API motor oil specification

API or American Petroleum Institute is the largest oil and natural gas industry trade association in the USA. It is said to have almost 600 companies involved in production, refining, marketing and many other aspects of the oil industry.

Current and previous API service categories are summarized in the convenient charts below. Vehicle owners should consult their vehicle owner’s manual before consulting these tables. Oils can have more than one specification. For gasoline engines in automobiles, the latest engine oil service category (specification) includes the performance characteristics of each previous category. For example, if the vehicle owner’s manual calls for an API SN oil, the newer API SP oil will provide full protection. For diesel engines, the latest category usually—but not always—includes the performance characteristics of the previous category.

API FA-4 and FA-4 Donut identify certain XW-30 oils specifically designed for use in select high-speed four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model year highway greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards. API FA-4 oils are not interchangeable or backward compatible with API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, and CH-4 oils. Refer to the engine manufacturer's recommendations to determine if API FA-4 oils are suitable for use in your vehicle.

ILSAC standard for passenger car engine oils
Current and previous ILSAC standards are listed here. Vehicle owners should consult their owner's manual before consulting these tables. Oils may have more than one performance category.
For automotive gasoline engines, the latest ILSAC standard includes the performance characteristics of each previous category and can be used to service older engines where the use of oils from the previous category was recommended.
 

Name	Status	Explanation
GF-6A	Current	Introduced in May 2020, designed to provide protection against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI), timing chain wear protection, improved high-temperature protection for pistons and turbochargers, stricter sludge and varnish control, improved fuel economy, improved emission control system. Protection for engines running on ethanol-containing fuels up to E85.
GF-6B	Current	Applies only to oils with an SAE viscosity grade of 0W-16. Introduced in May 2020, designed to provide protection against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI), timing chain wear protection, high-temperature deposits on pistons and turbochargers, strict sludge and varnish control, improved fuel economy, emission control system protection and protection. from engines running on ethanol-containing fuels up to E85.
GF-5	Outdated*	Use GF-6A when GF-5 is recommended.
GF-4	Outdated	Use GF-5 when GF-4 is recommended.
GF-3	Outdated	Use GF-5 when GF-3 is recommended.
GF-2	Outdated	Use GF-5 when GF-2 is recommended.
GF-1	Outdated	Use GF-5 when GF-1 is recommended.

Gasoline engines
The current and previous API service categories (specifications) are listed here. Vehicle owners should consult their owner's manual before consulting these tables. Oils may have more than one specification.
For automotive gasoline engines, the latest API service category incorporates the performance characteristics of each previous category and can be used to service older engines where oils from the previous category were recommended.
Note: The letters "SI", "SK", and "SO" have been omitted from the API service category letter sequence because they are commonly associated with other organizations or systems.

 

Cate- gory	Status	Explanation
SP	Current	Introduced in May 2020, it is designed to provide protection against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI), timing chain wear protection, improved high-temperature deposit protection for pistons and turbochargers, and more stringent sludge and varnish control. API SP with resource conservation is compatible with ILSAC GF-6A, combining API SP performance with improved fuel economy, emission control system protection, and protection for engines running on fuels containing ethanol up to E85.
SN	Current	For car engines 2020 and older
SM	Current	For car engines 2010 and older
SL	Current	For car engines 2004 and older
SJ	Current	For car engines from 2001 and older.
SH	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automobile engines built after 1996. May not provide adequate protection against sludge buildup, oxidation, or wear.
SG	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automobile engines built after 1993. May not provide adequate protection against engine sludge buildup, oxidation or wear.
SF	Outdated	CAUTION: Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered car engines built after 1988. May not provide adequate protection against engine sludge buildup.
SE	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most gasoline car engines built after 1979.
SD	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automobile engines built after 1971. Use in more modern engines may result in unsatisfactory performance or damage to equipment.
SC	Outdated	CAUTION: Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automobile engines built after 1967. Use in more modern engines may result in unsatisfactory performance or damage to equipment.
SB	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automobile engines built after 1951. Use in more modern engines may result in unsatisfactory performance or damage to equipment.
SA	Outdated	CAUTION : Contains no additives. Not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automobile engines built after 1930. Use in modern engines may result in unsatisfactory performance or damage to equipment.

Diesel engines category C

Category	Status	Explanation
CK-4	Current	API Service Category CK-4 describes oils intended for use in high-speed four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet the 2017 model year on-highway and Tier 4 non-highway emission standards, as well as previous model year diesel engines. These oils are intended for use in all applications with diesel fuels containing up to 500 ppm (0.05% by weight) sulfur. However, use of these oils in fuels containing more than 15 ppm (0.0015% by weight) sulfur may affect the durability of the exhaust after-treatment system and/or the oil drain interval. These oils are particularly effective in maintaining the durability of the exhaust control system when diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and other advanced after-treatment systems are used. API CK-4 oils are designed to provide enhanced protection against oil oxidation, shear-induced viscosity loss, and oil aeration, as well as protection against catalyst poisoning, particulate filter blockage, engine wear, piston deposits, low and high temperature deterioration, and soot-related viscosity increase. API CK-4 oils exceed the performance criteria of API CJ-4, CI-4 and CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, and CH-4 and can effectively lubricate engines requiring these API service categories. When using CK-4 oils with sulfur content greater than 15 ppm, consult the engine manufacturer for service interval recommendations.
CJ-4	Current	For high-speed four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2010 model year on-highway and Tier 4 non-highway emission standards, as well as previous model year diesel engines. These oils are intended for use in all applications with diesel fuels containing up to 500 ppm (0.05 wt%) sulfur. However, use of these oils containing more than 15 ppm (0.0015 wt%) sulfur may affect the durability and/or drain interval of the exhaust aftertreatment system. API CJ-4 oils exceed the performance criteria of API CI-4 along with CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4 and CF-4 and can effectively lubricate engines requiring these API service categories. If using CJ-4 oil with a sulfur content greater than 15 ppm, consult the engine manufacturer for service intervals.
CI-4	Current	Introduced in 2002. For high-speed four-stroke engines designed to meet the 2004 emission standards that were implemented in 2002. CI-4 oils are designed to maintain engine durability when exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is used and are intended for use with diesel fuels with a sulfur content of up to 0.5% by weight. Can be used in place of CD, CE, CF-4, CG-4 and CH-4 oils. Some CI-4 oils may also qualify for the CI-4 PLUS designation.
CH-4	Current	Introduced in 1998. For high-speed four-stroke engines designed to meet 1998 emission standards. CH-4 oils are specially formulated for use with diesel fuels with a sulfur content of up to 0.5% by weight. Can be used in place of CD, CE, CF-4 and CG-4 oils.
CG-4	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 2009.
CF-4	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 2009.
CF-2	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 2009. Two-stroke engines may have different lubrication requirements than four-stroke engines, so the manufacturer should be contacted for current lubrication recommendations.
CF	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 2009. Later "C" category oils are usually suitable or preferred for automotive diesel engines for which "CF" oils are specified. Older equipment and/or two-stroke diesel engines, especially those requiring single-stage products, may still require CF category oil.
CE	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 1994.
CD-II	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 1994.
CD	Outdated	CAUTION: Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 1994.
CC	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 1990.
CB	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 1961.
CA	Outdated	CAUTION : Not suitable for use in most diesel engines built after 1959.

Diesel engines category F

Category	Status	Explanation
FA-4	Current	API Service Category FA-4 describes certain XW-30 oils specifically designed for use in select high-speed four-stroke diesel engines designed to meet 2017 model year highway greenhouse gas (GHG) emission standards. These oils are intended for use on highways with diesel fuel sulfur content up to 15 ppm (0.0015 wt%). Refer to individual engine manufacturers’ recommendations for compatibility with API FA-4 oils. These oils are blended to a high temperature high shear (HTHS) viscosity range of 2.9 to 3.2 cP to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. These oils are particularly effective in maintaining the durability of the emission control system when particulate filters and other advanced aftertreatment systems are used. API FA-4 oils are designed to provide improved protection against oil oxidation, shear-induced viscosity loss, and oil aeration, as well as protection against catalyst poisoning, particulate filter blockage, engine wear, piston deposits, low and high temperature degradation, and soot-related viscosity increase. API FA-4 oils are not interchangeable or backward compatible with API CK-4, CJ-4, CI-4 oils, CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, and CH-4. Refer to the engine manufacturer's recommendations to determine if API FA-4 oils are suitable for use. API FA-4 oils are not recommended for use with fuels with a sulfur content greater than 15 ppm. For fuels with a sulfur content greater than 15 ppm, refer to the engine manufacturer's recommendations.

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