Shell Rimula CK-4 new engine oils
Changes to fuel economy and industry standard norms are driving change in engine components and sizes. The result is often hotter operating temperatures for engine oils. That’s why we’ve developed the new CK-4 category oils.
New shell rimula ck-4 and fa-4 engine oils explained
New Oils Explained
What’s changing?
In order to meet goals for more fuel-efficient engines and fewer emissions, many next-generation engines will run at higher operating temperatures. This will require changes in engine oil composition so they can withstand more heat without sacrificing engine protection.
It will also mean that instead of one category of engine oils, we’ll have two, CK-4 and FA-4. CK-4 engine oils will be a direct replacement for the engine oils you’re using now and they’ll be “backwards compatible” to all current vehicles.
The new FA-4 engine oils will be offered in lower viscosity grades and are designed primarily for next-generation engines to help maximize fuel economy without sacrificing engine protection. These FA-4 oils may have limited backwards compatibility and would be labelled as such. Oil companies and OEMs are currently testing these products in a range of applications to demonstrate backwards compatibility of FA-4 engine oils without sacrificing engine protection.
Major differences
As CK-4 engine oils get closer to arriving you may hear the term High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) viscosity. CK-4 oils are being referred to in the industry as “High HTHS” engine oils. FA- 4 oils are being referred to as “Low HTHS” oils. These Low HTHS FA-4 oils are being designed to provide fuel economy above and beyond current CJ-4 and CK-4 oils through the use of thinner viscosity fluids.
Why do we need a new oil standard?
Oil technology and engine technology go hand in hand. Changing regulatory limits challenge engine manufacturers to reduce emissions. As engine manufacturers begin to create a new generation of cleaner, more fuel-efficient diesel engines, they need a new generation of higher-performing diesel engine oils to protect them. And they need to know those oils will be available throughout the country to every diesel engine owner.
For more information
Going the distance
64 million km and counting
It is not enough to evaluate prototype oils in the laboratory: the real test is how they work in on- and off-road vehicles in the real world. Field trials are an integral part of the Shell engine oil technology development process. They are extensive programmes run in collaboration with customers and require scientific rigour, experience and expertise.
Shell performs millions of kilometres of real-world testing with customers. Between 2006 and 2015, Shell provided more than 270,000 litres of lubricants for use in customer field tests. A special focus has been placed on a subset of more than 50 engines, which have been thoroughly inspected. These engines received additional attention and were part of a teardown programme to inspect parts following significant distance accumulation.
