What is the difference between CH and CF engine oils?

[JamesDella]

Differences between CH and CF engine oils: Different application ranges: CF is suitable for high-speed, four-stroke, naturally aspirated or turbocharged diesel engines; CH is used for high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines that comply with the 1998 US emission standards and use fuel with sulfur content below 0.5%. Different grades: CH has a higher grade than CF. Different performance: CH-grade engine oil performs better than CF-grade. Different emission standards: CH-4 has higher tailpipe emission standards than CF-4. Different prices: CH engine oil is more expensive than CF engine oil. Different application ranges: CF is suitable for high-speed, four-stroke, naturally aspirated or turbocharged diesel engines; CH is used for high-speed, four-stroke diesel engines. Engine oil is an item that every car owner comes into contact with during vehicle usage. Inside the engine, it not only lubricates but also cleans, seals, cushions, prevents rust, and dissipates heat. It is known as the 'blood' of a car. Engine oil consists of base oil and additives. Over time, every performance aspect of engine oil degrades, necessitating regular replacement. Prolonged failure to change engine oil can accelerate engine wear. When selecting engine oil, consider the following: Choose engine oil based on the engine's requirements. There's no need to use overly advanced oil in engines with lower requirements, nor should lower-grade oil be used in engines with higher demands. Preferably choose multi-grade oil. Multi-grade oil is economical, long-lasting, and efficient, offering better protection for the engine. Due to its characteristics, multi-grade oil may appear darker prematurely and exhibit lower oil pressure compared to conventional oils, which is normal.

[McAdalynn]

Just checked the information and found that the main difference between CH and CF lies in the performance grade. CH is a higher-standard diesel engine oil, belonging to the specification introduced in 1998, which can better remove soot deposits and protect internal engine components. The CF grade is an older standard from 1994, mainly designed for indirect injection diesel engines. Nowadays, most new diesel vehicles on the road require CH or higher-grade oil, especially models equipped with DPF particulate filters. Using the wrong oil can easily clog the exhaust system, and the repair costs won't be cheap. When selecting engine oil, it's best to check the maintenance manual and purchase the grade recommended by the manufacturer to ensure accuracy.

[DiAdeline]

I remember the mechanic mentioned last time that CF oil is actually outdated. Nowadays, mainstream diesel engines require CH or CI grade oil, especially those with high-pressure turbocharging. CF oil might still work for engines with lower emission requirements, but its cleaning performance is significantly worse, leading to easier piston carbon buildup. My old National III emission truck can still use CF oil, but the newly purchased pickup must use CK-4 specification oil—mixing them would cause issues. Choosing engine oil is like fitting glasses; the wrong grade can damage the engine.

[Evans]

After ten years in auto repair, I've seen countless cases of wrong engine oil usage. Simply put: CF suits old mechanical pump diesel engines, like 1990s Isuzu models; CH is designed for electronically injected diesel engines with better cleaning performance. CH has stricter sulfate ash content control, making it more compatible with catalytic converters. The key is the engine's technological era - pre-2000 models can barely use CF, while post-2000 vehicles must use CH grade or higher. Additionally, CH contains more anti-wear additives, can withstand higher turbo pressure, which is particularly crucial for today's prevalent 2.0T diesel vehicles.