API Updates Engine Oil Licensing & Certification System

The American Petroleum Institute (API) has issued an updated standard that governs how engine oil marketers certify their gasoline and diesel engine oils to meet API’s stringent engine oil performance standards.

“API 1509 plays a crucial role in managing the API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS), providing oil marketers with guidelines on licensing and proper display of the API Engine Oil Quality Marks for consumers,” said Bill O’Ryan, senior manager, API EOLCS/DEF. “The updated standard assures consumers that API-certified engine oils are the highest quality option for their vehicles.”

The 23rd edition of API 1509, Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System, describes the voluntary API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) as well as methods for developing new engine oil performance standards. It also provides oil marketers with a description of the API Marks and their use, licensing requirements and aftermarket conformance and enforcement procedures that help to ensure that products licensed as or claiming to meet API standards actually meet the standards.

API standards are developed under API’s American National Standards Institute accredited process. This process ensures that API standards are recognized for their technical rigor and for third-party accreditation, which facilitates acceptance by state, federal and increasingly international regulators.

According to API, the company represents all segments of America’s natural gas and oil industry, which supports nearly 11 million U.S. jobs and is backed by a growing grassroots movement of millions of Americans. Its approximately 600 members produce, process and distribute the majority of the nation’s energy, and participate in API Energy Excellence, which is accelerating environmental and safety progress by fostering new technologies and transparent reporting. API was formed in 1919 as a standards-setting organization and has developed more than 800 standards to enhance operational and environmental safety, efficiency and sustainability.