. Hence, for many companies and individuals owning diesel engines, the CJ-4 rated oil MAY actually be the better choice, whether you have a newer model diesel or not. - 21392
Quite a few folks are wanting to purchase our 15w40 viscosity AMSOIL synthetic diesel oil. Generally, this is either because they fear moving to a "lower" viscosity 5w30, 10w30, 5w40 or 10w40 oil or because they've heard horror stories regarding the new CJ-4 rated oils.
Key Additives Reduced in CJ-4 Oils
For the record, our AME 15w40 synthetic diesel engine oil has not been blended to meet the latest CJ-4 specs because to meet CJ-4 classification requirements lubricant manufacturers were required to make significant reductions in the levels of key additives that play a significant role in acid fighting. In other words, the TBN was lowered.
Are Oil Drain Intervals Shortened?
Because the TBN of CJ-4 oils has dropped, many diesel owners are making the assumption that the extended drain capabilities of API CJ-4 oils should be much less as compared to the older CI-4 oils with better acid fighting ability in order to make the oils more compatible with Exhaust Gas Recirculation systems found on those vehicles sold as a 2007 model or beyond.
These newer EGR systems are putting HEAVY soot load on the oil. As a result, oil manufacturers have increased the dispersant and detergent additives in the new CJ-4 oils - keeping things clean is always a good thing.
Moreover, lesser quality CI-4 oils (those using petroleum or lower quality synthetic basestocks) have been forced to make improvements to their base stock quality in order to successfully meet CJ-4 specs. As a result, the API CJ-4 oils are, in respects to their basestock, a more advanced motor oil. However, if you are making comparisons between premium SYNTHETIC CJ-4 rated oils, the basestocks are likely pretty similar to their CI-4 precursors since the original basestocks were likely already able to meet CJ-4 classification requirements.
The truth is, in most respects, API CJ-4 rated diesel oils offer better performance than oils meeting only the CI-4 or CI-4+ classification. In actuality, the shorter drain interval possibility is really the only potential drawback to moving from a CI-4 to a CJ-4 oil. But, you may very well not even notice the difference between a CI-4 and a CJ-4 rated oil if you typically don't extend your drain intervals all that far.
It's actually very common for users to change their oil before it's really necessary simply because they don't trust the longer drain intervals to protect their expensive engines. Hence, even though the CI-4 15w40 oil MIGHT offer a longer drain than our CJ-4 5w40, it's likely that most end users will not notice because they never take their oil to the limit anyway.
An additional valid consideration is that oil analysis results of CJ-4 users are painting a differnt picture - one which suggests that CJ-4 oils, even though lower in INITIAL TBN, may actually have the capability to RETAIN their ability to fight acid build-up better than CI-4 rated oils. Time will tell if these initial oil analysis results prove to hold true and CJ-4 rates oils will be able to offer long drain capability such as that found in higher TBN CI-4 rated oils.
So, the end result is, if it is unlikely that you'll want to take your oil to the max drain intervals possible, and even if you do, you may not be at all affected by the lowering of the TBN values for CJ-4 oils. On the flip side, wear protection and detergency of a CJ-4 oil can only help make the switch to a CJ-4 oil a beneficial one. Hence, for many companies and individuals owning diesel engines, the CJ-4 rated oil MAY actually be the better choice, whether you have a newer model diesel or not. - 21392
About the Author:
If you could use more illumination regarding CJ-4 synthetic diesel motor oil (& also CI-4 synthetic diesel oil) as well as quite a few other lubricant and filter related articles & FAQs please visit my BestSyntheticOil.com AMSOIL website.
posted by X - Men @ 3:20 AM
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