1. An international authoritative certification body for engine oil quality.
API is the abbreviation of api gravity, and the API SP standard mentioned in this issue was published by it. Similar organizations in the world include the International Lubricating Oil Standardization and Certification Committee (ILSAC) and the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), and they also have their own engine oil quality standards and systems.
API and ILSAC engine oil quality standards are applicable to American, Japanese, Korean and domestic brands, while ACEA and ILSAC engine oil quality standards are applicable to European brands.
2. Oil quality certification
SN, SN Plus and SP that we often see on oil bottles are the quality grades of API. S stands for gasoline engine oil, and N, N+ and P are the codes of each generation. The lower the letters, the higher the grade, and the higher the corresponding certification standards and requirements.
The improvement of certification standards is not a kind of narcissistic self-pursuit, but is constantly honed in line with the development of automobile industry. In order to meet the needs of automobile technology innovation and environmental protection, the standards are constantly tightened to meet the needs of the development of contemporary automobile industry.
Therefore, in the era of popularization of self-priming engines, we have seen oil quality certifications such as API SL, API SM and API SN. With the development of turbocharged gasoline direct injection engine technology, the original oil quality certification can no longer meet the needs of technology and environmental protection. All authoritative certification bodies have to constantly upgrade the certification standards, so that the certified oil products can meet the needs of engine protection, provide adequate lubrication protection for engines and meet the needs of automobile development.
3.API SP certification
Compared with API SN Plus standard, API SP has upgraded key performance such as energy saving, sludge resistance, piston cleanliness and oxidation control. In order to give the engine better performance protection. At the same time, the wear test of timing chain is added, which puts forward higher requirements for certified engine oil.
As mentioned above, API SN Plus and API SP are new standards to solve the problem of low-speed pre-ignition, and the requirement of low ash can effectively reduce the occurrence of low-speed pre-ignition in turbocharged gasoline direct injection engines.
Of course, at the same certification level, each brand will have its own additive formula and main characteristics. Meeting the certification standards of authoritative organizations is only the most basic. Some brands have higher quality requirements on certification standards, providing more and better protection for engines. Some brands of engine oils have also been certified by many international authoritative organizations and OEMs, which are widely used in various models.
From an economic point of view, you can refer to your car manual for the quality of oil you choose, and you don't have to choose a higher grade oil. But just like the certification standard, the car manual only recommends basic and better engine oil, which is more beneficial to your engine. If you can't make up your mind, you can choose according to the recommendation of the car manual, or consult professional technicians and engineers.