Aug. 16, 2022—The American Petroleum Institute has submitted a request to the Auto/Oil Advisory Panel and the API Lubricants Group.
According to a press release, the request seeks to add SAE OW-8 and SAE 0W-12 viscosity grades to the ILSAC GF-6 specification. ILSAC GF-6B is only applicable to oils that meet the SAE OW-16 viscosity grade.
The AOAP is going to be called into session and co-chaired by the ILSAC chair and API Lubricants Group chair. The request will be evaluated and from there it will be determined if the request can be accepted or not. The press release lists the benefits for adding lower viscosities to ILSAC GF-6. One benefit includes filling a gap of licensing "low vis" oils in a global marketplace.
SAE 0W-8 and SAE 0W-12 viscosity grades are expected to be able to be fast tracked for quick approval by the end of 2022, according to the press release. This is because the current existing GF-6 fuel economy tests haven't demonstrated an accurate measurement of fuel economy in ultra-low viscosity grades. As a result, the API recommends a fuel economy test standard from the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization.
This test standard is known as JASO M366--Automobile Gasoline Engine Oils-- Firing Fuel Economy Test Procedure. It is available in U.S. Independent labs and has some Base Oil Interchange and Viscosity Grade Read-Across guidelines. API plans to use this test in a procedure that will be set by the AOAP with GF-6 to determine test limits as established by JASO M364 - Automobile Gasoline Engine Oils, which addressed the performance of SAE 0W-8 and SAE 0W-12 viscosity grade engine oils.
