Ford Motor Company CK-4/FA-4 Ford Position Statement
On December 1, 2016, the American Petroleum Institute (API) began licensing two new diesel
motor categories CK-4 and FA-4. API CK-4 was released to replace CJ-4. API FA-4 is a low
dynamic viscosity diesel oil released for diesel engines designed for the lower dynamic viscosity
oil.
API FA-4
Ford is now recommending FA-4 motor oil in its smaller diesel engines. FA-4 is recommended
for servicing the F-150 with the 3.0L diesel engine and the Transit with the 2.0L diesel engine.
Ford still recommends against using FA-4 oils in larger Ford diesel engines, like the 3.2L and
6.7L diesel engines, as well as older Ford diesel engines.
API CK-4
Ford continues to recommend motor oils meeting the Ford specification WSS-M2C171-F1
instead of CK-4 motor oils in the 3.2L and 6.7L Ford diesel engines as well as older Ford diesel
engines, 4.5L, 6.0L, 6.4L, and 7.3L. Testing completed on some CK-4 type formulations have
shown inadequate wear protection compared to CJ-4 formulations developed and licensed
before 2016. Therefore, Ford has included additional requirements beyond CK-4 in WSS-
M2C171-F1 to provide additional wear protection. Like many other diesel engine
manufacturers, with their own internal OEM specification, Ford is recommending oils that meet,
Ford Material Engineering Specification WSS-M2C171-F1. The customer should use an oil that
meets this specification. A list of motor oils meeting this specification are shown on the
Motorcraft website under the Motor Oil tab on
http://www.fcsdchemicalsandlubricants.com/main/
.
To ensure you protect your Ford diesel engines use an oil meeting Ford specification
WSS-M2C171-F1 like Motorcraft Super Duty Motor oil or API FA-4 like Motorcraft F-150 Diesel
Motor Oil. Please consult your owner guide for the proper application.