Subcommittee D02.B approves revisions to ASTM D4485

AUSTIN, Texas—The ASTM D4485 revision to incorporate the new API CK-4 and API FA-4 heavy duty engine oil categories was approved by ASTM Subcommittee D02.B on automotive lubricants on Dec. 9, 2015, which met here. ASTM D4485 is the Standard Specification for Performance of Active API Service Category Engine Oils.

API CK-4 is the official nomenclature for PC-11A and API FA-4 is the official nomenclature for PC-11B. Prior to receiving these official designations from the American Petroleum Institute (API), which will licenses the oils, these categories were called PC-11 for Proposed Category 11. First licensing date of these new categories is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2016.

API CK-4 will replace API CJ-4 and is backwards compatible with API CJ-4, with no changes to current viscosity minimums (HTHS ≥ 3.5 mPa·s ). API FA-4 is distinctly different than current API claims (HTHS 2.9 to ≤ 3.2. mPa·s).

The subcommittee ballot passed without a negative vote after Chevron Oronite withdrew its negative, following revisions to the draft ballot which were made “to clarify a few things.” Rather than trying to update Annex 5 of the document, Annex 6 was created for the API CK-4 category, which was deemed “more user friendly.”

The revision will now be balloted within the larger ASTM Committee D02 on Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels and Lubricants before the revision becomes an ASTM standard.