Lubrication Fundamentals

Training

Topic 5: Lubricants Classification

Module Learning Objectives

At the completion of this module, participants should

be able to demonstrate an understanding of:

• The importance and variety of lubrication classification

systems in the European and U.S. markets
• Selected specifications of the SAE, API, AGMA ISO,
ACEA, ILSAC, and other classification systems
Importance of Nomenclature/Classification

Easy identification of the performance and quality of an oil

Oil quality levels can be easily written in OEM manuals and in the product data
sheets
Oil manufacturers use oil classifications as
marketable features
Overcomes language barriers, as they are used globally
Better communication between:
- Oil Industry
- Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs)
- Customers
Lubricant Classification Systems
 By Property:
- Viscosity: SAE, ISO
- Grease Consistency: NLGI
 By Application:
- Engine Performance
- Transmission Performance
 By Industry:
- Automotive (Passenger Cars and Trucks)
- Industrial (Gears, Hydraulics, Etc.)
SAE (J300) Viscosity Classification

Example:
 Distinguishes between winter and summer grades

15W-40
 Winter Grades:
Winter Summer

 Summer Grades:

0W 5W 10W 15W 20W 25W

Better low temperature properties

20 30 40 50 60
Higher viscosity
SAE (Dec 99) Viscosity Grade

SAE LOW TEMP. CRANKING LOW TEMP. PUMPING VISCOSITY KV 100°C HIGH TEMPERATURE
GRADE VISCOSITY (CCS) (cP) (MRV), CENTIPOISE (cP) cSt at 150°C,(cP)

0W 6,200 cP max. at - 35°C 60,000 cP max at - 40°C 3.8 min

5W 6,600 cP max. at - 30°C 60,000 cP max at - 35°C 3.8 min

10W 7,000 cP max. at - 25°C 60,000 cP max at - 30°C 4.1min

15W 7,000 cP max. at - 20°C 60,000 cP max at - 25°C 5.6 min

20W 9,500 cP max. at - 15°C 60,000 cP max at - 20°C 5.6 min

25W 13,000 cP max. at - 10°C 60,000 cP max at - 15°C 9.3 min

20 5.6 - 9.3 2.6 min

30 9.3 - 12.5 2.9 min

40 (0W-40, 5W-40 and 10W-40 GRADES) 12.5 - 16.3 2.9 min

40 (15W-40, 20W-40, 25W-40 AND 40 GRADES) 12.5 - 16.3 3.7 min

50 16.3 - 21.9 3.7 min

60 21.9 - 26.1 3.7 min

SAE Viscosity Grade

Axle and Manual Transmissions

SAE Vis Grade Max Temp for Min Vis (cSt) Max Vis (cSt)
Vis@150,000 cP @ 100°C @ 100°C

70W -55 4.1 --

75W -40 4.1 --

80W -26 7.0 --

85W -12 11.0 --

90 -- 13.5 24.0

140 -- 24.0 41.0

250 -- 41.0 --
ISO VG Classification

 ISO — International Standards ISO Viscosity Grade

Viscosity (cSt) @ 40 o C
Min Max
Organisation
2 1.98 2.42
 ISO Viscosity Grading 3 2.88 3.52
5 4.14 5.06
is the standard for Industrial 7 6.12 7.48
lubricants 10 9 11
15 13.5 16.5
22 19.8 24.2
32 28.8 35.2
46 41.4 50.6
68 61.2 74.8
100 90 110
150 135 165
220 198 242
320 288 352
460 414 506
680 612 748
1000 900 1100
1500 1350 1650
API Engine Oil Service Classification

 API — American Petroleum Institute

 Two Main Engine Oil Service Classifications
- API S: For Gasoline Fuelled Engines
- API C: For Diesel Fuelled Engines
 API Energy Conserving (EC) Claims
- API EC: Up to 1.5% improvement in fuel economy
- API EC-II: Up to 2.7% improvement in fuel economy
API Classification for PVEO
SA Straight mineral oil For older engines, very mild
conditions,
not to be used unless specified by
OEM
SB Antioxidant and anti-scuff For older engines, very mild
conditions,
not to be used unless specified by
OEM
SC Deposit, corrosion, and wear protection Gasoline engines 1964-67

SD Improved overall protection vs SC Gasoline engines 1968-71

SE Improved overall protection vs SD Gasoline engines 1972-79

SF Improved antiwear/antioxidants vs SE Gasoline engines 1980-88

SG Improved deposit, oxidation, and sludge control Gasoline engines 1989-1993

SH Improved overall performance vs SG Gasoline engines 1994-1997

SJ Excellent protection of oxidation, and deposits Gasoline engines 1997 onwards

SL Improved overall vs SJ, FE retention Gasoline engines 2001 onward

API Classification for CVEO
API Status Oil description Recommendation
Service
Category
CA Obsolete Some protection against bearing corrosion and ring belt deposits. Widely used in 1950s for light duty service in naturally aspirated
diesel engines with high quality fuels.
CB Obsolete Protection from bearing corrosion and ring belt deposits in naturally aspirated Widely used in 1950s for moderate duty service in naturally aspirated
diesel engines. diesel engines with poor quality fuels.
CC Obsolete Protection from low and high temperature deposits, bearing corrosion and rust.
Oils introduced in 1961. Suitable for moderate to severe operation in
naturally aspirated, turbo and supercharged diesel engines.

CD Obsolete High protection against high temperature deposits, arising from the use of high
Oils introduced 1955. Suitable for severe duty in naturally aspirated,
sulphur fuels. Also provides protection from wear, and bearing corrosion. turbocharged and supercharged diesel engines with high sulphur
fuels.
CE Obsolete High protection against low and high temperature deposits, wear, rust, and For service typical of turbocharged or supercharged heavy duty
corrosion in all service conditions. Also provides protection from oil thickening.
diesels manufactured since 19873 operating under high load and low
due to oil oxidation and soot formation. speed and low load and high speed conditions.

CF-4 Current Provides excellent protection towards piston deposits in modern engine For engines which were designed to meet 1991 US emissions
designs. Gives improved oil consumption relative to API CE oils. Additionallylegislation. Suitable for modern turbocharged or supercharged
provides excellent resistance to oil thickening, bearing corrosion and wear. engines

CF-2 Current Exceeds the requirements of API CD-II by providing additional protection For service typical of modern two stroke engines manufactured since
against wear and deposit control. 1994.

CF Current New category designed to supersede API CD. Provides improved protection Suitable for severe duty in naturally aspirated, turbocharged and
towards high temperature piston deposits arising form the use of high sulphursupercharged diesel engines with high sulphur fuels.
fuel. Gives excellent bearing corrosion control.
CG-4 Current Provides excellent control of soot agglomeration, piston deposit formation andFor engines which were designed to meet 1994 US emissions
wear in new low emission engines. legislation. Suitable for modern turbocharged or supercharged heavy
duty engines.
CH-4 Current CH-4 oils are superior in performance to those meeting CF-4 and CG-4 and For use in high-speed, four stroke diesel engines designed to meet
can effectively lubricate engines calling for those API categories. 1998 exhaust emissions standards. For use with diesel fuels
containing up to 0.5% sulphur.
API ‘C’ — Commercial, Diesel

API CI-4
The API diesel
categories have
API CH-4 evolved in a
confusing manner
in recent years !!

API CG-4

API CF API CF-2

API CF-4

API CE

API CD API CD II

INCREASING LIGHT DUTY, HEAVY DUTY HEAVY DUTY

PERFORMANCE HIGH SULPHUR FUEL 4 STROKE 2 STROKE
API ‘C’ — Commercial, Diesel
Date

1940 CA
CB
ESSO Lubricants

1949
Basic Automotive 1999 - 16 -

1955 CD
1961 CC
1984 CE CD II
1990 CF-4
1994 CG-4 CF CF-2
1998 CH-4
2002/Oct CI-4
ACEA Engine Oil Classification

ACEA = Association Des Constructeurs European D’Automobiles

ACEA A — Passenger Car (Gasoline)

ACEA B — Light Duty Diesel Engines

ACEA E — Heavy Duty Diesel Engines

European Engine Oil Service Classifications
E5
E4
D5 E3
E2
D4 E1
B5
B4
B3
B2
PD2
B1
A5
G5 A3
G4 A2
A1
API Gear Oil Quality Level

 API — American Petroleum Institute

API GL Ratings for Automotive Gear Oils

API Service
Status Description
Category
GL-1 Current Operation typical of spiral bevel and worm gears under mild conditions
Excludes fricion modifiers and EP additives.
GL-2 Current Service typical of moderate performance worm gears and axles
Includes antiwear.
GL-3 Current Service typical of spiral bevel gears and manual transmissions under
moderate speeds and loads. Mild EP oils.
GL-4 Current Typical of hypoid gears in automotive axles under high speed/low torque
and low speed/high torque.
GL-5 Current Typical of hypoid gears in automotive axles under high speed/low torque,
low speed/high torque and high speed/shock load.
MT-1 Current Non Synchronised transmissions
Comparative Viscosity Classifications

The chart below shows the relationship between some ISO viscosity
grades, SAE gear oil grades and SAE engine oil grades, and KV measured
at 100°C, cSt

22 46 100
Iso Viscosity
150 220 320 460
Grade
32 68

SAE Gear Oil

75W 80W 85W 90 140
Classification

5W
SAE Engine Oil
20 30 40 50
Classification
10W

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 42
KINEMATIC VISCOSITY AT 100°C, Cst
Industrial Lubricant Classification

ISO Viscosity Grade

AGMA for Gear Oils
NLGI for Greases
Other General Classifications/Nomenclature
NLGI Grease Classification

-1
NLGI GRADE CONE PENETRATION*, mm CONSISTENCY
OOO 445-475 SEMI-FLUID
OO 400-430 SEMI-FLUID
O 355-385 VERY SOFT
1 310-340 SOFT
2 265-295 MEDIUM SOFT
3 220-250 MEDIUM
4 175-205 STIFF
5 130-160 VERY STIFF
6 85-115 BLOCK GREASE

* - Worked x 60 at 25°C
Thank You