Diesel engine emissions
have been an ongoing environmental concern for the past few
decades. Particulates and nitrogen oxides (NOx) associated
with health problems and damaging smog and acid rain have
been targeted by governments globally, and the United States,
Europe and Japan have responded to demands to reduce these
harmful emissions.
NOx forms when
atmospheric nitrogen in the power cylinder oxidizes. Because
peak cylinder temperature plays a key role in NOx formulation,
methods of reducing the temperature, including cooled exhaust
gas recirculation (EGR) technology, have been employed in
modern diesel engines as solutions to reducing NOx emissions.
Diesel particulates
are composed of solid carbon (soot), sulfate, bound water
and unburned fuel and oil. Because sulfur is key to particulate
formation, the sulfur level in diesel fuel has been gradually
decreased over the years.
In the U.S., particulate
and NOx levels were first regulated in 1988, with regulations
becoming increasingly stringent through the years. In fact,
1988 standards set NOx and particulate levels at 14.4 g/kW-hr
(grams/kilowatts-hour) and 0.8 g/kW-hr respectively, while
2010 standards have been set at 0.27 g/kW-hr and 0.013 g/kW-hr
respectively.
Between the years
1988 and 1991, emission standards were met by improving in-cylinder
combustion through the use of unit injectors, electronic controls,
controlled air swirl, improved combustion bowl design, reduced
piston crevice volume, turbo-charging, air inter-cooling and
reductions in oil consumption. The year 1991 also saw the
use of high top rings to lower particulate emissions.
Fuel Sulfur was
successfully reduced by 90 percent in order to meet 1994 particulate
targets, dropping from 5,000 ppm to 500 ppm in October 1993.
The sulfur reduction had no harmful effects on diesel engines,
and the API CG-4 oil category was established in 1994 using
low-sulfur diesel fuel in all engine tests.
By 1998, retarded
fuel injection timing was introduced to meet increasingly
stringent NOx emission standards. By displacing combustion
until later in the expansion stroke, retarded fuel injection
timing lowers the peak flame temperature and effectively reduces
NOx formulation. High top rings and retarded fuel injection
timing increased soot-loading on the oil, leading to the introduction
of API diesel oil category CH-4 in order to prevent viscosity
increases and increased wear due to soot.
In order to meet
2002 emission standards, most engine manufacturers introduced
low levels (10-15 percent) of cooled EGR technology. EGR engines
reduce NOx emissions by recirculating a portion of the exhaust
to the engine's combustion chamber, lowering peak combustion
temperature and NOx formation. Although EGR engines effectively
reduce emissions, they also run hotter and introduce higher
levels of soot and acid into the oil, leading to increased
wear, increases oil viscosity and shorter oil drain intervals.
The API CI-4 diesel
oil specification was introduced in December 2001 to protect
against the higher temperatures and increased levels of acids,
soot and oxidation associated with EGR engines. API CI-4 oils
were formulated with increased detergent levels to protect
rings and liners and increased oxidation inhibitors to prevent
bearing corrosion. API issued an upgrade to its CI-4 specification,
CI-4 PLUS, in September 2004 in order to provide improved
oxidation resistance, shear stability, acid neutralization
and soot dispersancy for EGR engines.
Some manufacturers
released their own diesel oil performance specifications in
order to assure optimum protection for their equipment. For
example, Mack released its stringent EO-N Premium Plus High
Performance Diesel Engine Oil specification in the spring
of 2002 and upgraded it in April 2003 to EO-N Premium Plus
03 and again in June 2006 to EO-O Premium Plus.
The latest round
of emission standards went into effect in 2007, requiring
even more stringent NOx and particulate emissions reductions.
While low levels of EGR technology (10-15 percent) were successfully
applied in diesel engines to meet 2002 NOx emissions standards,
most manufacturers incorporated increased EGR rates of 25-35
percent in order to meet 2007 standards. Increased EGR rates
mean 2007 and newer diesel engines run hotter than their predecessors,
requiring diesel oils meeting the latest API CJ-4 specification
to be formulated with improved oxidation resistance properties
to prevent thermal runaway and maintain engine protection.
Decreasing the
level of sulfur in diesel fuel has been determined to be the
most cost effective way to decrease particulate emissions.
The introduction of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel in
June 2006 dropped diesel sulfur levels from 500 ppm to 15
ppm in order to meet 2007 particulate limits, provide compatibility
with NOx after treatment systems and enable high EGR rates.
In addition, in
order to further reduce particulate emissions, diesel particulate
filters (DPF's) were incorporated into all 2007 and newer
American diesel engines, and CJ-4 diesel oils are faced with
the challenge of balancing engine protection with DPF life.
Increased EGR. although effectively decreasing NOx emissions,
results in less efficient combustion and increased levels
of soot, and some of it finds its way into the engine oil.
Detergents within the oil are responsible for preventing soot
from accumulating on internal engine components and increasing
friction and wear, as well as preventing soot particles from
agglomerating into larger particles that increase oil viscosity
and clog oil filters.
AMSOIL
Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic 5W-40 and 15W-40 Diesel Oils
AMSOIL
Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic 5W-40 (DEO) and 15W-40 (DME) Diesel
Oils are the premium choice for model year 2007 and newer
diesel engines requiring API CJ-4 oil standards. AMSOIL Premium
API CJ-4 Synthetic Diesel Oils withstand the stress of heat,
soot and acids to help prevent deposits, corrosion and wear,
while their broad viscosity ranges offer superior protection
over a wide temperature range. AMSOIL Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic
Diesel Oils effectively reduce oil consumption and emissions,
while improving fuel efficiency.
AMSOIL
Synthetic Diesel Oils for Off-Road and Pre-2007 On-Road Diesel
Engines
AMSOIL offers four
premium quality synthetic diesel oils for all model year off-road
diesel vehicles and pre-2007 EGR equipped and non-EGR equipped
on-road diesel vehicles. They surpassed the most stringent
diesel oil specifications for pre-2007 on-road diesel engines,
including CI-4 PLUS and EO-O Premium Plus.
AMSOIL
Synthetic Blend 15W-40 Gasoline and Diesel Oil (PCO) features
a dual base of synthetic and hydro-processed petroleum base
stocks in formulation with proven high quality anti-wear additives,
providing outstanding, cost effective protection and performance.
AMSOIL
Synthetic 10W-30/SAE 30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil (ACD) is
formulated with premium synthetic base oils that exceed both
10W-30 multi-grade and SAE 30 straight-grade viscosity requirements
for outstanding protection and performance.
Use This
Form to Get Exclusive Technical Articles and Information
on AMSOIL Products.
Receive valuable
weekly newsletter by email - please complete this form.
Personal contact information
will only be used to provide requested information or
assistance. You will not be enrolled in advertising
or marketing programs and your information will not
be sold.
You will only receive
the email newsletter.
Premium AMSOIL
Synthetic Motor Oils offer the longest drain intervals
on the market, unsurpassed protection and performance that
effectively extends equipment life and improved fuel economy,
saving customers money at the pump and reducing the nation's
dependence on foreign oil.
"AMSOIL
INC. warrants that the use of its lubricants will not cause
mechanical damage to any mechanically sound equipment when
AMSOIL INC. products are used in full compliance with the
company's recommendations and instructions."
AMSOIL
synthetic motor oils are formulated to surpass engine test
specifications, offering protection far greater than competing
motor oils for extended drain intervals. Most synthetic oil
manufacturers make no claim to extended drain intervals, deferring
to the maintenance schedule provided by the vehicle manufacturer.
With its unparalleled oil and warranty program, AMSOIL offers
consumers unprecedented protection and economics.
Another
AMSOIL First
More than 20 years
ago, AMSOIL began using the NOACK volatility test as a comparison
tool and measurement of quality. Back then, nearly every oil
tested side-by-side with AMSOIL synthetic motor oils failed,
and those that passed barely squeaked by. Other oil companies
paid no attention to NOACK results until Ford Motor Company
made it a requirement for service fill oils, validating what
AMSOIL had said all along.
THE
NOACK Volatility Test
The NOACK
Volatility Test determines the evaporation loss
of lubricants in high temperature service. The more
motor oils vaporize, the thicker and heavier they become,
contributing to poor circulation, reduced fuel economy
and increased oil consumption, wear and emissions. AMSOIL
Synthetic Motor Oil resists high temperature volatization
better than other motor oils. AMSOIL Synthetic Motor
Oil maintains peak fuel efficiency and reduces oil consumption
and emissions.
AMSOIL Now An ISO Certified
Manufacturer
AMSOIL recently
received ISO 9001:2000 certification of our Quality Management
System (QMS). NSF International Strategic Registrations is
the registrar that has verified our QMS meets the requirements
of the ISO 9001:2000 standard, the most widely utilized quality
standard throughout the world for quality management systems.
ISO standards are used by over 300,000 companies worldwide
setting rigorous standards for businesses, government and
industry.
ISO 9001:2000
is applicable to any manufacturing and service organization
providing a framework for system development that focuses
on the customer, quality system performance and ongoing improvement.
AMSOIL received ISO 9001:2000 registration under the scope:
synthetic lubricants blending, packaging, and other fulfillment
directly associated with lubricant product.
The ISO
certification puts AMSOIL in line with some of the most efficient
companies in the world. It is further assurance that the products
and services AMSOIL provides will continue to maintain the
high level of quality the company always demanded.
AMSOIL Product Information
Use This
Form to Get Exclusive Technical Articles and Information
on AMSOIL Products.
Receive valuable
weekly newsletter by email - please complete this form.
Personal contact information
will only be used to provide requested information or
assistance. You will not be enrolled in advertising
or marketing programs and your information will not
be sold.
I welcome the opportunity
to work with you personally as your servicing AMSOIL Dealer.
Use the information on this website to contact me. You may
also check out the AMSOIL
Corporate Website for product and business opportunity
information.
If you would like more information
about AMSOIL INC., click one of the links below:
