With regulators setting stricter greenhouse gas emission limits, engine manufacturers need to make diesel engines cleaner and more fuel-efficient than ever before. In turn, lubricants manufacturer need to produce new oils for these new engines. OEMs are also looking for improvements in oil oxidation control, aeration control and shear stability.
The next generation of Heavy Duty engine oil specifications API CK-4 and FA-4 driven by legislation and OEM improvements is due to hit the market. These oils have been referred to as PC-11 in our development phase and TOTAL Lubricants can now announce that its next generation of heavy duty engine oils to support this legislation have now arrived. TOTAL’s engine oils, branded RUBIA OPTIMA, establish the new industry standards delivering improvements in engine protection and fuel economy, while also lowering CO2 emissions.
Both specifications deliver superior performance over current oils. The former will protect new and older engine models, while the latter is designed to provide optimised fuel economy for 2017 engines and beyond.
CK-4 oils replace CJ-4 oils with the same viscosity grades and oil types (mineral/synthetic) and are backwards compatible down to CF-4. FA-4 oils are lower in viscosity grades to help maximise fuel economy without compromising durability for next generation engines. However they are limited in backwards compatibility.
The new categories of oils are the result of years of collaborative effort between the oil & additive industries and diesel engine manufacturers, to make cleaner and more fuel-efficient diesel engines.
The new TOTAL RUBIA OPTIMA oils bring huge benefits to customers, not just through reducing emissions and improving fuel economy, but also by providing better protection against wear and a greater resistance to breakdown.
The robust new oils provide greater shear stability when coping with higher loads and the risk of oil pressure loss is diminished. Bubbles in the oil can reduce the ability to cool and protect an engine so the new changes now provide improved aeration control.
The new oils also provide improved oxidation stability. Oxidation degrades the oil, causing harmful sludge and viscosity increase, but the new formulas enhance resistance to oxidation.
With improved aeration and oxidation stability, the new oils are designed to provide greater protection and efficiency for vehicles working in the harshest of environments, and extreme temperatures.
These product benefits all combine to bring significant benefits to the customer, ranging from reduced emissions, cost savings on fuel, extended oil drain intervals and lower maintenance costs.
Further details regarding UK launch dates will come soon from Total UK.
