Shell Lubricants has revamped, revitalized and simplified its line of heavy-duty engine oils, including adding a fuel-efficient oil, dropping CI-4 Plus oils, and dropping brand names other than Rotella.

Today, Shell has four lines of heavy-duty engine oil: Rotella, Pennzoil, Quaker State, and Rimula. By the first quarter of 2010, all but the Rotella name are scheduled to be phased out. This portfolio simplification will make it easier for distributors to stock and sell inventory as well as easier for customers to figure out which oil is right for their operation.

Shell Rotella "Energized Protection" engine oils are formulated with adaptive technology to provide targeted protection across all driving conditions - physically and chemically reacting to the ever-changing needs of an engine. Adaptive technology consists of molecules that when under load and temperature stresses form a protective layer on engine surfaces, which helps to keep moving parts separated, thus helping reduce wear.

The new Shell Rotella Energized Protection oils feature a hierarchy, or a "ladder," from T1 through T6:

* Shell Rotella T6 Full Synthetic SAE 5W-40. This is a new formulationoffering improved viscosity protection. In on-the-road field testing in medium-duty trucks, this oil demonstrated up to 1.5 percent fuel savings. It also offers potential maintenance savings through extended drain capabilities, and engine protection in extreme high and low termperatures and improved low-temperature flow to help an engine start more easily. In fact, Shell says, this 5w-40 offers cold start performance nearly as good as 0w oils often used in northern Canada, but offers better engine protection overall.

* The new Shell Rotella T5 Synthetic Blend Technology oil, in 10W-30 and 10W-40, formulated to provide fuel economy performance and improved low-temperature flow. Shell Rotella T5 10W-30 demonstrated fuel economy savings of up to 1.6 percent in on-the-road field testing in medium-duty trucks. It also offers extended-drain capability.

* Shell Rotella T Triple Protection remains the same CJ-4 product that was introduced for the 2007 engines. New testing has resulted in an additional claim you'll now see on the packaging - up to 22 percent less iron wear than Shell Rotella T3 15W-40.

* Shell Rotella T3 is specifically designed for fleets. Its formulation features low-ash additive technology, outstanding shear stability and an all-group-II basestock formulation.

* Shell Rotella T1 is a quality straight grade engine oil in SAE 10W, 30, 40 and 50.

All Shell Rotella multi-grade engine oils meet API CJ-4 standards Shell Lubricants CI-4 PLUS engine oils will be phased out by the end of 2009. The CJ-4 standard was developed to meet the needs of 2007-emissions engines using ultra low sulfur diesel fuel and diesel particulate filters. It is backwards compatible with older engines, and actually may offer performance benefits for those engines, and also is the oil that will be recommended for use in 2010-emissions engines.