ASTM D4485 standard specification for performance of engine oils
1. Scope
1.1 This specification covers engine oils for light-duty and heavy-duty internal combustion engines used under a variety of operating conditions in automobiles, trucks, vans, buses, and off-highway farm, industrial, and construction equipment.

1.2 This specification is not intended to cover engine oil applications such as outboard motors, snowmobiles, lawn mowers, motorcycles, railroad locomotives, or ocean-going vessels.

1.3 This specification is based on engine test results that generally have been correlated with results obtained on reference oils in actual service engines operating with gasoline or diesel fuel. As it pertains to the API SL engine oil category, it is based on engine test results that generally have been correlated with results obtained on reference oils run in gasoline engine Sequence Tests that defined engine oil categories prior to 2000. It should be recognized that not all aspects of engine oil performance are evaluated by the engine tests in this specification. In addition, when assessing oil performance, it is desirable that the oil be evaluated under actual operating conditions.

1.4 This specification includes bench and chemical tests that help evaluate some aspects of engine oil performance not covered by the engine tests in this specification.

1.5 The test procedures referred to in this specification that are not yet standards are listed in Table 1.

1.6 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

2. Referenced Documents
2.1 ASTM Standards:
D92 Test Method for Flash and Fire Points by Cleveland Open Cup Tester
D93 Test Methods for Flash Point by Pensky-Martens Closed Cup Tester
D130 Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test
D874 Test Method for Sulfated Ash from Lubricating Oils and Additives
D892 Test Method for Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils
D2887 Test Method for Boiling Range Distribution of Petroleum Fractions by Gas Chromatography
D3244 Practice for Utilization of Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
D4683 Test Method for Measuring Viscosity at High Shear Rate and High Temperature by Tapered Bearing Simulator
D4684 Test Method for Determination of Yield Stress and Apparent Viscosity of Engine Oils at Low Temperature
D4951 Test Method for Determination of Additive Elements in Lubricating Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry
D5119 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the CRC L-38 Spark-Ignition Engine
D5133 Test Method for Low Temperature, Low Shear Rate, Viscosity/Temperature Dependence of Lubricating Oils Using a Temperature-Scanning Technique
D5185 Test Method for Determination of Additive Elements, Wear Metals, and Contaminants in Used Lubricating Oils and Determination of Selected Elements in Base Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
D5290 Test Method for Measurement of Oil Consumption, Piston Deposits, and Wear in a Heavy-Duty High-Speed Diesel Engine - NTC-400 Procedure
D5293 Test Method for Apparent Viscosity of Engine Oils Between -5 and -35°C Using the Cold-Cranking Simulator
D5302 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils for Inhibition of Deposit Formation and Wear in a Spark-Ignition Internal Combustion Engine Fueled with Gasoline and Operated Under Low-Temperature, Light-Duty Conditions
D5480 Test Method for Engine Oil Volatility by Gas Chromatography
D5533 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the Sequence IIIE, Spark-Ignition Engine
D5800 Test Method for Evaporation Loss of Lubricating Oils by the Noack Method
D5844 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils for Inhibition of Rusting (Sequence IID)
D5862 Test Method for Evaluation of Engine Oils in Two-Stroke Cycle Turbo-Supercharged 6V92TA Diesel Engine
D5966 Test Method for Evaluation of Engine Oils for Roller Follower Wear in Light-Duty Diesel Engine
D5967 Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in T-8 Diesel Engine
D5968 Test Method for Evaluation of Corrosiveness of Diesel Engine Oil at 121°C
D6082 Test Method for High Temperature Foaming Characteristics of Lubricating Oils
D6202 Test Method for Automotive Engine Oils on the Fuel Economy of Passenger Cars and Light-Duty Trucks in the Sequence VIA Spark Ignition Engine
D6278 Test Method for Shear Stability of Polymer Containing Fluids Using a European Diesel Injector Apparatus
D6335 Test Method for Determination of High Temperature Deposits by Thermo-Oxidation Engine Oil Simulation Test
D6417 Test Method for Estimation of Engine Oil Volatility by Capillary Gas Chromatography
D6483 Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in T-9 Diesel Engine
D6557 Test Method for Evaluation of Rust Preventive Characteristics of Automotive Engine Oils
D6593 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils for Inhibition of Deposit Formation in a Spark-Ignition Internal Combustion Engine Fueled with Gasoline and Operated Under Low-Temperature, Light-Duty Conditions
D6594 Test Method for Evaluation of Corrosiveness of Diesel Engine Oil at 135°C
D6618 Test Method for Evaluation of Engine Oils in Diesel Four-Stroke Cycle Supercharged 1M-PC Single Cylinder Oil Test Engine
D6681 Test Method for Evaluation of Engine Oils in a High Speed, Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine - Caterpillar 1P Test Procedure
D6709 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the Sequence VIII Spark-Ignition Engine (CLR Oil Test Engine)
D6750 Test Methods for Evaluation of Engine Oils in a High-Speed, Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine - 1K Procedure (0.4 % Fuel Sulfur) and 1N Procedure (0.04 % Fuel Sulfur)
D6794 Test Method for Measuring the Effect on Filterability of Engine Oils After Treatment with Various Amounts of Water and a Long (6-h) Heating Time
D6795 Test Method for Measuring the Effect on Filterability of Engine Oils After Treatment with Water and Dry Ice and a Short (30-min) Heating Time
D6837 Test Method for Measurement of Effects of Automotive Engine Oils on Fuel Economy of Passenger Cars and Light-Duty Trucks in Sequence VIB Spark Ignition Engine
D6838 Test Method for Cummins M11 High Soot Test
D6891 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the Sequence IVA Spark-Ignition Engine
D6894 Test Method for Evaluation of Aeration Resistance of Engine Oils in Direct-Injected Turbocharged Automotive Diesel Engine
D6896 Test Method for Determination of Yield Stress and Apparent Viscosity of Used Engine Oils at Low Temperature
D6922 Test Method for Determination of Homogeneity and Miscibility in Automotive Engine Oils
D6923 Test Method for Evaluation of Engine Oils in a High Speed, Single-Cylinder Diesel Engine - Caterpillar 1R Test Procedure
D6975 Test Method for Cummins M11 EGR Test
D6984 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the Sequence IIIF, Spark-Ignition Engine
D6987/D6987M Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in T-10 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Diesel Engine
D7097 Test Method for Determination of Moderately High Temperature Piston Deposits by Thermo-Oxidation Engine Oil Simulation Test - TEOST MHT
D7109 Test Method for Shear Stability of Polymer Containing Fluids Using a European Diesel Injector Apparatus at 30 and 90 Cycles
D7156 Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in the T-11 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Diesel Engine
D7216 Test Method for Determining Automotive Engine Oil Compatibility with Typical Seal Elastomers
D7320 Test Method for Evaluation of Automotive Engine Oils in the Sequence IIIG, Spark-Ignition Engine
D7422 Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in the T-12 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Diesel Engine
E 29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E 178 Practice for Dealing With Outlying Observations

2.2 Society of Automotive Engineers Standards:
SAE J183 Engine Oil Performance and Engine Service Classification
SAE J300 Engine Oil Classification
SAE J1423 Passenger Car and Light-Duty Truck Energy-Conserving Engine Oil Classification
SAE J2643 Standard Reference Elastomers (SRE) for Characterizing the Effects on Vulcanized Rubber

2.3 American Petroleum Institute Publication:
API 1509 Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS)

2.4 Government Standard:
DOD CID A-A-52039A (SAE 5W-30, 10W-30, and 15W-40)

2.5 American Chemical Council Code:
ACC Petroleum Additives Product Approval Code of Practice

3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
3.1.1 automotive, adj - descriptive of equipment associated with self-propelled machinery, usually vehicles driven by internal combustion engines.

3.1.2 category, n - in engine oils, a designation such as SH, SJ, SL, SM, CF-4, CF, CF-2, CG-4, CH-4, CI-4, Energy Conserving, and so forth, for a given level of performance in specified engine and bench tests.

3.1.3 classification, n - in engine oils, the systematic arrangement into categories in accordance with different levels of performance in specified engine and bench tests.

3.1.4 engine oil, n - a liquid that reduces friction and wear between the moving parts within an engine, and also serves as a coolant.

3.1.4.1 Discussion - It can contain additives to enhance certain properties. Inhibition of engine rusting, deposit formation, valve train wear, oil oxidation, and foaming are examples.

3.1.5 heavy duty, adj - in internal combustion engine operation, characterized by average speeds, power output, and internal temperatures that are generally close to the potential maximums.

3.1.6 heavy-duty engine, n - in internal combustion engine types, one that is designed to allow operation continuous at or close to its peak output.

3.1.6.1 Discussion - This type of engine is typically installed in large trucks and buses as well as farm, industrial, and construction equipment.

3.1.7 light-duty, adj - in internal combustion engine operation, characterized by average speeds, power output, and internal temperatures that are generally much lower than the potential maximums.

3.1.8 light-duty engine, n - in internal combustion engine types, one that is designed to be normally operated at substantially less than its peak output.

3.1.8.1 Discussion - This type of engine is typically installed in automobiles and small trucks, vans, and buses.

3.1.9 lugging, adj - in internal combustion engine operation, characterized by a combined mode of relatively low-speed and high-power output.

3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 C category, n - the group of engine oils that are intended primarily for use in diesel and certain gasoline-powered vehicles.

3.2.2 Energy Conserving category, n - the group of engine oils that have demonstrated fuel economy benefits and are intended primarily for use in automotive gasoline engine applications, such as passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and vans.

3.2.3 S category, n - the group of engine oils that are intended primarily for use in automotive gasoline engine applications, such as passenger cars, light-duty trucks, and vans.