Your Next Diesel Engine Oil

Provided below is information provided by Amsoil, Inc., regarding inherent late model Ford, GM and Dodge diesel engine issues.

Issues:

AMSOIL has documented increasing levels of fuel contamination (fuel dilution) in the engine oil of 2007-2008 light-duty Ford, GM and Dodge diesel pickups, and indications are that 2009-2010 models are also affected. Research indicates fuel dilution is intensifying due to the use of in-cylinder post-fuel injection during the engine’s exhaust stroke to regenerate the diesel particulate filter (DPF). Fuel in the oil reduces the oil’s life expectancy and effectiveness. Because diesel fuel is a natural solvent, fuel dilution in motor oil causes a decrease in viscosity which may lead to an increase in engine wear rates.

Solution:

Click here to view full field study

Hard-working diesel engines present a serious challenge to the lubricants that protect them. Tight clearances and intense pressures can generate enough force to tear apart the molecular structure of the oil, causing permanent viscosity loss. Permanent viscosity loss is termed “shear” and leads to accelerated equipment wear, oil consumption and deposit formation.

Shear stability measures a lubricant’s ability to withstand shearing forces without degrading to a lower viscosity. To meet CJ-4 requirements for shear stability, the American Petroleum Institute (API) requires diesel oils to pass the Kurt Orbahn 90-Cycle Shear Stability Test. Resisting shear and maintaining protective viscosity in the harsh operating conditions of diesel engines is challenge enough for many diesel oils, but maintaining viscosity in the face of fuel dilution is another challenge altogether. Factors such as frequent starts, excessive engine idling, short trips and cold weather have contributed to moderate levels of fuel dilution in diesel applications for years, while recent issues with emission systems have brought the fuel dilution problem to a whole new level.

For example, AMSOIL has documented increasing fuel dilution levels in 2007-2009 Caterpillar C13 and C15 on-highway engines. There are many possible causes, including problems with a unit injector or leaking seals. Another cause of fuel dilution is new emission systems using in-cylinder post-fuel injection, a process most 2007-2010 light-duty GM, Ford and Dodge diesel pickups use to regenerate the diesel particulate filter.

Because diesel fuel is a natural solvent, it causes a multitude of problems when it contaminates the oil, including reduced oil viscosity, reduced oil fi lm strength, increased engine wear (particularly in the cylinder/ring area), increased volatility, weakened lubricant detergency, accelerated lubricant oxidation, varnish formation, acid formation/corrosion and low oil pressure.

The most notable problem associated with increased fuel contamination is reduced viscosity and the corresponding effect it has on oil performance. When combined with shearing conditions, as little as 4 percent fuel dilution is generally enough to reduce an oil’s viscosity to less than the specified viscosity grade.

AMSOIL sent five competitive synthetic CJ-4 5W-40 diesel oils to an independent laboratory for shear stability testing. Knowing the tough environment that diesels present to lubricating oils, AMSOIL doubled the standard Kurt Orbahn 90-cycle test and had the oils tested for 180 cycles. Samples were then contaminated with 2 and 4 percent ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel. As the graph shows, even after being shear tested for twice the industry standard and contaminated with 4 percent fuel dilution, AMSOIL maintained viscosity and was the only oil to stay within an SAE 40 viscosity rating. As other oils lost viscosity due to shearing forces and fuel dilution, their ability to protect against wear was jeopardized.

Click on image to enlarge

AMSOIL Premium Diesel Oils are formulated with an ultra shear stable polymer system that maintains viscosity better than inferior products. Testing proves that AMSOIL provides unsurpassed shear stability, offering better viscosity control than competitive oils.

Recommendations:

Although AMSOIL Premium Diesel Oils have shown the ability to maintain integrity under fuel dilution conditions, the abnormally high rate and unknown long-term effects have forced AMSOIL to adjust its drain interval recommendations as a precautionary measure in 2007-2010 Dodge 6.7L, Ford 6.4L and GM 6.6L LMM light-duty turbo-diesel pickups. In these applications, AMSOIL recommends changing AMSOIL Premium API CJ-4 Synthetic Diesel Oils (DEO, DME) at the manufacturer-recommended drain interval. Drain intervals may be extended further with oil analysis.

Amsoil DEO - link / Amsoil DME - link

AMSOIL previously announced a fuel dilution issue in 2007-2009 on-highway Caterpillar C13 and C15 engines that forced the company to adjust its drain interval recommendation in those applications to the manufacturer-recommended drain interval.

In all other applications, AMSOIL full synthetic diesel oils are recommended for three times (3X) the OEM recommendation, not to exceed 50,000 miles/600 hours or one year, whichever comes first, while Synthetic Blend 15W-40 Heavy Duty Diesel and Gasoline Motor Oil (PCO) is recommended for the longest OEM recommended drain interval. Drain intervals may be extended further with oil analysis.

Amsoil PCO - link

Related article: Does Syn Oil Lead to Salvation? - link

Manufacture & Dealer Information

AMSOIL INC., headquartered in Superior, Wisconsin., is a recognized leader in synthetic lubricant and filtration products since 1972 producing the first 100% synthetic motor oil to be recognized by the American Petroleum Institute (API).



For more information about AMSOIL synthetic lubricants and performance filtration products contact Anthony Garner at Competition Synthetics. Anthony is an Amsoil T-1 Certified Independent Dealer. E-mail Anthony at compsyn@live.com, or visit http://competitionsynthetics.com

Superior Filtration Leads to Reduced Costs, Extended Equipment Life

SAE study proved direct correlation between particle size and engine wear.

A great deal of emphasis is placed on the importance of using of the most advanced high-quality lubricants, but superior filtration is often taken for granted. The general attitude displayed by many consumers is to use whatever is cheapest, even when they’ve invested in superior lubrication. While AMSOIL synthetic motor oils provide unbeatable protection, performance and economy, they require the assistance of filtration. Without filtration, by-products from the combustion process and abrasive materials ingested from the air will ultimately destroy an engine.

Some Contaminants Cause More Damage

The level of damage particles cause to an engine is directly related to the size of the particles. The oil stream within the engine flows between wear-sensitive surfaces that usually have clearances between 2 and 22 microns. It is contaminants in this size range that pose the greatest threat as they can slip between moving components, causing a great deal of wear.

To appreciate how small these particles are, one must first understand the measurements involved in their classification.

A micron, or micrometer (μ), is a very small unit of linear measurement. One micron is equal to one millionth of a meter, and 25 microns is equal to 0.001 inch. To better put this in perspective, consider that the diameter of a human hair is 50 - 70 microns.

Large particles are particles measuring 1/2” or larger. They pose little threat to engines because they are easily removed by the air filter.


Medium particles are particles measuring 25μ to 1/2”. While they are of greater concern than large particles because they are more difficult to remove, the threat they pose is diminished since they are still larger than many of the clearances within an engine. Their size will not allow them to enter the contact areas between many components to promote accelerated wear.


Small particles are particles measuring between 5 and 25μ. Small particles are of greatest concern because they can penetrate the clearances between wear-sensitive components and promote accelerated wear.And, because they are so small, they are difficult to remove from the oil stream.


SAE Testing

In the 1988 Correlating Lube Oil Filtration Efficiencies With Engine Wear technical paper published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), the relationship between filtration
levels and abrasive engine wear was established. Testing determined that wear was reduced by as much as 70 percent by switching from a 40μ filter to a 15μ filter. The SAE conducted tests on a heavy-duty diesel engine and an automotive gasoline engine, and both provided consistent
results.

New Technology Provides New Options

The SAE paper on filtration discusses the introduction of synthetic fibers into the oil filter market, which offer “the capability of achieving high levels of filtration without the traditional
sacrifice of dirt holding capacity and increased flow restriction.” Today, a new pinnacle has been reached with synthetic nanofiber technology and AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters. While today’s filters offer even greater performance, the message then was the same as it is now; removal of particles
measuring 2 to 25μ is the key to controlling engine wear, and there is a direct correlation between oil filter efficiency and engine wear.

Test Results

To establish a relationship between levels of filtration and engine wear rates, the SAE used a variety of oil filter types in its tests. Three glass filters and one traditional cellulose media filter were used in the diesel tests, while one cellulose, one glass and two glass/cellulose-blend filters were used in the gasoline engine tests. The micron rating of each oil filter was determined, and testing was conducted according to SAE guidelines. The Filter Particle Retention Curves chart on the next page shows the particle retention for each filter tested. The filters were tested at their 98 percent efficiency point and their single pass efficiency curves were determined by comparing
the number of particles upstream from the filter with the number of particles downstream. The Engine Wear Rates charts demonstrate the correlation between superior filtration and reduced engine wear. The filters that provided superior efficiency also provided superior engine protection.

Filter / Micron Rating Media@ 98% Efficiency / Composition

Diesel
(A)___40____Cellulose
(B)___15____Glass
(C)___8.5____Glass
(D)___7_____Glass

Gasoline
(E)___40___Cellulose
(F) __ 30___Glass/Cellulose
(G)___25___Glass/Cellulose
(H)___15___Glass





Conclusions

The SAE paper summarizes the test results with the following conclusions:

“Abrasive engine wear can be substantially reduced with an increase in filter single pass efficiency. Compared to a 40μ filter, engine wear was reduced by 50% with 30μ filtration. Likewise, wear was reduced by 70% with 15μ filtration. “Controlling the abrasive contaminants in the range of 2 to 22μ in the lube oil is necessary for controlling engine wear.
“The micron rating of a filter, as established in a single pass efficiency type test, does an excellent job in indicating the filter’s ability to remove abrasive particles in the engine lube oil
system.”

Today’s Most Advanced Filtration Product

Ea Oil Filters have been evaluated using today’s benchmark test, the ISO 4548-12 multi-pass test. AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters provide 98.7 percent efficiency at 15μ and up to 70 percent efficiency at 7μ. Competitive filters range from approximately 85 to 92 percent efficiency at 15μ.



When it comes to removing contaminants in the most critical size range (2 to 22μ), AMSOIL Ea Filters greatly outperform competitive filters.

Summary

Even with all of the advances in lubrication and engine technology, filtration is as important today as it ever was. The combustion process produces by-products that slip into the oil
stream, and external contaminants are introduced into the engine in a variety of ways. The challenge for filter manufacturers is balancing flow, efficiency and filter life. In order to stop
particles in the 2 to 22μ range, the pores in the cellulose media used in many filters are too small to allow adequate oil flow.

Only AMSOIL Ea Oil and Air Filters feature full-synthetic nanofiber technology. It is the nanofibers that allow Ea Filters to provide greater efficiency than any other filter available. Ea
Filters stop more particles, stop smaller particles and last longer than any other oil filter available for auto/light truck applications.

Works Cited: Amsoil, Inc., http://www.amsoil.com/comparison/oil-filters.pdf

Service Life

AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters are guaranteed for 25,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first, when used in conjunction with AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil. AMSOIL recommends changing the oil filter at the time of oil change.

If used in conjunction with AMSOIL Motor Oil that is being changed at intervals less than 25,000 miles, the EaO Filter should be changed at the same time. AMSOIL EaO Filters are not guaranteed for 25,000 miles when used with any oil other than AMSOIL Motor Oil and should be changed according to vehicle OEM recommendations.