What does the specification API stand for ?
API stands for the American Petroleum Institute. This body has specified the performance standards that oils used in road vehicles should meet, notably for cars and trucks made in the USA. For oils destined for use in passenger car engines, the letters API are followed by a set of two letters such as SJ, etc. This indicates the Service Level for passenger car oils. These specified performance levels have evolved through the years, from API SA to SM, in response to the changes in passenger car engine technology that, in turn, has imposed ever more severe operating conditions on the oil to achieve satisfactory lubrication. The highest API for passenger car motor oils today is API-SM. Similarly, the API designates the performance of diesel engine oils with a letter sequence such as API CF or API CH-4, and for automotive gear oils they use API GL-4. The highest API for commercial engine oils (diesel oils) today is API CI-4 Plus. Many other specifications are used to denote lubricant perfor
API stands for American Petroleum Institute a body which specifies the standards that high Quality oils must meet. In most typical passenger car motor oils , the letters API are followed by a se t of two letters such as SJ , SH etc. These standard levels have evolved through the years in response to the changing passenger car engine technology which imposes certain conditions on the quality that most run in it . The highest API for PCMO’s today is API-SJ.
