PC-11 (or Proposed Category 11) is the working title for the new, lower viscosity category of heavy duty motor oils slated to become available in December 2016. This new standard for heavy duty motor oils comes in two flavors: PC-11A, which is backward compatible to older vehicles, and PC-11B, which is only to be used in new vehicles as indicated by the OEM. Oils meeting these standards promise to provide better oxidation, better aeration, and (for PC-11B) better fuel economy. If you currently use heavy duty motor oil in your fleet of vehicles, the key items below should help you make sense of what is coming:
1) What type of equipment will support PC-11 oils?
OEMs plan to develop trucks in PC-11A and B varieties, while off-road vehicles (such as tractors) will only be developed for PC-11A. Off-road OEMs are not developing equipment to be used with PC-11B.
2) Can PC-11 oils be used in my existing equipment?
PC-11A oils are designed to be backwards compatible with existing equipment, whereas PC-11B oils should not be used with older equipment. Whenever you plan to use PC-11B lubricants, you first need to make sure the equipment OEM recommends it. Similarly, PC-11A lubricants should not be used with newer PC-11B compliant engines. Think of it like gasoline and diesel: vehicles are designed to use one or the other. There aren’t vehicles that accept both.
3) What are the implications for equipment maintenance?
At some point, as you begin to replace your older equipment, you will likely have some equipment that requires PC-11A and some that requires PC-11B. As such, you may need separate storage available to handle servicing equipment with different needs. Some possible solutions include bringing in cases or drums for PC-11B while keeping a tank of PC-11A, servicing PC-11B equipment away from your site, or setting up a new tank for use with PC-11B oil when your volume warrants it. You will also need to implement a process to ensure the correct oil goes into each truck.
4) What grades of oil are impacted?
PC-11A oils will be available in the standard viscosity grades you currently use and will replace existing products. This includes 5W-30, 10W-30, 5W-40, 10W-40 and 15W-40. PC-11B, on the other hand, will typically only be available in 5W-30 or 10W-30 weights.
5) What is different about PC-11B engines?
Tighter clerances, new materials, smoother surface finishes, and additional surface coatings are all things that set PC-11 engines apart from those that came before. PC-11 engines will also be smaller and run at a lower RPM.