For more than 90 years, Pennzoil has worked together with the American Petroleum Institute (API) to ensure that Pennzoil products meet, and often exceed, the stringent requirements of motor oil specifications implemented to help better protect performance of your engine.
With the industry constantly evolving, Pennzoil sat down with API Senior Director Jeff Harmening to learn more about how motor oil standards are evolving to meet the needs of newer vehicles.
PENNZOIL: What is API’s role in developing motor oil standards?
ENTERTAINMENT: API works within the automotive industry to develop engine oil standards that meet changing lubrication demands as engine technology advances. We’ve been working with vehicle and engine manufacturers, oil marketers, additive companies and others to develop these standards and license motor oils that meet them for nearly four decades through the Oil Licensing and Certification System of Engine (EOLCS).
PENNZOIL: What is the process for developing motor oil standards?
ENTERTAINMENT: API 1509 Annex C describes the consensus-based process for developing new gasoline engine oil standards for API certification marks. This helps ensure that reliable and technically sound performance standards are created to meet the needs of a variety of engines today and for future engine designs.
There are three phases to creating a new specification:
- Phase 1 – Application and evaluation of the category
- Phase 2 – Development of specifications
- Phase 3 – Adoption of the Auto/Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP) specification.
When API receives a formal request, the Auto-Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP), co-chaired by API and the OEMs, meets and begins evaluation of the request. Once the AOAP evaluates and determines that the new specification is necessary, OEMs begin the complex and time-consuming task of developing the necessary performance tests to support the category’s needs.
As OEMs offer each of the individual performance tests, AOAP works to develop a draft specification. Once the draft is completed and distributed to all industry participants for review, AOAP works to build consensus among all stakeholders and ensures that the process for creating the new specification provides full transparency.
The challenging process to develop the current standards, ILSAC GF-6A, ILSAC GF-6B and API SP, demonstrates how the API 1509 Annex C procedures worked successfully to ensure that reliable and technical performance standards were created for meet the needs of the variety of engines in the current and future engine landscape. This same process is being used to develop ILSAC GF-7 motor oils.
PENNZOIL: What is the background to the development of ILSAC GF-7 motor oils?
ENTERTAINMENT: Last August (2022), the International Lubricants Standardization and Advisory Committee (ILSAC) formally requested that a new gasoline engine oil specification be developed for the first license in 2028. ILSAC is requesting a new category, GF-7, which will provide EPA fuel economy. improvements and lower exhaust emissions. In addition, the GF-7 would provide aged oil low speed pre-ignition (LSPI) protection, reduced piston deposits and chain wear, along with a sulfated ash limit for gasoline particulate filter protection ( GPF). The Auto/Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP) then began the process of evaluating the specification.
PENNZOIL: What are the latest developments in GF-7?
ENTERTAINMENT: AOAP is currently evaluating the requested category updates as they relate to other industry proposals, including the addition of SAE 0W-8 and 0W-12 viscosity grades to ILSAC GF-6B and the application to develop ILSAC GF-7 oils. AOAP is looking for ways to consolidate the proposals into a cohesive process that will achieve the goals of each and ensure efficient implementation. There are several proposals to modify how GF-7 oils will be developed. Options include developing a GF-7 for first license in early 2025, which would be followed by the GF-8 in 2028.
PENNZOIL: What other programs are part of the EOLCS?
ENTERTAINMENT: EOLCS’s most recognizable program is the voluntary licensing and certification program that authorizes motor oil sellers who meet specified requirements to use API motor oil quality marks.
The API Aftermarket Audit Program (AMAP) supports the licensing and certification program by monitoring the sampling of API-licensed oils on the market and testing them to verify compliance with motor oil specifications. This ensures that oil sellers, distributors, installers and consumers can have confidence in the quality of API licensed motor oils on the market.
API licensed motor oils are purchased in packages and bulk tanks from the market and are tested to determine their physical, chemical and performance properties. The results are compared with the formulations submitted by the licensed oil marketer to API. Compliant oils will show test results that are consistent with API-filed formulations and meet claimed API specifications as well as all EOLCS program requirements.
To learn more about the American Petroleum Institute and to keep up with the latest updates in the motor oil industry, go to api.org or see API at Twitter!
