{"id":2392,"date":"2020-05-01T05:17:25","date_gmt":"2020-05-01T05:17:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kendallmotoroil.com\/?p=2392"},"modified":"2024-10-16T09:40:17","modified_gmt":"2024-10-16T14:40:17","slug":"everything-you-need-to-know-about-gf-6-and-api-sp-motor-oil-standards","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/staging.phillips66.com\/kendallmotoroilcom\/news\/everything-you-need-to-know-about-gf-6-and-api-sp-motor-oil-standards\/","title":{"rendered":"Everything You Need to Know About GF-6 and API SP Motor Oil Standards."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The new ILSAC GF-6 and API SP specifications for passenger car motor oil will launch on May 1, 2020<\/strong>, directly affecting both installers and consumers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These new, higher performance oil categories<\/strong> have been developed in response to several driving forces. The most important factors include need to improve fuel economy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as the increasing demands of modern engine technologies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to Keven Ferrick, director, API Product Programs<\/a>, \u201cAPI [American Petroleum Institute] developed these new performance standards in response to a request from automakers to introduce more robust engine oils that would be capable of meeting the needs of current and future gasoline engines.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to API, the International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC), original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), and producers like Kendall\u00ae<\/sup> Motor Oil have all contributed to the development and upcoming implementation of these new standards over the past seven years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this blog post, we\u2019ll provide an overview of everything you need to know<\/strong> about the new ILSAC GF-6 and API SP passenger car motor oil specifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An Overview of ILSAC GF-6 and API SP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ILSAC GF-6A and GF-6B<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

ILSAC GF-6 will replace the previous GF-5 specifications, which covered fuel-efficiency grade oils OW-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, and 10W-30.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To accommodate lower viscosity levels like OW-16, ILSAC GF-6 has been divided into two separate categories: GF-6A and GF-6B<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

In the past, ILSAC has strived to create \u201cevergreen\u201d standards that are fully backward-compatible with previous standards. However, the new low-viscosity oil OW-16<\/strong> is not compatible with most older engines, and therefore warrants a separate category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In general terms, GF-6A<\/strong> oils will be backward-compatible for older vehicles that previously used GF-5 oils. While GF-6B<\/strong> oils will be compatible with new vehicles and will NOT be backward-compatible in most cases (unless specifically indicated by the OEM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

GF-6A will be represented by the traditional \u201cstarburst\u201d mark, while GF-6B will be represented by the new \u201cshield\u201d mark (shown above) to help installers and consumers clearly differentiate the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

API SP<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

API\u2019s newest service category is SP… ILSAC GF-6 applies to the fuel efficient viscosity grades, while API SP applies to those heavier viscosity grades like 10W40 and 20W50 generally covering 10W-40, 5W-40, and some other heavier viscosities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This category is fully backward-compatible<\/strong> with previous API service categories, including API SN PLUS, SN, SM, SL or SJ.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

API SP will be represented by the traditional \u201cdonut\u201d mark shown below.<\/p>\n\n\n

\n\t\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Why Do We Need the New ILSAC GF-6 and API SP Motor Oil Standards?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are several factors driving the need for the new passenger vehicle motor oil standards, including environmental, market, and technological influences.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.<\/strong> Environmental factors <\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The EPA reports that for 2017, 59% of all greenhouse gas emissions (GHG)<\/a> from the transportation sector came from light-duty vehicles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This has led to new EPA regulations<\/strong> under the Clean Air Act that limit the maximum GHG emissions allowed for vehicles from different model year (MY) ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another important factor has been the implementation of the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards<\/a> by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NHTSA’s Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards<\/strong> regulate how far our vehicles must travel on a gallon of fuel. In other words, it stipulates the minimum miles\/gallon different vehicle types must present to be sold in the market, which also vary by MY ranges.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The majority of today\u2019s vehicle manufacturers, including all North American OEMs, are required to meet these and other environmental regulations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As a result, OEMs have turned to several methods to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase fuel economy. The major strategies include the development of new, lighter weight and higher performance engine technologies as well as the push for updated motor oils.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Market forces<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

OEMs have also decided to seek reduced emissions and increased fuel economy in response to consumer demands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Today\u2019s consumers, especially in developed economies, are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And although the price of gasoline<\/a> has come down significantly since its peak at $3.96 in April 2012, consumers have not stopped factoring fuel economy<\/strong> into their vehicle purchasing decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Technological advancements<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

In response to both environmental regulations and market demands, OEMs and motor oil producers have worked hard to develop new engine technologies and new, lower viscosity oils that help reduce GHG emissions and improve fuel economy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n