The new CI-4 specification was developed specifically to meet the operating needs of lower-emission EGR-equipped engines, which have been developed based on tigher emission standards mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency. The new engines are expected to generate significantly more soot in the engine and run at hotter temperatures than current diesels.
"Most of the 2002 engines will have exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems that will create up to twice as much soot and run up to 20 degrees hotter than existing engines," said Mike Monarchi, product manager for heavy-duty engine oils. "Soot can be extremely harmful to the engine, so oil with greater dispersion capabilities is now needed. Dispersants surround the soot particles so that they can't get any bigger. As a result, these larger, damaging particles are no longer formed."
Pennzoil added that its CI-4 classified oil is also backwards-compatible, meaning it can be used in older engines requiring API CH-4, CG-4, CF-4 or CF oils.
