Technical Specifications
| Property | Unit | Typical Value | Test Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Brownish-red viscous liquid | ||
| Viscosity at 100°C | mm²/s | 110 | — |
| Flash Point | °C | 190 | — |
| Calcium | % | 2.8 | — |
| Zinc | % | 0.9 | — |
* Typical values from batch production. Batch-specific COA available on request.
Technical content reviewed by the CheMost additives team · Specifications last reviewed
Application Data
Recommended Treat Rate
3.2–7.0 wt% depending on target API level
What Is the API SL 4T Motorcycle Engine Oil Additive Package (PA4400)?
CheMost PA4400 is a four-stroke engine oil additive package built for small engines and motorcycle-specific lubricants, formulated to control deposit formation and to meet the requirements of API SE, SF, SJ and SL grade lubricants. It is a brownish-red viscous liquid carrying 2.8% calcium and 0.9% zinc — levels consistent with a calcium-detergent plus ZDDP-type antiwear/antioxidant combination.
PA4400 covers a wide viscosity-grade range — SAE 20W-40, 15W-40 and 15W-50 — and is compatible with Group I, Group II and Group III base oils. It is supplied as a concentrate; the blender still adds a defoamer, pour point depressant, thickening agent or viscosity index improver depending on the base oil and target grade (see Formulating With PA4400 below).
For two-stroke motorcycle and small-engine oils, see the companion JASO FB/FC two-stroke engine oil additive package (PA2200).
How PA4400 Protects a Four-Stroke Motorcycle Engine
Deposit control
2.8% calcium is consistent with calcium-detergent chemistry, the type of chemistry used to neutralise acidic combustion and oxidation by-products and suppress deposit formation across the four escalating API tiers.
Antiwear protection
0.9% zinc is consistent with zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP)-type antiwear chemistry, which is commonly associated with sacrificial tribofilm formation on loaded surfaces — relevant here across the engine, clutch and transmission that share one oil sump.
Shared-sump friction management
A four-stroke motorcycle engine integrates the crankcase, wet clutch and gearbox into one lubrication circuit — unlike a car, where engine oil and transmission fluid stay separate. That single-sump design is why motorcycle-oil formulation puts extra weight on friction retention and shear stability, rather than the friction-reduction chemistry a passenger-car oil uses for fuel economy.
Wide base-oil and viscosity coverage
Compatible with Group I, Group II and Group III base oils across SAE 20W-40, 15W-40 and 15W-50 — the viscosity range typical of air-cooled, high-revving motorcycle engines that run hotter at the piston and cylinder wall than an equivalent car engine.
API SE, SF, SJ and SL — Coverage and Current Status
PA4400 is formulated to meet four API gasoline service categories at increasing performance levels. Checked against API’s own oil-categories page (2026-09-03):
| API level | Status | API service description |
|---|---|---|
| SE | Obsolete | Not suitable for most gasoline-powered automotive engines built after 1979 |
| SF | Obsolete | Not suitable for most gasoline-powered automotive engines built after 1988 |
| SJ | Current | For 2001 and older automotive engines |
| SL | Current | For 2004 and older automotive engines |
API lists SE and SF as obsolete categories and SJ and SL as current. PA4400’s four-row treat-rate table lets a blender target whichever level a specific formulation calls for.
Service-category performance is a property of the fully formulated finished oil, not of an additive package on its own. PA4400 is used in formulations targeting API SE, SF, SJ and SL; final qualification depends on your base oil, viscosity modifier and complete additive slate. PA4400’s own specification does not reference JASO MA/MA2 friction classification — where that is required, confirm testing separately with our technical team.
PA4400 Applications in Motorcycle and Small-Engine Oil
Four-stroke motorcycle engine oils
Motorcycle-specific lubricants where the engine, wet clutch and gearbox share one oil sump.
Small four-stroke engines
General small four-stroke engine applications outside the passenger-car market.
Wide SAE grade coverage
Blend with a viscosity index improver to reach 20W-40, 15W-40 or 15W-50 — PA4400 is supplied as a concentrate and does not include one.
Group I–III base oil formulations
Suitable for Group I, Group II and Group III base stocks; exact matching suitability should be confirmed with our technical team.
PA4400 Treat Rate for API SE, SF, SJ and SL
PA4400 is published at four treat rates, one per target API level:
| Target API level | Treat rate | Ca contributed* | Zn contributed* |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE | 3.2% | 896 ppm | 288 ppm |
| SF | 4.4% | 1,232 ppm | 396 ppm |
| SJ | 5.5% | 1,540 ppm | 495 ppm |
| SL | 7.0% | 1,960 ppm | 630 ppm |
Treat rate is a starting point tied to your base oil and the rest of your additive slate. Matching suitability varies with the base oil used — confirm your formulation with our technical team before production blending.
Formulating With PA4400 — What You Still Need to Add
PA4400 is an additive package, not a fully formulated additive system. Additional functional additives — defoamer additives, pour point depressants, thickening agents or viscosity index improvers — need to be added during use. The exact selection depends on the base oil and target grade:
Viscosity index improver
Needed to reach 20W-40, 15W-40 or 15W-50. See EPM or liquid OCP — the choice affects shear stability across the shared engine/clutch/gearbox sump.
Defoamer
Where foam control is needed, see PDMS silicone defoamer.
Pour point depressant
Whether one is needed depends on the base oil and low-temperature target. See polymethacrylate (PMA) pour point depressant.
Thickener, where specified
Whether one is used depends on the viscosity grade being built.
Browse the full range on the motorcycle engine oil additive packages hub, or the individual additive components catalogue.
Documentation, Qualification & Regulatory Support
Regulatory documentation
REACH, TSCA and country-specific market registration documentation support available on request.
Third-party inspection
SGS / Intertek / BV pre-shipment inspection can be arranged on request.
Custom grades & packaging
Custom package variants and packaging formats can be discussed with our technical team.
Formulation support
Treat-rate calculation and base-oil compatibility guidance — matching suitability varies with the base oil used, so confirm with our team.
COA, SDS and certificate of origin are provided with every shipment. Request full documentation or a sample — enquiries are answered within 12 hours.
Packaging, Supply and Lead Time
Packaging
170 kg net weight per 200-litre metal drum.
Storage
Dry, clean, well-ventilated warehouse. Maximum handling temperature 75°C; long-term storage temperature ≤45°C.
Minimum order
One drum — no minimum order value.
Incoterms & ports
FOB · CIF · EXW from all major Chinese ports.
Stocked and shipped worldwide, typical lead time 1–15 days; samples and quotations answered within 12 hours.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 4T mean on motorcycle oil?
4T identifies an oil formulated for four-stroke motorcycle engines, where the crankcase, wet clutch and transmission share a single oil sump — a different lubrication design from a two-stroke (2T) engine, where oil is burned with the fuel.
Are API SE and SF still current?
No. API lists SE and SF as Obsolete on its own oil-categories page (checked 2026-09-03) — SE is not suitable for most engines built after 1979, and SF is not suitable for most engines built after 1988. SJ and SL are the levels API still lists as Current. PA4400 covers all four so a blender can target whichever level a specific formulation calls for.
How much PA4400 is needed for an API SL oil?
7.0% of the finished oil for API SL, scaling down to 5.5% for SJ, 4.4% for SF and 3.2% for SE. At the SL treat rate the package contributes roughly 1,960 ppm calcium and 630 ppm zinc. Final treat rate should be confirmed against your specific base oil and additive slate.
Does PA4400 meet JASO MA or MA2?
PA4400’s specification covers API SE, SF, SJ and SL and does not reference JASO MA/MA2 wet-clutch friction classification. Where JASO MA/MA2 compliance is required for a specific market, confirm testing separately with our technical team.
What else has to be added besides PA4400?
Additional functional additives — defoamer additives, pour point depressants, thickening agents or viscosity index improvers — need to be added during use. Which ones you need depends on your base oil and target grade. PA4400 is an additive package, not a fully formulated additive system.