Sources: Shell Lubricants, Houston; CP staff
Shell Rotella’s new WhatisPC11.com site profiles the next generation of diesel engine oils known as American Petroleum Institute (API) Proposed Category 11 (PC-11), covering product fundamentals, impending changes, testing updates, and how the specification is expected to affect new, current and older engines when PC-11 replaces API CJ-4 engine oils by 2017. The site also explores diesel engine technology changes, driven by tightening emissions regulations, and how Shell Lubricants is approaching the Rotella PC-11 series.
“PC-11 is a constantly developing specification and new information is available regularly to guide the industry through the expected changes,” says Shell Lubricants’ Kate Faucher, Global Marketing Projects lead. “The interactive PC-11 website will serve as a resource for fleets, owner/operators and anyone driving a diesel powered truck or operating equipment to learn more about PC-11 and how it will affect their business.”
WhatisPC11.com shares the journey behind the PC-11 emergence, why a new oil standard is necessary, and how new lower viscosity oils are being developed. Unlike past categories that are backward compatible with the previous category, PC-11 will have two subcategories: One backward compatible to older engines, the other tailored to upcoming engine designs. Education about both oils will be key to seamless integration for every industry affected by the specification change.
“With two subcategories and new engine hardware tests, there will be lots of questions about how the oils will be formulated and which oil should be used for different applications,” notes Shell Lubricants OEM Technical Manager Dan Arcy. “As we formulate and test the new oils, Shell Lubricants can offer valuable resources to those operating diesel engines both on- and off-highway to support them through the transition.”
The new API PC-11 category is being driven by changes in engine technology to meet emissions plus renewable fuel and fuel economy standards for reduced carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions. Stakeholders also see the category addressing changes in engine hardware and operating conditions that better represent new engine technology since the last heavy-duty engine oil category was introduced in 2006. Several engine tests need upgrading and older test hardware is expected to become unavailable.