❄️ CCS apparent viscosity (low temp.)

Petrochemistry ASTM D 5293

Overview

STATUS (as of 06.11.2026). The current edition in the ASTM store is ASTM D5293-25; ASTM D5293-20, given in this description until now, is a historical edition. The American standard has not been adopted into the PN collection, and the Polish title is a working translation. We did not have the full text of the standard — the description is based on the scope and significance of the method from the standard's page in the ASTM store; the viscosity classification requirements come from SAE J300 in the April 2021 edition (according to the table compiled in Wikipedia with a reference to that edition).

SCOPE (ASTM D5293, Section 1). The method covers the laboratory determination of the apparent viscosity of engine oils and base stocks by cold-cranking simulator (CCS) at temperatures between −10 °C and −35 °C, at shear stresses of approximately 50 000–100 000 Pa and shear rates of approximately 10⁵–10⁴ s⁻¹, for viscosities of approximately 900–25 000 mPa·s. The range of a given instrument depends on its model and software version. The standard gives a manual and an automated procedure and a special procedure (Appendix X2) for highly viscoelastic oils in manual instruments.

SIGNIFICANCE (ASTM D5293, Section 5). The CCS apparent viscosity of engine oils correlates with low-temperature engine cranking but is not suitable for predicting low-temperature flow of oil to the oil pump and oil distribution system. The correlation was established from CRC L-49 engine tests with reference oils, confirmed at temperatures between −1 °C and −40 °C on 17 commercial engine oils (SAE grades 5W, 10W, 15W and 20W), and a study of ten 1990s engines at temperatures from −5 °C to −40 °C with six oils (0W–25W) established a correlation with startability. The cranking viscosity of base stocks is typically measured to assess their suitability for engine oil formulations; a significant number of the calibration oils of this method are base stocks.

SAE J300 CLASSIFICATION. The CCS viscosity is one of the criteria of the SAE J300 winter grades (2021 edition): the maximum cranking viscosity is 6 200 mPa·s at −35 °C for 0W, 6 600 at −30 °C for 5W, 7 000 at −25 °C for 10W, 7 000 at −20 °C for 15W, 9 500 at −15 °C for 20W and 13 000 mPa·s at −10 °C for 25W. The second low-temperature criterion is the pumping viscosity (maximum 60 000 mPa·s, measured with a mini-rotary viscometer according to ASTM D4684 at a temperature 5 °C lower than for the cranking viscosity).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE HERE. Without the text of the standard we do not give the design of the measuring cell, the method of cooling and calibration, times, sample volume or precision (repeatability and reproducibility). We have also removed statements without a source: that every oil on the market must be tested, the instrument manufacturers and the number of samples in automatic instruments, who performs the test, and the temperature range "from −5 °C to −40 °C" as the range of the method (the scope of the standard: from −10 °C to −35 °C).

Method principle

The apparent viscosity of the oil is determined in a cold-cranking simulator (CCS) at a set temperature between −10 °C and −35 °C, at high shear stresses (approximately 50 000–100 000 Pa) and high shear rates (approximately 10⁵–10⁴ s⁻¹) — that is, under conditions corresponding to cranking an engine in the cold. The instrument is calibrated with calibration oils, a significant number of which are base stocks. The result in mPa·s is compared with the maximum cranking viscosity allowed for the declared SAE J300 winter grade.

Applications

• Viscosity classification of engine oils according to SAE J300 — cranking viscosity criterion of grades 0W–25W
• Assessment of engine cranking in the cold — the CCS result correlates with startability
• Assessment of the suitability of base stocks for engine oil formulations

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

ASTM D5293-25

Title (PL)

Lepkość pozorna olejów silnikowych i olejów bazowych w temperaturach od −10 °C do −35 °C oznaczana symulatorem rozruchu na zimno (tłumaczenie robocze tytułu)

Title (EN)

Standard Test Method for Apparent Viscosity of Engine Oils and Base Stocks Between –10 °C and –35 °C Using Cold-Cranking Simulator

Step-by-step procedure

1. Choice of temperature

   Select a temperature between −10 °C and −35 °C; for classification according to SAE J300 it is the temperature assigned to the declared winter grade (0W: −35 °C, 5W: −30 °C, 10W: −25 °C, 15W: −20 °C, 20W: −15 °C, 25W: −10 °C).

2. Calibration

   Calibrate the simulator with calibration oils according to the standard (details of the calibration procedure are not given here).

3. Measurement

   Measure the apparent viscosity of the sample with the manual or automated procedure; test a highly viscoelastic oil in a manual instrument with the special procedure of Appendix X2 of the standard.

4. Evaluation of the result

   Compare the apparent viscosity in mPa·s with the maximum cranking viscosity allowed for the declared grade in SAE J300. This result does not assess the pumpability of the oil at low temperature — the pumping viscosity according to ASTM D4684 is used for that.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard contains a general statement that it does not address all safety concerns and that establishing safety practices is the responsibility of the user; specific warning statements are in Section 8 of the standard (we did not have its content)

Frequently asked questions