Significance and Use
This test method is used to evaluate an automotive engine oil's control of engine deposits under operating conditions deliberately selected to accelerate deposit formation. This test method was correlated with field service data, determined from side-by-side comparisons of two or more oils in police, taxi fleets, and delivery van services. The same field service oils were then used in developing the operating conditions of this test procedure.
This test method, along with other test methods, defines the minimum performance level of the API Category SL (detailed information about this category is included in Specification D4485). This test method is also incorporated in automobile manufacturers' factory-fill specifications.
The basic engine used in this test method is representative of many that are in modern automobiles. This factor, along with the accelerated operating conditions, should be considered when interpreting test results.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers and is commonly referred to as the Sequence VG test, and it has been correlated with vehicles used in stop-and-go service prior to 1996, particularly with regard to sludge and varnish formation. It is one of the test methods required to evaluate oils intended to satisfy the API SL performance category.
1.2 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.2.1 Exception—Where there is no direct SI equivalent such as screw threads, national pipe threads/diameters, tubing size, or specified single source equipment.
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific hazard statements are given in 7.7, 7.10.2.2, 8.3.4.2, 8.4.4.3, 9.2.6, 9.3.4.5, 12.1.1.7, 12.2.1.4, and Annex A1.
1.4 A Table of Contents follows:
| Section |
| Scope | 1 |
| Referenced Documents | 2 |
| Terminology | 3 |
| Summary of Test Method | 4 |
| Significance and Use | 5 |
| Apparatus (General Description) | 6 |
| Apparatus (The Test Engine) | 7 |
| Sequence VG Test Engine | 7.1 |
| Required New Engine Parts | 7.2 |
| Reusable Engine Parts | 7.3 |
| Specially Fabricated Engine Parts | 7.4 |
| Special Engine Measurement and Assembly Equipment | 7.5 |
| Miscellaneous Engine Components-Preparation | 7.6 |
| Solvents and Cleaners Required | 7.7 |
| Assembling the Test Engine-Preparations | 7.8 |
| Assembling the Test Engine-Installations | 7.9 |
| Engine Installation on the Test Stand | 7.10 |
| Engine Fluids (Supply/Discharge Systems) | 8 |
| Intake Air | 8.1 |
| Fuel and Fuel System | 8.2 |
| Engine Oil and Engine Oil System | 8.3 |
| Coolants | 8.4 |
| Measurement Instrumentation | 9 |
| Temperatures | 9.1 |
| Pressures | 9.2 |
| Flow Rates | 9.3 |
| Fuel Consumption | 9.4 |
| Speed and Load | 9.5 |
| Exhaust Gas | 9.6 |
| Humidity | 9.7 |
| Miscellaneous Laboratory Equipment | 10 |
| Test Stand Calibration | 11 |
| Test Procedure | 12 |
| Pre-Test Procedure | 12.1 |
| Engine Operating Procedure | 12.2 |
| Periodic Measurements and Functions | 12.3 |
| Special Maintenance Procedures | 12.4 |
| Diagnostic Data Review | 12.5 |
| End of Test Procedure | 12.6 |
| Interpretation of Test Results | 13 |
| Parts Rating Area-Environment | 13.1 |
| Sludge Ratings | 13.2 |
| Varnish Ratings | 13.3 |
| Clogging | 13.4 |
| Sticking | 13.5 |
| Used Oil Analyses | 13.6 |
| Additional Measurements | 13.7 |
| Assessment of Test Validity | 14 |
| General | 14.1 |
| Used Oil Analyses-Interpretation | 14.2 |
| Blowby Flow Rate | 14.3 |
| Manifold Absolute Pressure | 14.4 |
| Fuel Consumption Rate | 14.5 |
| Oil Consumption | 14.6 |
| Engine Parts Replacement | 14.7 |
| Quality Index and Deviation Percentage | 14.8 |
| Final Test Report | 15 |
| Report Forms | 15.1 |
| Precision and Bias | 17 |
| Keywords | 18 |
| ANNEXES | |
| Safety Hazards | Annex A1 |
| Control and Data Acquisition Requirements | Annex A2 |
| Detailed Specifications and Photographs of Apparatus | Annex A3 |
| Special Service Tools for the Test Engine | Annex A4 |
| Test Engine Part Number Listing | Annex A5 |
| External Oil Heat Exchanger Cleaning Technique | Annex A6 |
| Sequence VG Report Forms and Data Dictionary | Annex A7 |
| Dipstick Calibration | Annex A8 |
| Critical Part Supplier List | Annex A9 |
| Operational Data Log-Engine Oil | Annex A10 |
| Rating Worksheets | Annex A11 |
| Fuel Injector Flow Measurements | Annex A12 |
| APPENDIXES | |
| Piston and Ring Measurements Record Forms | Appendix X1 |
| Sources of Materials and Information | Appendix X2 |
| Description of Scott Quarterly Gas Audit Service | Appendix X3 |
2. Referenced Documents
ASTM Standards
D1266 Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products (Lamp Method)
D1298 Test Method for Density, Relative Density (Specific Gravity), or API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Liquid Petroleum Products by Hydrometer Method
D235 Specification for Mineral Spirits (Petroleum Spirits) (Hydrocarbon Dry Cleaning Solvent)
D2622 Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum Products by Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
D2789 Test Method for Hydrocarbon Types in Low Olefinic Gasoline by Mass Spectrometry
D287 Test Method for API Gravity of Crude Petroleum and Petroleum Products (Hydrometer Method)
D323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
D3237 Test Method for Lead in Gasoline by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D3525 Test Method for Gasoline Diluent in Used Gasoline Engine Oils by Gas Chromatography
D381 Test Method for Gum Content in Fuels by Jet Evaporation
D4057 Practice for Manual Sampling of Petroleum and Petroleum Products
D4175 Terminology Relating to Petroleum, Petroleum Products, and Lubricants
D4294 Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
D4485 Specification for Performance of Engine Oils
D4863 Test Method for Determination of Lubricity of Two-Stroke-Cycle Gasoline Engine Lubricants
D5059 Test Methods for Lead in Gasoline by X-Ray Spectroscopy
D5185 Test Method for Determination of Additive Elements, Wear Metals, and Contaminants in Used Lubricating Oils and Determination of Selected Elements in Base Oils by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)
D525 Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Gasoline (Induction Period Method)
D6304 Test Method for Determination of Water in Petroleum Products, Lubricating Oils, and Additives by Coulometric Karl Fischer Titration
D86 Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure
D873 Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Aviation Fuels (Potential Residue Method)
G40 Terminology Relating to Wear and Erosion
ANSI Standard
ANSIMC96.1 Temperature Measurement-Thermocouples
Index Terms
lubricating oils; Sequence VG; sludge and varnish; spark-ignition automotive engine; stop-and-go service; Automotive engine fuels/oils; Gasoline; Inhibitors; Light duty engine service; Low-temperature testing--petroleum products/applications; Lubricating oils; Sequence VG test; Sludge; Stop-and-go service; ICS Number Code 75.100 (Lubricants, industrial oils and related products)
DOI: 10.1520/D6593-09A
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