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API CK-4: opportunity knocks Alan Henderson, Senior Marketing Specialist, Afton Chemical
Much has changed since API launched its API CK-4 specification in 2016. With emerging markets exhibiting rapid sales growth of new vehicles and product labels needing to be updated following the introduction of ACEA 2022, Afton argues that now is the ideal time to revisit API CK-4. What is API CK-4? The American Petroleum Institute (API) launched API CK-4 in North America in 2016 as an upgrade to the reduced SAPS (sulphated ash, phosphorous, sulphur) API CJ-4 specification. API CK-4 offers even greater protection for aftertreatment systems; further improving oxidation performance whilst maintaining backwards compatibility.
2021, with the roll out of the China VIa emission standards. In both regions, the need for API CK-4 lubricants looks set to grow significantly helped by government scrappage schemes designed to encourage sales of lower emission vehicles. In addition, Off Road emissions legislation in these markets is expected to follow the path of On Road, meaning a further opportunity for growth.
At the same time as API CK-4, API also launched API FA-4; orientated towards lower High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) viscosity fluids to help drive improved fuel economy. At the time of launch, very few North American OEMs had a corresponding specification for API FA-4. This, coupled with the lack of backwards compatibility with older vehicles, resulted in a low market penetration for the specification.
Already, nearly a third of vehicles in India are less than 3 years old, while in China this figure is even higher. The new China VII standard is also expected later in the decade, driving even greater NOx and Particulate Matter emissions reductions and further increasing the reliance on lubricants meeting the API CK-4 specification.
So why revisit API CK-4? Since the specification launched in 2016 there have been a number of developments in the market. In this article we highlight four main drivers for taking a fresh look at your API CK-4 portfolio. Emerging markets tighten emission limits China and India are two of the largest markets for Commercial Vehicles globally. Both markets have introduced tighter emissions legislation in the past two years to improve air quality. In response, Indian and Chinese OEMs have had to embrace exhaust aftertreatment systems that rely on low sulphur diesel and reduced SAPS lubricants. India saw the introduction of the Bharat Stage VI emission standard in 2020. China soon followed in
Unlike the more fragmented markets in Europe and the US, the Indian and Chinese markets are both dominated by local Heavy Commercial Vehicle OEMs such as FAW, Dongfeng, Tata and Ashok Leyland. Current API CK-4 technologies are focused on North American and European OEM needs. While current API CK-4 lubricant technology could in theory just be rolled over to these markets, it is a good idea to check whether products are fit for purpose and aligned closely with the specific needs of these markets and their OEM hardware. It also makes sense to verify that formulations will work in harmony with local base oils. With the right technologies, the potential for growth in these markets is unparalleled elsewhere. Launch of ACEA 2022 It may seem unexpected to discuss the recent launch of ACEA 2022, when talking about an API Continued on page 16
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specification but the majority of products carry both an API and ACEA claim. The recent changes coming into effect with the new ACEA E11 sequence make it very closely aligned with the requirements of API CK-4. Given the two-year window to update their labels with the new ACEA 2022 E11 claim, it’s an ideal time for marketers to review the lubricant technology they are using and their claims to ensure products are fully up-to-date before committing to new labelling. Label changes are expensive and so oil marketers will wish to minimise the frequency of changes they make. Discussions around the next API specification are beginning only now. PC-12, as it is currently known, is not due for launch until 2027 at the earliest. Reviewing API CK-4 now means that targeted formulation changes can deliver five years’ worth of returns before the industry moves on once again. Proof of performance in off-road Mining and Construction are large API CK-4 markets outside North America, especially in places like Australia and South Africa. Despite guarantees that OEM and industry fluid specifications look to provide, the biggest challenge for any Off Road operator is the expense of their heavy machinery. Equipment is expected to be durable and perform for many years due to the significant replacement costs. Given the high stakes, a priority for operators is being able to trust the engine oil they use. Since their launch, API CK-4 oils have had time to prove their real world performance for anything up to a million miles, confirming that their products are robust and reliable. Oil companies have used the past six years to develop more compelling arguments to differentiate their products. Showcasing their oil delivers beyond the API CK-4 specification, such as through superior wear protection or better oxidation performance. The off-road market has room for API CK-4 fluids which go beyond the specification, ensuring protection for expensive equipment. In addition to field testing, Afton uses a differentiated engine wear test, which runs for longer, has added contaminants, creating much harsher conditions to better demonstrate oil performance in an off-road environment. Rising diesel costs API CK-4 has always offered superior wear protection
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and better oxidation control to previous specifications, with both supporting the extension of an oil drain interval and in turn reducing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) of the vehicle. With the recent and dramatic increases in fuel prices, commercial vehicle operators will no doubt be looking at ways to help reduce the cost pressures faced. Savings from extending the oil drain interval are likely to be thought of even more favourably in the current environment by fleet owners. Low viscosity oils remain a niche market in the US. The API FA-4 specification applies primarily to certain newer trucks and is not backwards compatible, which has limited the total market size. Future growth is expected from a small base and only driven by new vehicle sales. Used for factory fill by some OEMs, the lack of popularity of API FA-4 for service fill has come from users not valuing the benefits of fuel economypromoting oils when fuel is relatively cheap. With rising diesel prices hitting the total cost of ownership worldwide, the time is ripe to review the benefits of API FA-4 in North America. Now is the time for action The lubricant industry is going through a challenging period; continued cost escalation - due in large part to availability issues - means that many oil marketers are spending every waking moment thinking about pricing and whether they can get hold of the materials they need. Contemplating one more change might feel like one too many, and the task of strategically evaluating the benefits of a new project will often get benched in favour of dealing with day-to-day issues. However, as Thomas Edison famously said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” API CK-4 is definitely an opportunity. It might feel like work that you could do without right now, but there are good reasons to take another look at this specification and the technologies used to service it.
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