API Receives Request From ILSAC for GF-8 Motor Oil Category

The International Lubricants Standardization and Advisory Committee (ILSAC) has requested that a new gasoline engine oil specification be developed. The request was received by the co-chairs of the Auto/Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP) and the chair of the API Lubricants Standards Group. The AOAP will begin the evaluation process of the specification that is expected to be called ILSAC GF-8, which will replace the ILSAC GF-7 specification and come to first license on March 31, 2025. The request states a desired first-licensing date from API no later than the end of Q3 2028.

ILSAC is requesting updates to GF-7 to further improve fuel economy and to better protect hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) engine operation and higher temperature internal combustion engine (ICE) operation. Also included are engine and bench tests to be replaced or modified to improve passenger car engine oil worldwide.

The new specification is being requested with the following improvements:

• • Review for updating GF-8a Sequence IIIH update for percent viscosity increase.
    • • Keep the same or improve.
  • Review Sequence IIIHA for aged oil mini-rotary viscometer.
    • • Keep the same or lower.
  • Replace Sequence VH Engine Test with a new engine test that correlates the same or improved results.
  • Replace Sequence VIE/F engine test with new or other EPA agreed-upon substitute test with additional improvement in fuel economy relative to GF-7.
    • • Correlation required to previous categories.
  • Maintain Sequence VIII and/or add the ASTM D130 copper corrosion or ASTM D6594 high-temperature corrosion bench test with correlation.
  • Sequence IX: Carry over engine with a review of aged oil low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI).
  • Update WK86363 Oil Gelation Procedure with pass/fail criteria.
  • Update ASTM D7216 Annex A2 Seal Testing pass/fail criteria.

Potential Engine Test End of Life:

• • ILSAC review of the Sequence IX and X engine for replacement if necessary.
  • Evaluation of several tests, Sequence V, VI, & IX, for the impact of ethanol gasoline fuel blend.
    • Protect for up to 20% ethanol gasoline fuel blend.

Goals for the new specification include:

• • Maintain backward compatibility with existing categories.
  • Evaluation of ethanol fuel use in gasoline.
  • Evaluation of updated reference oils.
  • Protect for future EPA/CARB requirements.

Gasoline motor oil specifications are created using the procedure defined in Annex C of API 1509—Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System, which includes a consensus-based process for developing new gasoline engine oil standards for API certification marks.