BALTIMORE, Md. — Castrol announced three of its diesel engine oils have met Caterpillar’s ECF-1 requirements, a standard developed to ensure optimum life and performance of Cat’s engines.

Castrol Enduron S, Castrol Tection Extra and Castrol Tection S are the three engine oils that are compatible to Cat’s new regulation.

Due to many diesel engine oils being reformulated with higher sulfated ash content to handle new Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) engines, Caterpillar created the ECF-1 specification, which went into effect June 1. Caterpillar’s focus on ash is the result of their concerns regarding unacceptably high piston deposit formation in Caterpillar engines lubricated with oils containing high levels of ash.

This specification requires all ECF-1 compliant oils to be below 1.50 percent in sulfated ash content, with the ideal being below 1.30 percent. Additionally, oils with less than or equal to 1.30 percent ash must pass one Caterpillar 1P test. Oils between 1.30 percent and 1.50 percent ash must pass two Caterpillar 1P tests.

Castrol’s unique formulation approach for these oils was based on a dual strategy to provide the best performance for the new EGR engines, while at the same time providing for enhanced performance in new and older non-EGR engines such as Caterpillar’s.