DF Sales&Marketing
Oil Tech Moderator
There have recently been inquiries about the engine oils which several major oil companies are marketing as “high-mileage engine oil” or “older car formula” and whether there is any validity or difference in their performance or is it just marketing hype?
For most of the high-mileage or older car formula engine oils, the marketing is focused on cleaning deposits and sludge, conditioning seals, reducing oil consumption and protecting engine parts. The theory is that as a vehicle gets older, it’s mechanical performance decreases.
The oil molecules break down more quickly in an older engine, rendering them less able to lubricate. Over time, engine seals deteriorate, gaskets lose their effectiveness and oil consumption increases. The end result is an engine that is no longer capable of functioning at peak efficiency.
High-mileage engine oils cost more than conventional oils, but less than higher performance specialty products such as swepco’s 300 series supreme formula engine oils. The key reason for the approximate one dollar per quart increase in price of the high mileage, or older vehicle oils when compared to conventional oils is based on the fact that the major oil companies do formulate the oils using better base stocks than the oils that are sold to the mass automobile buying public.
Swepco has successfully blended premium quality engine oils for many years which have provided maximum superior protection for engines in both segments of the engine oil market:
heavy duty diesel engine oil (hddeo)
passenger car motor oil (pcmo)
swepco’s 300 series engine oils have always provided the maximum performance for new and older passenger cars, as the added fortification and protective additive chemistry that was good for heavy duty diesel engine oils was also good for smaller gasoline engine oils in areas such as temperature stability, wear control, oil life and corrosion protection.
Different forces are driving heavy duty diesel and automotive engine oil performance requirements today. Stricter emissions regulations are a main factor driving diesel engine oil performance requirements.
The trends driving automotive and light truck engine oil requirements have more to do with fuel economy, emissions reduction, Catalytic converter life, extended drain intervals with less make-up oil (volatility) and engine design (lighter engines, smaller lubricant capacities, narrow oil channels).
One of the major contributors to the separation of one oil for both diesel and automotive engine requirements comes down to the limitation of the maximum phosphorous content in new passenger car engine oils. The old reliable anti-wear workhorse, zincdialkyldithophosphate (zddp), which was the backbone of engine oil for decades, has declined in passenger car engine oil formulations from .12% to .08% with the gf-4 classifications. It has been deemed that lower phosphorous levels lengthen catalytic converter life.
Heavy duty diesel engine oil specifications also changed in 2007 which, like the gasoline engine change at the same time, called for a reduction in the zddp. The current cj-4 diesel specification limits the zddp to between .10% and .12% whereas previously you could have seen it in the area of .14% or more.
Please note the previous emphasis of “catalytic converter life” when now comparing the current api gasoline specification sm with the diesel specification cj-4.
The point being is that when considering an engine oil for high-mileage old and new cars, there is a marked difference on what you should use. Api sm rated engine oils for gasoline service will not have the anti-wear ability as the previous sl classification will have, and the newer cj-4 rated diesel oil will have more zinc than what the gasoline sm for 2007 and newer engines require. If your engine is pre-2007, which calls for sl , using oils marketed as sm or cj-4 will not have the additives in sufficient quantity for superior anti-wear protection.
“engine oil for high mileage cars” then takes on another aspect for the unwary buyer which can flummox him even more. One way to ensure that you are using the correct oil specification for your high mileage car is to purchase sm graded oils to meet the oem’s specification for 2007 and newer engines and sl graded oils to meet their specs for pre-2007 engines. For those who prefer to use “diesel engine oil” in their gasoline engines, do not use the cj-4 rated oils in sm engines, as the additive package will put the oil out of the oem specification.
Therefore, when considering a major brand, “oil for high mileage cars,” if it is rated within the api sm classification, it will not have the higher additives required for older cars, those of pre 2007 vintage.
Swepco 306 (sl/ci-4) supreme formula engine oils have been and will continue to be the best choice for pre-2007 high mileage cars, vintage cars and many racing engines. Choosing swepco 303 (sm) for the newer engines will provide more than the proper service level needed for engines put into service since 2007; it is specifically designed to meet those needs.
better than conventional majors
For most of the high-mileage or older car formula engine oils, the marketing is focused on cleaning deposits and sludge, conditioning seals, reducing oil consumption and protecting engine parts. The theory is that as a vehicle gets older, it’s mechanical performance decreases.
The oil molecules break down more quickly in an older engine, rendering them less able to lubricate. Over time, engine seals deteriorate, gaskets lose their effectiveness and oil consumption increases. The end result is an engine that is no longer capable of functioning at peak efficiency.
High-mileage engine oils cost more than conventional oils, but less than higher performance specialty products such as swepco’s 300 series supreme formula engine oils. The key reason for the approximate one dollar per quart increase in price of the high mileage, or older vehicle oils when compared to conventional oils is based on the fact that the major oil companies do formulate the oils using better base stocks than the oils that are sold to the mass automobile buying public.
Swepco has successfully blended premium quality engine oils for many years which have provided maximum superior protection for engines in both segments of the engine oil market:
heavy duty diesel engine oil (hddeo)
passenger car motor oil (pcmo)
swepco’s 300 series engine oils have always provided the maximum performance for new and older passenger cars, as the added fortification and protective additive chemistry that was good for heavy duty diesel engine oils was also good for smaller gasoline engine oils in areas such as temperature stability, wear control, oil life and corrosion protection.
new school of thought
Different forces are driving heavy duty diesel and automotive engine oil performance requirements today. Stricter emissions regulations are a main factor driving diesel engine oil performance requirements.
The trends driving automotive and light truck engine oil requirements have more to do with fuel economy, emissions reduction, Catalytic converter life, extended drain intervals with less make-up oil (volatility) and engine design (lighter engines, smaller lubricant capacities, narrow oil channels).
One of the major contributors to the separation of one oil for both diesel and automotive engine requirements comes down to the limitation of the maximum phosphorous content in new passenger car engine oils. The old reliable anti-wear workhorse, zincdialkyldithophosphate (zddp), which was the backbone of engine oil for decades, has declined in passenger car engine oil formulations from .12% to .08% with the gf-4 classifications. It has been deemed that lower phosphorous levels lengthen catalytic converter life.
Heavy duty diesel engine oil specifications also changed in 2007 which, like the gasoline engine change at the same time, called for a reduction in the zddp. The current cj-4 diesel specification limits the zddp to between .10% and .12% whereas previously you could have seen it in the area of .14% or more.
Please note the previous emphasis of “catalytic converter life” when now comparing the current api gasoline specification sm with the diesel specification cj-4.
The point being is that when considering an engine oil for high-mileage old and new cars, there is a marked difference on what you should use. Api sm rated engine oils for gasoline service will not have the anti-wear ability as the previous sl classification will have, and the newer cj-4 rated diesel oil will have more zinc than what the gasoline sm for 2007 and newer engines require. If your engine is pre-2007, which calls for sl , using oils marketed as sm or cj-4 will not have the additives in sufficient quantity for superior anti-wear protection.
“engine oil for high mileage cars” then takes on another aspect for the unwary buyer which can flummox him even more. One way to ensure that you are using the correct oil specification for your high mileage car is to purchase sm graded oils to meet the oem’s specification for 2007 and newer engines and sl graded oils to meet their specs for pre-2007 engines. For those who prefer to use “diesel engine oil” in their gasoline engines, do not use the cj-4 rated oils in sm engines, as the additive package will put the oil out of the oem specification.
Therefore, when considering a major brand, “oil for high mileage cars,” if it is rated within the api sm classification, it will not have the higher additives required for older cars, those of pre 2007 vintage.
Swepco 306 (sl/ci-4) supreme formula engine oils have been and will continue to be the best choice for pre-2007 high mileage cars, vintage cars and many racing engines. Choosing swepco 303 (sm) for the newer engines will provide more than the proper service level needed for engines put into service since 2007; it is specifically designed to meet those needs.
