CITGO Announces 2007 Heavy Duty Engine Oil Plan
For immediate release:

                                  

CITGO Announces 2007 Heavy Duty Engine Oil Plan

Houston - CITGO Petroleum Corporation will introduce a new heavy duty engine oil, CITGARD® 700, to meet the upcoming CJ-4 heavy duty engine oil performance category.  The launch comes before the first licensing date allowed by the American Petroleum Institute of October 15, 2006.

This new category of engine oils offers many advantages for fleet owners with 2007, pre-2007, and off-road equipment.

2007 engines will be equipped with exhaust after-treatment systems — diesel particulate filters — in order to meet reduced emission requirements.  New exhaust after-treatment systems will require ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel and API CJ-4 performance engine oils. The CJ-4 engine oil category is needed to protect the 2007 engines which will require optimum soot control and protection from higher operating temperatures. Using ULSD fuels and CJ-4 engines oils insures protection for 2007 engines and prolongs the life of the diesel particulate filters.

Advantages of the new CITGARD 700 include state-of-the-art synthetic blend technology, which produces advanced soot control and a higher TBN level, while optimizing 2007 after-treatment system protection. CITGARD 700 will be offered as a synthetic blend in a 15W-40 viscosity grade and will initially be available in bulk and drum packaging followed by one-gallon containers based on customer requirements.

CITGO HDEO Product Line                                                     Performance Level

CITGARD 700 15W-40 (available Fall 2006)                                 CJ-4

CITGARD SynDurance Synthetic 5W-40 (recommended for)          CJ-4

CITGARD 600 15W-40                                                               CI-4 PLUS

CITGARD 500 15W-40                                                               CI-4

Mystik JT-8 Synthetic Blend 15W-40, 15W-50                             CI-4 PLUS

CITGO, based in Houston, is a refiner, transporter and marketer of transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals, refined waxes, asphalt and other industrial products.