API Motor Oil Guide
Which Oil is Right for you? The current and previous API Service categories are listed below. Vehicle owners should refer to their owner’s manuals before consulting these charts. Oils may have more than one performance level.
lEor automotive gasoline engines the latest engine oil service category includes the performance properties of each earlier category. If an automotive owner’s manual calls for API SJ or SL oil, an API SM oil will provide full protection. For diesel engines the latest category usually – but not always -includes the performance properties of an earlier category.
Category | Status | Service |
SM | Current | For all automotive engines presently in use. Introduced in 2004 SM oils are designed to provide improved oxidation resistance, improved deposit |
PC10 SM Current protection, better wear protection and better low-temperature performance over the life of the oil. Some SM oils may also meet the latest ILSAC specification and/or qualify as energy-conserving. | ||
SL | Current | For 2004 and older automotive engines |
SJ | Current | For 2001 and older automotive engines |
SH | Obsolete | For 1996 and older engines. |
SG | Obsolete | For 1993 and older engines |
SF | Obsolete | For 1988 and older engines |
SE | Obsolete | Caution: Not suitable for use in gasoline-powered automotive engines built after 1979. |
SD | Obsolete | Caution: Not suitable for use in gasoline-powered automotive engines built Obsolete after 1971. Use in more modern engines may cause unsatisfactory performance or equipment harm. |
SC | Obsolete | Caution: Not suitable for use in gasoline-powered automotive engines built obsolete after 1967. Use in more modern engines may cause unsatisfactory performance or equipment harm. |
SB | Obsolete | Caution: Not suitable for use in gasoline-powered automotive engines built obsolete after 1951. Use in more modern engines may cause unsatisfactory |
Performance or equipment harm. | ||
SA | Obsolete | Caution: Contains no additive, Not suitable for use in gasoline-powered Obsolete automotive engines built after 1930. Use in more modern engines may cause unsatisfactory performance or equipment harm. |
Note: API intentionally omitted SI and SK from the sequence of categories because the letters are commonly associated with other organizations or systems. This guide is provided as a service to the motoring public courtesy of the American Petroleum Institute. |
Category | Status | Service |
CJ-4 | Current | Introduced in 2006 for high-speed, 4-stroke engines designed to meet 2007 model year on-highway exhaust emission standards. CJ-4 oils are compounded for use in all applications with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 500ppm (0.05% by weight). However, the use of these oils with greater than 15 ppm (0.0015% by weight) sulfur fuel may impact exhaust after-treatment system durability where particulate filters and other advanced after-treatment systems are used. Optimum protection is provided for control of catalyst poisoning, particulate filter blocking, engine wear, piston deposits, and low and high-temperature stability. Soot handling properties. Oxidative thickening. foaming and viscosity loss due to shear, API CJ-4 oils exceed the performance criteria of API CI-4 with CI-4 Plus, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4 and CF-4 and can effectively lubricate engines calling for those API service categories, when using CJ-4 of with higher than 15 ppm sulfur fuel, consult the engine manufacturer for the service interval. |
CI-4 | Current | Introduced in 2002 for high-speed, 4-stroke engines designed to meet 2004 exhaust emission standards implemented in 2002. CI-4 oils are formulated to sustain engine durability where exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) is used and are intended for use with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to as% 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, 4-stroke engines designed to meet 1998 exhaust emission standards. CH-4 oils are specifically compounded for use With diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 0.5% weight. Can be used in place of CD, CE, CF-4 and CG-4 oils. |
CG-4 | Current | Introduced in 1995 for severe duty, high speed, 4 stroke diesel engines using fuel with less than 0.5% weight sulfur. CG-4 oils are required for engines Meeting 1994 emission standards. Can be used in place of CD, CF and CF-4 oils. |
CF-4 | Current | Introduced in 1990 for high-speed 4-stroke naturally aspirated and turbo-charged diesel engines. Can be used in place of CD and CE oils. |
CF-2 | Current | Introduced in 1994 for serve duty 2-stroke diesel engines. Can be used in place of CD-II oils. |
CF | Obsolete | Introduced in 1994 for off-road in-direct injected and other diesel engines. Current Including those using fuel with over 0.5% weight sulfur. Can be used in place of CD oils. |
CE | Obsolete | Introduced in 1985 for high-speed 4-stroke naturally aspired and turbocharged engines. Can be used in place of CC and CD OILS. |
CD-II | Obsolete | Introduced in 1985 for 2-stroke cycle engines. |
CD | Obsolete | Introduced in 1955 for certain naturally aspired and turbocharged engines. |
CC | Obsolete | Caution, Not suitable for use in diesel-powered engines built after 1990 |
CB | Obsolete | Caution: Not suitable for use in diesel-powered engines built after 1961 |
CA | Obsolete | Caution: Not suitable for use in diesel-powered engines built after 1959. |
Note: | API intentionally omitted “Sl” and “SO” from the sequence of categories because the letters are commonly associated with other organizations or c’e’ systems. This guide is provided as a service to the motoring public. Courtesy of the American Petroleum Institute. | |
For more information about the API engine oil program, call the API at 202¬682.8516 or visit our website at www.api.org/eolcs. | ||
API – American Petroleum Institute |