What is the difference between SL and SN engine oils?
1 Answers
The difference between SL and SN engine oils lies in their performance levels: SN has a higher performance level than SL. API stands for the American Petroleum Institute, and the API rating represents the quality grade of engine oil. It uses a simple code to describe the working capability of engine oil. The oil grades range from SA to SN, with each subsequent letter indicating a higher grade. Currently, the more common grades are SL, SM, and SN. SN-grade oils are primarily full synthetic oils, while SL-grade oils are mainly semi-synthetic oils. Full synthetic oils are high-grade oils without any mineral oil components, whereas semi-synthetic oils contain mineral oil components.