Gasoline engine technology for passenger cars and light duty trucks continues to develop quickly. While vehicles have continued to get bigger and heavier for safety and convenience, the engines have gotten smaller yet produce more power to increase fuel economy. These engines are requiring higher performance attributes from motor oils.

How are these new, smaller, engines producing this power? Engine manufactures have primarily increased performance with the use of Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Fuel Injection engines, or TGDI.

TGDI engines push more air into the combustion chamber and gives better control and efficiency to how much fuel is needed to burn, thus increasing fuel economy. However there are downsides to these engines.

Oil is used to transfer heat away from the engine and also the turbocharger. The more heat the engine and turbos produce, the oil needs to provide increased protection against deposits, sludge, and varnish. While this has always been true, at no time has a smaller engine produced more power than now!

TDGI engines can experience an effect called LSPI or Low Speed Pre-Ignition. LSPI is when the fuel/air mixture prematurely detonates resulting in pressure spikes in the combustion chamber. If severe enough, the pressure spikes can cause engine damage. While OEMs have been ‘de-tuning’ their engines in efforts to prevent LSPI, it has been determined new oil formulations can significantly decrease LSPI occurrences and provide increased wear protection, turbocharger and piston cleanliness, and soot control. All of these advancements were captured in the latest API classification SN PLUS.

MAG 1 Conventional, Synthetic Blend, Synthetic Blend High Mileage and Full Synthetic products have all moved to SN PLUS formulations. You will be able to identify this change with the new ‘donut’ found on the applicable products*. If you ever have any questions about the benefits of SN PLUS, do not hesitate to use the Contact Us page found on mag1.com.