ASTM D6709-21

ASTM D6709-21 - 1.5.2021

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?UseThe 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.7

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?ExceptionsThe values stated in inch-pounds for certain tube measurements, screw thread specifications, and sole source supply equipment are to be regarded as standard.

1.3.1.1?The bearing wear in the text is measured in grams and described as weight loss, a non-SI term.

1.4?This test method is arranged as follows:

Subject

Section

Introduction

Scope

Referenced Documents

Terminology

Summary of Test Method

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

Evaluation of Automotive oils

5.1

Stay in Grade Capabilities

5.2

Correlation of Results

5.3

Use

5.4

Apparatus

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

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

Selection

8.1

Inspection

8.2

Quantity

8.3

Preparation of Apparatus

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

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

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

Oil Analysis

12.1

Test Bearing Weight Loss Determination

12.2

Report

Precision and Bias

Precision

14.1

Bias

14.2

Use of ASTM Rounding

Keywords

ANNEXES

ASTM Test Monitoring Center Organization

Annex A1

ASTM Test Monitoring Center: Calibration Procedures

Annex A2

ASTM Test Monitoring Center: Maintenance Activities

Annex A3

ASTM Test Monitoring Center: Related Information

Annex A4

Measurement of Connecting Rod Bearing Clearance and
Journal Taper

Annex A5

Measurement of Main Bearing Clearance

Annex A6

Measurement of Piston-to-Sleeve Clearance

Annex A7

Control Chart Technique for a Laboratory's Severity
Adjustment (SA)

Annex A8

Recommended New Liner Honing Procedure

Annex A9

Sequence VIII Oil Priming Procedure

Annex A10

Alternative Crankcase Breather Configuration

Annex A11

Connecting Rod Bearing Cleaning Procedure

Annex A12

Electronic Ignition Conversion

Annex A13

System Response Procedure

Annex A14

Air-Fuel Ratio Measurement

Annex A15

Lead Decontamination Procedure

Annex A16

Stay-in-Grade Oil Analysis Procedure

Annex A17

Crankshaft Rear Seal Conditioning

Annex A18

Report Forms and Data Dictionary

Annex A19

Test Fuel Specification

Annex A20

APPENDIXES

Suggested Method for Salvaging Camshaft Bearing Journals

Appendix X1

Data Log Sheets

Appendix X2

1.5?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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. Specific precautionary statements are provided throughout this test method.

1.6?This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

2. Referenced Documents

D3343-22	Standard Test Method for Estimation of Hydrogen Content of Aviation Fuels
D4052-22	Standard Test Method for Density, Relative Density, and API Gravity of Liquids by Digital Density Meter
D4175-24e2	Standard Terminology Relating to Petroleum Products, Liquid Fuels, and Lubricants (Includes all amendments and changes 6/9/2026).
D4294-24	Standard Test Method for Sulfur in Petroleum and Petroleum Products by Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence Spectrometry
D4485-24	Standard Specification for Performance of Active API Service Category Engine Oils
D1319-26	Standard Test Method for Hydrocarbon Types in Liquid Petroleum Products by Fluorescent Indicator Adsorption
D86-23ae2	Standard Test Method for Distillation of Petroleum Products and Liquid Fuels at Atmospheric Pressure (Includes all amendments and changes 11/4/2024).
D130-26	Standard Test Method for Corrosiveness to Copper from Petroleum Products by Copper Strip Test
D240-25	Standard Test Method for Heat of Combustion of Liquid Hydrocarbon Fuels by Bomb Calorimeter
D323-26	Standard Test Method for Vapor Pressure of Petroleum Products (Reid Method)
D445-26	Standard Test Method for Kinematic Viscosity of Transparent and Opaque Liquids (and Calculation of Dynamic Viscosity)
D235-22	Standard Specification for Mineral Spirits (Petroleum Spirits) (Hydrocarbon Dry Cleaning Solvent)
D3237-22	Standard Test Method for Lead in Gasoline by Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy
D3231-25	Standard Test Method for Phosphorus in Gasoline
D2700-26b	Standard Test Method for Motor Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel (Includes all amendments and changes 7/13/2026).
D2699-26	Standard Test Method for Research Octane Number of Spark-Ignition Engine Fuel
D2422-24	Standard Classification of Industrial Fluid Lubricants by Viscosity System
D525-12a(2025)	Standard Test Method for Oxidation Stability of Gasoline (Induction Period Method) (Includes all amendments and changes 12/24/2025).
D381-25	Standard Test Method for Gum Content in Fuels by Jet Evaporation
J304	Engine Oil Tests
J183
E191-64(1999)e1	Standard Specification for Apparatus For Microdetermination of Carbon and Hydrogen in Organic and Organo-Metallic Compounds
E29-22	Standard Practice for Using Significant Digits in Test Data to Determine Conformance with Specifications
D4815-22	Standard Test Method for Determination of MTBE, ETBE, TAME, DIPE, tertiary-Amyl Alcohol and C1 to C4 Alcohols in Gasoline by Gas Chromatography
D7422-25	Standard Test Method for Evaluation of Diesel Engine Oils in T-12 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Diesel Engine