Significance and Use
5.1 This test method is used to evaluate automotive engine oils for protection of engines against bearing weight loss.
5.2 This test method is also used to evaluate the SIG capabilities of multiviscosity-graded oils.
5.3 Correlation of test results with those obtained in automotive service has not been established.
5.4 Use—The Sequence VIII test method is useful for engine oil specification acceptance. It is used in specifications and classifications of engine lubricating oils, such as the following:
5.4.1 Specification D4485.
5.4.2 API Publication 1509 Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System.
5.4.3 SAE Classification J304.
1. Scope
1.1 This test method covers the evaluation of automotive engine oils (SAE grades 0W, 5W, 10W, 20, 30, 40, and 50, and multi-viscosity grades) intended for use in spark-ignition gasoline engines. The test procedure is conducted using a carbureted, spark-ignition Cooperative Lubrication Research (CLR) Oil Test Engine (also referred to as the Sequence VIII test engine in this test method) run on unleaded fuel. An oil is evaluated for its ability to protect the engine and the oil from deterioration under high-temperature and severe service conditions. The test method can also be used to evaluate the viscosity stability of multi-viscosity-graded oils. Companion test methods used to evaluate engine oil performance for specification requirements are discussed in the latest revision of Specification D4485.
1.2 Correlation of test results with those obtained in automotive service has not been established. Furthermore, the results obtained in this test are not necessarily indicative of results that will be obtained in a full-scale automotive spark-ignition or compression-ignition engine, or in an engine operated under conditions different from those of the test. The test can be used to compare one oil with another.
1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.3.1 Exceptions—The values stated in inch-pounds for certain tube measurements, screw thread specifications, and sole source supply equipment are to be regarded as standard.
1.4 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 precautionary statements are provided throughout this test method.
1.5 This test method is arranged as follows:
| Subject | Section |
| Introduction | |
| Scope | 1 |
| Referenced Documents | 2 |
| Terminology | 3 |
| Summary of Test Method | 4 |
| | Before Test Starts | 4.1 |
| | Power Section Installation | 4.2 |
| | Engine Operation (Break-in) | 4.3 |
| | Engine Operation (Test/Samples) | 4.4 |
| | Stripped Viscosity | 4.5 |
| | Test Completion (BWL) | 4.6 |
| Significance and Use | 5 |
| | Evaluation of Automotive oils | 5.1 |
| | Stay in Grade Capabilities | 5.2 |
| | Correlation of Results | 5.3 |
| | Use | 5.4 |
| Apparatus | 6 |
| | Test Engineering, Inc. | 6.1 |
| | Fabricated or Specially Prepared Items | 6.2 |
| | Instruments and Controls | 6.3 |
| | Procurement of Parts | 6.4 |
| Reagents and Materials | 7 |
| | Reagents | 7.1 |
| | Cleaning Materials | 7.2 |
| | Expendable Power Section-Related Items | 7.3 |
| | Power Section Coolant | 7.4 |
| | Reference Oils | 7.5 |
| | Test Fuel | 7.6 |
| Test Oil Sample Requirements | 8 |
| | Selection | 8.1 |
| | Inspection | 8.2 |
| | Quantity | 8.3 |
| Preparation of Apparatus | 9 |
| | Test Stand Preparation | 9.1 |
| | Conditioning Test Run on Power Section | 9.2 |
| | General Power Section Rebuild Instructions | 9.3 |
| | Reconditioning of Power Section After Each Test | 9.4 |
| Calibration | 10 |
| | Power Section and Test Stand Calibration | 10.1 |
| | Instrumentation Calibration | 10.2 |
| | Calibration of AFR Measurement Equipment | 10.3 |
| | Calibration of Torque Wrenches | 10.4 |
| Engine Operating Procedure | 11 |
| | Run-In and Flush | 11.1 |
| | Test Operating Conditions | 11.2 |
| | Air-Fuel Ratio and Spark Advance | 11.3 |
| | Air, Off-Gas and Blowby Measurement | 11.4 |
| | Unscheduled Shutdowns | 11.5 |
| | Oil Sampling and Oil Addition | 11.6 |
| | Periodic Measurements | 11.7 |
| | Final Oil Drain and Oil Consumption Computation | 11.8 |
| | Operational Validity Criteria | 11.9 |
| | Test Completion | 11.10 |
| Determination of Test Results | 12 |
| | Oil Analysis | 12.1 |
| | Test Bearing Weight Loss Determination | 12.2 |
| Report | 13 |
| Precision and Bias | 14 |
| | Precision | 14.1 |
| | Bias | 14.2 |
| Use of ASTM Rounding | 15 |
| Keywords | 16 |
| ANNEXES |
| Measurement of Connecting Rod Bearing Clearance and
Journal Taper | Annex A1 |
| Measurement of Main Bearing Clearance | Annex A2 |
| The ASTM Test Monitoring Center Calibration Program | Annex A3 |
| Measurement of Piston-to-Sleeve Clearance | Annex A4 |
| Control Chart Technique for a Laboratory's Severity
Adjustment (SA) | Annex A5 |
| Recommended New Liner Honing Procedure | Annex A6 |
| Sequence VIII Oil Priming Procedure | Annex A7 |
| Alternative Crankcase Breather Configuration | Annex A8 |
| Connecting Rod Bearing Cleaning Procedure | Annex A9 |
| Electronic Ignition Conversion | Annex A10 |
| System Response Procedure | Annex A11 |
| Air-Fuel Ratio Measurement | Annex A12 |
| Lead Decontamination Procedure | Annex A13 |
| Stay-in-Grade Oil Analysis Procedure | Annex A14 |
| Crankshaft Rear Seal Conditioning | Annex A15 |
| Report Forms and Data Dictionary | Annex A16 |
| Test Fuel Specification | Annex A17 |
| | |
| APPENDIXES |
| Role of the ASTM Test Monitoring Center and the Calibration Program | Appendix X1 |
| Suggested Method for Salvaging Camshaft Bearing Journals | Appendix X2 |
| Data Log Sheets | Appendix X3 |
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) 
The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
ASTM Standards
D86 Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products at Atmospheric Pressure
D130 Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test
D235 Specification for Mineral Spirits (Petroleum Spirits) (Hydrocarbon Dry Cleaning Solvent)
D240 Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter
D323 Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
D381 Test Method for Gum Content in Fuels by Jet Evaporation
D445 Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
D525 Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Gasoline (Induction Period Method)
D1319 Test Method for Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum Products by Fluorescent Indicator Adsorption
D2422 Classification of Industrial Fluid Lubricants by Viscosity System
D2699 Test Method for Research Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
D2700 Test Method for Motor Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
D3231 Test Method for Phosphorus in Gasoline
D3237 Test Method for Lead in Gasoline by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D3343 Test Method for Estimation of Hydrogen Content of Aviation Fuels
D4052 Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter
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
D4485 Specification for Performance of Active API Service Category Engine Oils
D4815 Test Method for Determination of MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, tertiary-Amyl Alcohol and C1 to C4 Alcohols in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography
D7422 Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in T-12 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Diesel Engine
E29 Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
E191 Specification for Apparatus For Microdetermination of Carbon and Hydrogen in Organic and Organo-Metallic Compounds
SAE Standards
J183 Engine Oil Performance and Engine Service Classification (Other Than Energy-Conserving)
J304 Engine Oil Tests
Keywords
bearing weight loss; CLR oil test engine; copper-lead bearings; engine oil; oil consumption; Sequence VIII test; shear stability;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 75.100 (Lubricants, industrial oils and related products)
DOI: 10.1520/D6709
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
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