Hi all,
many oil manufacturers (especially European and Australians) now provide Low SAPS (low sulfated ash, phosphorus-sulfur). These oils are specifically blended for diesels with particle filters and gasoline engines with 3 way catalytic converters. However oil manufacturers including Castrol, Liqui-Moly, Kroon-Oil etc do also recommend these oils for cars not fitted with these devices.
These oils meet ACEA rating C1 to C3 but also API SM and ACEA A3/B3. The latter makes them suitable for use in virtually any vehicle gasoline or diesel fited or not with a catalytic converter or a particle filter. However the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturer's Association) has issue a warning about these oils stating that these shouldn't be used in "some" engines:
see page 5 in: http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20090105_081211_ACEA_Oil_Sequences_Final.pdf
On a question addressed at Liqui-Moly regarding one of their low SAPS oils, I have been answered that low SAPS oils are not the best oils for older engines for which they were not targeted.
Some questions:
- What is the issue in using a low SAPS oil in a gasoline engine without 3 way catalyst or particle filter (car is a 1997 Volvo S40 2.0 normally aspirated gasoline engine with "standard" catalytic converter? What is the meaning of the ACEA warning and what does mean "some engines"?
- Does it translate anything into additional wear in the long run?
- Would these low SAPS oil extend the life of standard catalytic converters (non 3 ways)?
Thanks
many oil manufacturers (especially European and Australians) now provide Low SAPS (low sulfated ash, phosphorus-sulfur). These oils are specifically blended for diesels with particle filters and gasoline engines with 3 way catalytic converters. However oil manufacturers including Castrol, Liqui-Moly, Kroon-Oil etc do also recommend these oils for cars not fitted with these devices.
These oils meet ACEA rating C1 to C3 but also API SM and ACEA A3/B3. The latter makes them suitable for use in virtually any vehicle gasoline or diesel fited or not with a catalytic converter or a particle filter. However the ACEA (European Automobile Manufacturer's Association) has issue a warning about these oils stating that these shouldn't be used in "some" engines:
see page 5 in: http://www.acea.be/images/uploads/files/20090105_081211_ACEA_Oil_Sequences_Final.pdf
On a question addressed at Liqui-Moly regarding one of their low SAPS oils, I have been answered that low SAPS oils are not the best oils for older engines for which they were not targeted.
Some questions:
- What is the issue in using a low SAPS oil in a gasoline engine without 3 way catalyst or particle filter (car is a 1997 Volvo S40 2.0 normally aspirated gasoline engine with "standard" catalytic converter? What is the meaning of the ACEA warning and what does mean "some engines"?
- Does it translate anything into additional wear in the long run?
- Would these low SAPS oil extend the life of standard catalytic converters (non 3 ways)?
Thanks
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