Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine Lubricants for a Chinese Market: Developing an Additive Formulating Technology to Meet the Requirements of Chinese OEMs

Regulations to reduce emissions worldwide are the driving force behind the modifications that OEMs (Original engine manufactures) are making to their engine designs, which in turn drives the need of changes in lubricant requirements. To meet the emission standards, engine makers are turning to after-treatment devices that supplement EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation). In the United States, engines are being equipped with DPF (Diesel Particulate Filters), while in Europe SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) is favored.

In China, technologies of engine design are also intended to meet the stricter regulations of emissions control. But different OEMs tend to favor different technologies depending on their own in-house technologies and that of their partners. So HDEO (Heavy-Duty Engine Oil) marketers in China must qualify their products to meet both API (American Petroleum Institute) licensing standards and individual OEM specifications. From a technology viewpoint, and in an effort to control HDEO development costs, we are likely to support developing OEM-specifications other than API specifications.

This study mainly discusses the HDEO developed specially for individual OEMs and the methodology needed to develop new HDEO to meet the requirements of the next generation engines which meet the emission control of China national emission standard phases IV and V.