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Durability remains a primary concern when formulating heavy-duty (HD) diesel engine oils, but in future there will be increased attention to fuel efficiency, particularly in Europe where the European Commission is proposing the first ever CO2 emission targets for heavy-duty vehicles. Although there are no internationally recognised fuel efficiency tests for HD diesel engines, there have been some regional and OEM developments pushing in the direction of improved fuel efficiency. In Japan the relatively new JASO DH-2F standard adds a fuel efficiency requirement, measuring fuel efficiency using the Hino N04C engine which is also used within the standard for other performance testing. In North America API have introduced the FA-4 performance standard to allow users to specify an xW-30 oil of lower HTHS150 to help achieve fuel efficiency, but with no accompanying test to quantify. In Europe ACEA are planning a HD fuel economy “F” classification which may be something like API FA-4.

The function of Pour-Point Depressant (PPD) is given in the name. They depress pour-point by inhibiting the waxy structures that form in mineral oil at low temperature. But for modern engine oils pour-point has little relevance and isn't included in modern international engine oil standards. Industry experience over the decades has replaced pour-point by other more valid assessments of an engine oil's suitability at low temperature. In particular low temperature pumpability by Mini Rotary Viscometer (MRV) due to its inclusion in SAE J300 is the primary test. In some cases this is now required on used oil, and most recently in Europe on oil oxidised in the presence of biodiesel by CEC-L-105-12. However PPDs exist or have been developed which are effective in these evolved low temperature requirements of engine oils.