Oil?
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
To be clear, my position is a wait and see with regards to the new spec. My opinion was formed by the first letter Ford published last fall which was very clear than ALL CK-4 oils were not approved due to insufficient wear protection. Ford even made a video with a CK-4 symbol that had a big red circle with a line through it. That left a pretty clear impression. Their opinion was based on actual testing in various diesel engines. In some other document (which I don't want to look up now) equated the new formulation to a 0W oil. That was also a flinch moment.
Step forward a couple of months and Ford releases the list you are referring to that identifies acceptable CK-4 formulations. So what changed between fall and January? Did they test each of those oils in engines or did they evaluate them some other way? Did Ford have to lower their wear standards so the new oil will pass? I have no idea but there are simply too many questions. When new information becomes available, we can take it all in then. But for now, I'm using the oil that the engine designers intended. There is no false information here, just observations.
Step forward a couple of months and Ford releases the list you are referring to that identifies acceptable CK-4 formulations. So what changed between fall and January? Did they test each of those oils in engines or did they evaluate them some other way? Did Ford have to lower their wear standards so the new oil will pass? I have no idea but there are simply too many questions. When new information becomes available, we can take it all in then. But for now, I'm using the oil that the engine designers intended. There is no false information here, just observations.
There are lots of good oils on that list.
For the record, I am still putting CJ-4 in mine because I have heard many good things about the oil I used this weekend by Lubrication Engineers.
I respect your stance, but you will be using CJ-4 until CJ-4 is no longer available and you will only be able to get CK4 which will be backwards compatible. It will still list CH-4, CI-4, CJ-4 and CK-4 on the bottles when CK-4 is fully released when CJ-4 is gone.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
Ford says you can use a CK-4 oil that meets their latest oil specification Ford WSS-M2C171-F1
Here's the links to Shells oil OEM Specifications that meet Ford WSS-M2C171-F1:
Shell ROTELLA® T5 Synthetic Blend Heavy Duty Engine Oil Shell ROTELLA®
Shell ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection Shell ROTELLA®
Here's the links to Shells oil OEM Specifications that meet Ford WSS-M2C171-F1:
Shell ROTELLA® T5 Synthetic Blend Heavy Duty Engine Oil Shell ROTELLA®
Shell ROTELLA® T4 Triple Protection Shell ROTELLA®
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 5,158
Likes: 35
From: North of Salt Lake City
The saga continues. I felt a little silly at the time I bought two years worth of of my favorite CJ-4 but not anymore. How is the uninformed public going to know about this? They are going to to go Walmart and buy oil with CJ-4 and CK-4 on the donut and think all is well. What they won't know is that the oil is not on Ford's approved list.
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
The saga continues. I felt a little silly at the time I bought two years worth of of my favorite CJ-4 but not anymore. How is the uninformed public going to know about this? They are going to to go Walmart and buy oil with CJ-4 and CK-4 on the donut and think all is well. What they won't know is that the oil is not on Ford's approved list.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
This situation seems pretty fluid as Ford's own list now includes some 10w-30 CK-4 oils. https://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/main/additionalinfo/dieseloilsWSSM2C171F1.pdf
Logistics Pro
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 4,788
Likes: 20
From: Mansfield, TX USA
I guess maybe Ford changed its mind.
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Senior User
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 172
Likes: 0
From: Upstate, NY
Who knows? Every manufacturer has their own spec these days and I suspect it's due in part to the algorithms used in the oil life monitoring systems. The algorithms likely are based upon some assumptions about the additive package and other attributes of the oil.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2015
Posts: 19,715
Likes: 12,854
From: Wyoming
For the past few years I've been a preferred customer with AMSOil. In my 1/2 ton truck almost every fluid is AMSOil. I think the coolant is the one exception. I get better MPG than most people. I test the engine oil at each oil change and the results of the test have always come back good.
AMSOil is hard to find locally, especially in a retail setting where they have the products I use. I haven't looked lately but AMSOil seems to not get actual certifications. Instead, they say they exceed the requirements for those certifications. Because of these two issues I'm seriously considering not using AMSOil in my F-350. I'm hoping that the CJ-4/CK-4 issue gets resolved soon, sometime before my first oil change. I may just take it to the dealer for the first one so I don't have to worry about it.
AMSOil is hard to find locally, especially in a retail setting where they have the products I use. I haven't looked lately but AMSOil seems to not get actual certifications. Instead, they say they exceed the requirements for those certifications. Because of these two issues I'm seriously considering not using AMSOil in my F-350. I'm hoping that the CJ-4/CK-4 issue gets resolved soon, sometime before my first oil change. I may just take it to the dealer for the first one so I don't have to worry about it.
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 2,530
Likes: 7
From: Montana
There are plenty of CJ-4 oils out there still that you can use. I wouldn't hesitate in just buying some and changing the oil.
the oil im using is going to continue to use CJ-4 oil, even after they finalize their CK-4. I talked at great length with the rep yesterday at lunch. Lubrication Engineers is the brand. I used to use Schaeffers religiously in my 7.3, but tests have shown that LE oil is better.
the oil im using is going to continue to use CJ-4 oil, even after they finalize their CK-4. I talked at great length with the rep yesterday at lunch. Lubrication Engineers is the brand. I used to use Schaeffers religiously in my 7.3, but tests have shown that LE oil is better.
Posting Guru
Joined: Nov 2016
Posts: 1,056
Likes: 2
There are plenty of CJ-4 oils out there still that you can use. I wouldn't hesitate in just buying some and changing the oil.
the oil im using is going to continue to use CJ-4 oil, even after they finalize their CK-4. I talked at great length with the rep yesterday at lunch. Lubrication Engineers is the brand. I used to use Schaeffers religiously in my 7.3, but tests have shown that LE oil is better.
the oil im using is going to continue to use CJ-4 oil, even after they finalize their CK-4. I talked at great length with the rep yesterday at lunch. Lubrication Engineers is the brand. I used to use Schaeffers religiously in my 7.3, but tests have shown that LE oil is better.
Lead Driver
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 7,967
Likes: 2,664
From: The Great State of Texas
Shell Rotella T4 10W30 has the new Ford rating. I believe any CK4/SM rating will meet Ford's specification since API SM doesn't require Phos. to be less than 1,000ppm which is where Ford want it to be. On the other hand CK4/SN requires Phos. to be less than 800ppm and that's the issue.