Abstract: A low phosphorus passenger car motor oil containing an oil of lubricating viscosity as the major component and a tri-metal detergent mixture as a minor component, wherein the tri-metal detergent mixture comprises at least one calcium overbased metal detergent, at least one magnesium overbased metal detergent and at least one sodium overbased metal detergent, wherein the tri-metal detergent mixture is present in the oil composition in an amount such that the total TBN contributed to the oil composition by the tri-metal detergent mixture is from about 2 to about 12, and wherein the calcium overbased detergent contributes from about 8 to about 42% of the total TBN contributed by the tri-metal detergent mixture, the magnesium overbased detergent contributes from about 29 to about 60% of the total TBN contributed by the tri-metal detergent mixture, and the sodium overbased detergent contributes from about 15 to about 64% of the total TBN contributed by the tri-metal detergent mixture.