Pennzoil has announced that their Long-Life Heavy Duty Engine Oil has passed the rigorous testing required to meet the newest oil classification for heavy duty diesel engines.

The new CI-4 specification, recently approved by the American Petroleum Institute, was developed specifically to meet the higher demands of lower-emission 2002 diesel engines. The new CI-4 classification means truck operators can use Pennzoil Long-Life oil in 2002 engines. It can also be used in older engines requiring API CH-4, CG-4, CF-4 or CF performance oils.

In order to comply with CI-4, oil needs to be able to handle the much harsher lubricant conditions that are expected to result from the new 2002 engines.

The company says that most of the new engines will have exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) systems that will create up to twice as much soot and run up to 20 degrees hotter than existing engines. Soot can be extremely harmful to the engine, so oil with greater dispersion capabilities is needed.

In addition to better dispersion properties, the company said that the CI-4 oil must have improved performance over the current CH-4 in the following areas:

Better anti-wear capabilities to deal with the abrasive nature of the additional soot; enhanced anti-oxidant capabilities to fight the breakdown of the oil under higher operating temperatures; improved volatility to for less evaporative loss; and improved alkaline reserves (TBN) for neutralizing acids.