Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Test Category
For API CI-4

Requirements 

Test Method

Properties

Unit

 Limits 

1 Test

2 Tests

3 Tests

1. LABORATORY TESTS FOR API CI-4 AND CI-4 PLUS

1.1 Viscosity Grades

SAE J300

Manufacturer specifies viscosity target within SAE J300 specification

1.2 High Temperature Corrosion Bench Test

ASTM D6594

Copper increase, max

ppm

20

No MTAC ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Lead increase, max

ppm

120

Tin increase, max

ppm

50

Copper strip rating, max (D130)

3

1.3 Foam Test

ASTM D892
(Option A not allowed)

Foaming/Settling, max

No MTAC ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

Sequence I

mL

10/0

Sequence II

mL

20/0

Sequence III

mL

10/0

1.4 Shear Stability

ASTM D6278

After shear viscosity, 10W-30, min

cSt

9.3

No MTAC ^(1)(2)(3)

After shear viscosity, 15W-40, min

 cSt

12.5

1.5 Volatility 

ASTM D5800
(Noack)

Evaporative loss at 250°C, max

%

15

No MTAC ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

1.6 High Temperature /
High Shear

As allowed in
SAE J300

Viscosity, min

mPa-s

3.5

No MTAC ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾

1.7 Low Temperature Pumpability

ASTM D4684
(MRV TP-1)

 Viscosity of 75h used oil sample from T-10 Test at -20°C, max

mPa-s

25000

No MTAC ⁽¹⁾⁽²⁾  

Modified D4684
(if yield stress)

 Viscosity at -20°C, max
Yield stress, max

mPa-s
Pa 

 25000
35

1.8 Elastomer Compatibility

Limits

Volume Change

Hardness

Tensile Strength

Elongation

Nitrile

+5/-3

+7/-5

+10/-TMC1006

+10/-TMC1006

Silicone

+TMC1006/-3

+5/-TMC1006

+10/-45

+20/-30

Polyacrylate

+5/-3

+8/-5

+18/-15

+10/-35

FKM

+5/-2

+7/-5

+10/-TMC1006

+10/-TMC1006

2. ENGINE TESTS FOR API CI-4

2.1 Mack T-8E

ASTM D5967
(Ext. T8-E)

Relative Viscosity at 4.8% soot, max
(RV=Visc. at 4.8% soot/Visc. of new oil sheared in D6278) 

1.8

1.9

2.0

2.2 Mack T-10

T10 test with EGR

Merit Rating, min

1000

1000

1000

2.3 Cummins M11-EGR

M11 high soot test with EGR

Crosshead wight loss, max

mg

20.0

21.8

22.6

Top ring weight loss, max

mg

175

186

191

Filter delta pressure at 250h, max

kPa

275

320

341

Sludge rating, min

merits

7.8

7.6

7.5

2.4 Caterpillar 1R

1R piston deposit test

WDR, max

demerits

382

396

402

TGC, max

demerits

52

57

59

TLC, max

demerits

31

35

36

Initial Oil Consumption, max

g/h

13.1

13.1

13.1

Final Oil Consumption, max

g/h

IOC+1.8

IOC+1.8

IOC+1.8

Piston ring and liner scuffing

None

None

None

Ring Sticking

None

None

None

2.5 Caterpillar 1K





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ASTM RR: D02-1273




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WDK, max

demerits

332

347

353

TGF, max

%

24

27

29

TLHC, max

%

4

5

5

Oil Consumption
(0-252h), max

g/kW-h

0.5

0.5

0.5

Piston ring and liner scuffing

None

None

None

or

Caterpillar 1N

ASTM RR:D02-1321

WDN, max

demerits

286.2

311.7

323.0

TGF, max

%

20

23

25

TLHC, max

%

3

4

5

Oil Consumption
(0-252h), max

g/kW-h

0.5

0.5

0.5

Piston ring and liner scuffing

None

None

None

Ring Sticking

None

None

None

2.6 Roller Follower Wear Test

ASTM D5966

Average Pin Wear, max

µm
(mils)

7.6
(0.30)

8.4
(0.33)

9.1
(0.36)

2.7 Engine Oil Aeration Test

ASTM RR:D02-1379

Aeration, max

Vol %

8.0

MTAC applies ⁽²⁾  

2.8 Sequence IIIF

ASTM RR:D02-1491

Viscosity increase at
80h, max

%

275

MTAC applies ⁽²⁾  

3. ENGINE TESTS FOR API CI-4 PLUS (same as API CI-4 Engine Tests above in addition to following)

3.1 Mack T-11

T-11 Soot/
Viscosity Control

Minimum TGA Soot Content at 12.0 cSt
increase at 100°C

%

6.00

5.89

5.85

⁽¹⁾ Not an ACC Test
⁽²⁾ MTAC is a statistical method for treating engine test results. Consult your sales representative for further information.
⁽³⁾ Limit of 30 pass for API CI-4, 90 pass for API CI-4 PLUS.