API ballots user language and first licensing date for API CK-4 and API FA-4

Austin, Texas—The American Petroleum Institute (API) took further steps on Dec. 10 to prepare for the licensing of the new heavy-duty engine oil categories API CK-4 and API FA-4. API CK-4 will replace the current API CJ-4 category and is backward compatible with API CJ-4, with no changes to current viscosity minimums (HTHS ≥ 3.5 mPa·s ). API FA-4 is a new heavy-duty engine oil category, with HTHS (high temperature, high shear) limits of 2.9-3.2 mPa·s.

The API Lubricants Group voted to send out a letter ballot to its members to seek approval for the use of API CK-4 and API FA-4 in the API Service Symbol Donut; to ballot the API CK-4 and API FA-4 Standards User Language; and to approve the first licensing date of Dec. 1, 2016 for these new heavy-duty engine oil categories.

Ballot results are expected before the end of January 2016.