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API Specifications Chart

The gasoline and diesel engine oil performance categories or oil classifications, are defined by the American Petroleum Institute (API) service categories, established jointly by API, SAE and ASTM (American Society of Testing Materials).
Select an oil with a suitable viscosity, and a correct performance classification.
API Classifications are divided into two categories, diesel engines & petrol engines.
Please scroll down for the engine type you require:

Petrol (Gasoline) Engines

SA - straight mineral oil (no additives); general requirements 1900-1930; now obsolete

SB - anti-oxidant, anti-scuff, but non-detergent; general requirements 1931 - 1963; now obsolete

SC - protection against high and low - temperature deposits, wear, rust, and corrosion; meets car maker' warranty requirements for 1964 - 1967 models; now obsolete

SD - improved protection over SC oils; meets warranty requirements for 1968 - 1971 models; now obsolete

SE - improved protection over SD oils; meets warranty requirements for 1972 - 1979 models; now obsolete

SF - improved anti-wear and anti-oxidation; meets warranty requirements for 1980 - 1988 models; now obsolete

SG - improved control of engine deposits, oil oxidation, and engine wear over SF oils; meets warranty requirements for 1990 - 1993 models; now obsolete

SH - improved protection and deposit control, oil oxidation, wear, rust, and corrosion over oils; meets warranty requirements for 1994 - later models; now obsolete

SI – For all 1998 or later models

SJ - For 2001 and older automotive engines

SL - For 2004 and older automotive engines

SM - For all automotive engines currently in use. Introduced November 30, 2004, SM oils are designed to provide improved oxidation resistance, improved deposit protection, better wear protection, and better low-temperature performance over the life of the oil

Diesel Engines

CA - light-duty service; meets obsolete Military Specification MIL-L-2104A; general requirements into the 1950's; now obsolete

CB - moderate duty; meets MIL-L-2104A, Supplement 1; general requirements 1949 - 1961; now obsolete

CC - moderate-to-severe duty, meets obsolete Millitary Specification MIL-L-2104B; general requirements 1960 - 1990; now obsolete

CD - severe duty; protection against high and low temperature deposits, wear, rust, and corrosion; meets Millitary Specification MIL-L-2104C; general requirements 1955 - 1990; now obsolete

CD-11 - severe duty for two-stroke cycle diesel engine service; controls wear and deposits; now obsolete

CE - sercice for turbocharged heavy-duty diesel engines manufactured since 1983; can be a replacement for API CD oils; now obsolete

CF - upgrade over API CD for use where high sulfur fuels remain predominantl this category is replacing API CD

CF-2 - upgrade over API CD-11 for two-stroke diesel engines; this category is replacing API CD-11

CH-4 - introduced in 1998 for high speed, four stroke engines designed to meet 1998 exhaust emission standards. It is specifically compounded for use with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 0.5% weight

CF-4 - 1990 diesel engine service for high-speed, four-stroke cycle diesel engines and exceeds the requirements for the API CE category

CI-4 - introduced in 2002 for high speed, four stroke engines designed to meet 2004 exhaust emission standards implemented in 2002. It is formulated to sustain engine durability where exhaust gas recirculation is used and are intended for use with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 0.5% weight.

CG-4 - 1995 diesel engine service for engine wear and deposits issues linked to fuel specifications and engine designs that are required to accommodate 1994 EPA emmision regulations for low sulfur fuel (0.05%).

CH-4 - introduced in 1998 for high speed, four stroke engines designed to meet 1998 exhaust emission standards. It is specifically compounded for use with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 0.5% weight

CI-4 - introduced in 2002 for high speed, four stroke engines designed to meet 2004 exhaust emission standards implemented in 2002. It is formulated to sustain engine durability where exhaust gas recirculation is used and are intended for use with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 0.5% weight.

CJ-4 - API Service Category CJ-4 describes oils for use in high-speed four-stroke cycle diesel engines designed to meet 2007 model year on-highway exhaust emission standards as well as for previous model years.

These oils are compounded for use in all applications with diesel fuels ranging in sulfur content up to 500 ppm (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 and/or oil drain interval.

These oils are especially effective at sustaining emission control 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, low- and high-temperature stability, soot handling properties, oxidative thickening, foaming, and viscosity loss due to shear.

Engine oils that meet the API Service Category CJ-4 designation have been tested in accordance with the ACC Code and may use the API Base Oil Interchangeability Guidelines and the API Guidelines for SAE Viscosity-Grade Engine Testing.

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 oil with higher than 15 ppm sulfur fuel, consult the engine manufacturer for service interval. The first license date for API CJ-4 will be October 15, 2006.

Effective May 1, 2006, marketers may license products meeting API CJ-4 requirements as API CI-4 with CI-4 PLUS, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, and CF-4.