New Shell ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection and Shell ROTELLA® T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend have been developed to meet the new API CK-4 service category for diesel engine oil. Nearly a decade has passed since the last diesel engine oil category, CJ-4, was developed and the standard has lasted well beyond the life of the typical engine oil category. The American Petroleum Institute, working with engine manufacturers and oil makers, has completely redesigned heavy-duty engine oil specifications to meet the needs of current and next-generation engines. This has resulted in two new categories - API CK-4 and API FA-4.

“Shell Lubricants has been a leader in the development and testing of next generation engine oils that will meet the new API specifications without compromising oil life or wear protection,” said Dan Arcy, Global OEM technical manager for Shell Lubricants. “We have conducted more than 40 million miles of real-world testing to demonstrate the performance of our next-generation Shell ROTELLA® engine oils to meet the CK-4 and FA-4 specifications.”

CK-4 oils will replace current CJ-4 oils and will be completely backwards compatible with all current engines. They will be designed with improved oxidation resistance, shear stability and aeration control. FA-4 oils include lower viscosity grades designed for next-generation diesel engines to help maximize fuel economy without sacrificing engine protection. Some older engines were not designed to operate with lower viscosity oils, so backwards compatibility is limited.

Shell ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection and Shell ROTELLA® T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend meet numerous specifications and with approvals from many of the world’s leading engine makers, both are an excellent choice for on-highway fleets, general haul, construction, agriculture, public-transport operators, diesel pickup trucks, including high-power vehicles where resistance to increased heat and stress is required.

Shell ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection will be available in SAE 15W-40 and SAE 10W-30 viscosities.

New Shell ROTELLA® T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend will deliver all the benefits of a low-viscosity synthetic blend oil including improved fuel economy and low temperature flow. The new oil has been enhanced with synthetic base oils, plus advanced additive technology to provide Triple Protection Plus technology that adapts to driving conditions. Shell ROTELLA® T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend delivers excellent wear protection and deposit control/cleanliness. It also provides protection against oil breakdown and sustains emission control system durability in particulate filters and after-treatment systems.

According to the company, Shell ROTELLA® T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend works even harder than new CK-4 specifications require and is proven to provide excellent performance across API CK-4 wear tests, delivering an average of 56 percent above minimum wear requirements.

New Shell ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection 15W-40 meets the API CK-4 (as of Dec 2016) specifications as well as all the specifications met by the current Shell ROTELLA® T Triple Protection 15W-40.

Shell ROTELLA® T5 10W-30 Synthetic Blend meets the API CK-4 (as of Dec 2016) specifications as well as all the current specifications met by the current Shell Rotella T5 10W-30.

Both oils will meet the Cummins CES 20086, Detroit Diesel 93K222 and Volvo VDS-4.5 specifications.

New ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection 15W-40 also meets Allison TES 439 specification (for off-highway).

Shell said a FA-4-grade Rotella T5 Ultra [Synthetic Blend] 10W-30 and T6 Multi-Vehicle (diesel or gas engine) 5W-30 are forthcoming by year’s end. Shell ROTELLA® T6 Multi-Vehicle 5W-30 will meet API CK-4 and API SN standards allowing its use in both diesel and gasoline engines.