SM oil specification

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My 2012 V6 Nissan Pathfinder recommends a 5w30 SM specification oil. I believe SM is an older spec did SM allow for more Zink and or Phosphorus in the oil compared to the newest oil specification?
 
I think your truck requires ILSAC GF4 or resource conserving which is a sub service category of spark-magnolia. Only commercial/compression or HD are allowed higher P. Also odd "hot rod" oils with higher ZDP could meet SN but not CI or CJ.
 
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IIRC, the SL to SM step was where the ZN/P limits went down for oils up to and including Xw30. That's why a lot of the "boutique" performance/racing oils still list an SL rating. I forget the changes from SM to SN, but my vague recollection is "not all that much changed." Probably tighter volatility limits? Xw40 still gets more ZN/P even under SN.
 
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