QuickChat: Inside the New Era of Engine Oil Standards: What GF-7 and SQ Mean for Your Shop
In this NOLN QuickChat, Tom Valentino, editor of National Oil and Lube News, speaks with Bill O'Ryan, director of API’s engine oil licensing and certification system, to discuss the latest in engine oil specifications. They provide updates on the adoption and licensing of ILSAC GF-7 and API Service Category SQ oils, highlighting how quickly the industry has responded to these new standards. Since the GF-7 launch in March 2025, nearly 2,500 products have been approved, while over 3,300 products now carry the SQ certification, demonstrating strong support from OEMs, oil manufacturers, and service providers.
The discussion also clarifies the distinction between GF-7A and GF-7B, particularly regarding viscosity grades. GF-7B is specific to the ultra-low SAE 0W-16 grade, while GF-7A covers the traditional ILSAC viscosity grades SAE 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30. Understanding the difference and the role of the starburst and shield certification marks is critical for quick lubes and service shops to ensure proper application and vehicle protection.
Looking ahead, they touch on GF-8 development, targeting a 2028 launch, which promises updates for hybrid vehicles and improved ethanol fuel compatibility.
Watch the full Quick Chat to hear O'Ryan break down these key updates and gain insight into how API standards are shaping the future of engine oil performance. For more information, visit www.api.org.
About the Author
Tom Valentino
Editor
Tom Valentino is the editor of National Oil and Lube News. A graduate of Ohio University, he has more than two decades of experience in newspapers, public relations and trade magazines, covering everything from high school sports to behavioral health care. Tom’s first vehicle was a 1990 Mazda 626, which he used to deliver pizzas in the summer after graduating high school. Today, he drives a 2019 Jeep Compass, which usually has a trunk full of his daughter’s sports gear. In his spare time, Tom is an avid Cleveland sports fan and a volunteer youth sports coach.
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