Shell Lubricants has been a leader in developing new CK-4 and FA-4 heavy-duty engine oils and has conducted more than 30 million on-highway miles of testing the new products. With the new engine oils slated to be available by December 1, 2016, Shell Lubricants will continue to provide information both on the road and online about the new engine oils with a new Shell Rotella Road Show rig that is on tour, as well as an updated website and other communications tools.
“Shell Lubricants has been leading the conversation with the trucking, construction and agriculture industries since 2012 about anticipated changes expected as PC-11 diesel engine oils were being developed,” said Chris Guerrero, global marketing manager, Shell Rotella. “Now that the new CK-4 and FA-4 specifications have been completed, the Shell Rotella brand will continue to lead the conversation about the new engine oil specifications. Later this year we will introduce the most advanced Shell Rotella products ever developed.”
The Shell Rotella Road Show has been completely redesigned and has just launched the Hard Working Tour across the United States and Canada to help educate truckers, fleets, retailers, and others about the new diesel engine oils. The 53-foot, double bump-out Kentucky air ride trailer has 3,000 square feet of exhibit space and uses a 2014 Freightliner Coronado tractor.
The interactive design includes a number of interesting areas starting with how engine oil protects your engine. A demonstration area shows how engine oils may affect fuel efficiency, wear protection, engine cleanliness and acid corrosion prevention. Engine parts show examples of how low viscosity CK-4 and FA-4 test engine oils have protected against engine wear.
There are two areas dedicated to CK-4 and FA-4 with access to the WhatIsPC-11.com website. The display provides information for fleets and owner operators, as well as for off-highway/construction vehicles and diesel pickup trucks.
The Shell Rotella Road Show also highlights the Koester Racing and Corzine Motorsports National Tractor Pullers Association (NTPA) teams and the Rotella Cup. The hardworking Shell Rotella family of products are on display; visitors can test their diesel oil knowledge to win prizes, and learn about the MyMilesMatters rewards program. There is also a Real Destinations area where guests can view Shell Rotella Unsung films.
WhatIsPC11.com, which launched in February 2015, has been updated to provide the latest information about the next generation of engine oils. The site can now be found at www.WhatIsCK4.com and www.WhatIsFA4.com, as well as at the original domain. The site is a resource for topics such as the fundamentals of CK-4 and FA-4, approaching changes, testing updates, and how the new category is expected to affect new, current and older engines when it replaces API CJ-4 engine oils.
Shell Lubricants has created a comprehensive brochure which explains what the new engine oil specifications will mean for on- and off-highway vehicles and equipment. It covers the development of these new oils and the benefits they will provide. The brochure can be downloaded at the Fleet Info Center.
Shell Lubricants has created an infographic that helps to educate and inform consumers about the ins and outs of the new diesel engine oil categories. The infographic explains how CK-4 and FA-4 oils will deliver improvements in fuel economy, aeration control, wear protection and other benefits that will come with switching to CK-4 and FA-4 oils. The infographic can be seen on Shell’s newly rebranded www.WhatIsCK4.com and www.WhatIsFA4.com site and the Shell Rotella Road Show.
Social media will also play a role in communicating about the new engine oil specifications. Videos, interviews and story links will be posted on Facebook at ShellRotella, on Twitter at @ShellRotella and Instagram at ShellRotellaT. In addition, www.Rotella.com will contain information as well.
The new API CK-4 and FA-4 categories are driven by changes in engine technology to meet emissions, renewable fuel and fuel economy standards for reduced CO2 and other greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, the new specification refreshes test limits in response to changes in engine hardware and operating condition. The last heavy-duty engine oil category, CJ-4, was introduced in 2006 and since that time, several engine tests need upgrading and older test hardware has become unavailable.
• CK-4 oils will replace today’s lubricants and will be completely backwards compatible with all current engines. They will be designed with improved oxidation resistance, shear stability and aeration control.
• FA-4 oils include lower viscosity grades designed for next-generation diesel engines to help maximize fuel economy without sacrificing engine protection. These oils will have limited backwards compatibility because some older engines were not designed to operate with lower viscosity grades.