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2. Commercial Diesel Engine Oils
The performance of commercial diesel engine oils is based on API categories. The API categories were developed in order to provide commercial lubricants for a wide variety
of diesel engines that operate at various conditions.
When a Caterpillar DEO is not used, use the following commercial oils: • Multigrade API CG-4 Preferred alternative
• Multigrade API CF-4 Acceptable alternative The following explanations of these API categories can be used in order to make the
proper choice of a commercial oil.
3. Lubricant Specifications
Lubricant Information
General Information The information that is provided is the latest recommendations for Caterpillar engines
and for Caterpillar machine compartments. This information supersedes all previous recommendations which have been published for Caterpillar machines. Special
lubricants are required for some machine compartments and it will be necessary to continue to use these special products.
This information is only for Caterpillar machines. For more lubricant recommendations, refer to Operation and Maintenance Manual, SEBU6251, Caterpillar Commercial
Diesel Engine Fluid Recommendations, Operation and Maintenance Manual, SEBU6385, Caterpillar On-Highway Diesel Truck Engine Fluid Recommendations,
Operation and Maintenance Manual, SEBU6400, Caterpillar Gaseous Fueled Spark Ignited Engines Lubricant Recommendations, and Operation and Maintenance
Manual, SEBU7003, Caterpillar 3600 Series Diesel Engine Fluid Recommendations.
Engine Oil The Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System for engine oils by the American
Petroleum Institute is recognized by Caterpillar. For detailed information about this system, see the thirteenth edition of the API publication No. 1509. Engine oils that
bear the API symbol are authorized by API. Examples of the API symbol are shown in Illustration 68.
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Illustration 68
Diesel engine oils CD, CD-2, and CE will not be API authorized categories after 1 January 1996. Caterpillar will only reference those categories that are authorized by
the API. Table 21 summarizes the status of the categories.
Table 21
Current Obsolete
CF CC, CD
CF-21 CD-2
1
CF-4, CG-4 CE
1
CD-2 and CF-2 are categories for two-cycle diesel engines. Caterpillar does not sell engines that utilize
CD-2 and CF-2 oils. Note: CF is not the same classification as CF-4. API CF oils are only recommended for
Caterpillar machine engines with noncurrent precombustion chamber fuel systems PC.
In previous editions of this document, Caterpillar referred to the US Military Oil Specifications MIL-L-XXXX and to the European CCMC oil specifications. These
specifications do not provide identical performance to API CF-4 or API CG-4 engine oils. Caterpillar will not make reference to military specifications or CCMC
specifications in this document.
TransmissionDrive Train Oil Transmissiondrive train oils are classified by the TO-4 specifications. The
specifications are developed by Caterpillar for use in Caterpillar transmissions and for use in Caterpillar final drives.
Gear Oil Gear lubricants are classified by the API service classification and by the SAE viscosity
grade that is defined in SAE J306.