API oil grades? Will using SF instead of SG really matter?

[festerzilla]

I guess I will find out. I bought a case of oil marked for cars older than 1988 by accident, I thought it would be the type that expands oil seals or whatever, but it turns out it is the classification before the one specified in the festiva manual. Oil is oil I hope :roll:

[FB71]

no, oil is not all alike. Check the APIs website, it describes the difference between the different grades. It signifies the level of refining and the additive package. SF doesn't have the same detergents as SG, and, if used extensively, can lead to significant sludge deposits and excessive wear.

[darkdan]

If you want to help out your seals then use www.auto-rx.com

Where in the world did you even find API SF oil?

Nothing majorly bad would happen in the course of 12 quarts of it as long as you keep your drain intervals reasonable.

MOST of the time a new API S classification just increases the requirements for corrosion, oxidation, etc. etc. etc.

API SM (the newest) put a cap on zinc and phos (ZDDP). Therefore, IMO SL is a better choice for people with flat tappet cams.

[festerzilla]

Yeah I didn't even think they made the older stuff anymore either. I was at A*tozone, and you know how helpful parts store guys can be, there weren't any cases on the shelf, so I went in the back and grabbed the first 10-30 I saw. Only after I got it home did I see "For 1988 and older cars" on it. So far so good, I'll keep my fingers crossed about the possibility of sludge. thanks

[darkdan]

Keep in mind there isn't much different between a 1993 Festiva and a 1987 festiva.

Also, if you can find a match date on it or anything you could email the company that makes it and see if it's actually 18 year old oil.

LOTS of new oil that's made to old specifications aren't that bad. You get the good anti-wear/extreme pressure additives intended for older flat tappet cam cars, but with better base oils then they had back then.

If it's actually 18 year old oil you may want to take it back.

The industry standard shelf life of oil is 2 to 3 years. Castrol doesn't like you use their oil if it's older then 5 years.

After all, it's in plastic with a screw on cap. Therefore oxygen and moisture can get in pretty easily.