American Petroleum Institute Updates Progress on the PC-12 Specification

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has announced significant progress in the development of the new API Proposed Category 12 (PC-12) heavy-duty engine oil specification, company officials stated in a press release. The API Lubricants Standards Group (LSG) approved three key actions that will now move to an electronic ballot for inclusion in API 1509:

• Acceptance of the PC-12 technical requirements as outlined in the ASTM D4485 ballot with minor editorial updates.
• Acceptance of the PC-12 user language, which provides a high-level description of the API CL-4 and API FB-4 categories.
• Acceptance of Jan. 1, 2027, as the first license date for API Service Category CL-4 and API FB-4.

These items will be posted as electronic ballots for a 30-day review and voting period, allowing API LSG members to provide feedback before final adoption, noted the release.

Industry Process Leading to These Results

API says the approved actions follow a coordinated technical review across key industry groups. During recent ASTM D02 meetings, the Diesel Engine Oil Advisory Panel (DEOAP) and the PC-12 New Category Development Team (NCDT) aligned on updates to the ASTM D4485 standard. Those recommendations were then forwarded to the API LSG, which confirmed the path forward for PC-12 development.

Next Steps for Licensing & Industry Readiness

To support a smooth transition to the new categories, the API licensee portal will open several months prior to the Jan. 1, 2027, first license date. This early-access period will allow licensees to proactively enter new API CL-4 and API FB-4 products. API will issue a notification to licensees once early entry becomes available.

API says these actions mark a significant milestone toward finalizing the PC-12 specification and preparing the heavy-duty engine oil industry for next-generation performance standards.