While buying a new car might not be on the minds of many these days, keeping what you own running in top condition will be. Over the past few years, pickup truck and car buyers have benefited from new tools like turbocharging and direct injection, as automakers work to boost efficiency. But that means these new engines are running on tighter tolerances, which puts pressure on oil performance.

Beginning in May, the American Petroleum Institute has issued new standards for lower-viscosity motor oils. The industry is already marketing low-viscosity products; these new standards aim to make those oils even better at doing their jobs.

The effort to develop the new standards dates back to 2012, according to Jeffrey Harmening, manager, American Petroleum Institute. He explains that modern engines designed with tighter tolerances require lower viscosity oils in the 5W-20, 0W-20 and even the 0W-16 range. These oils do their jobs and can help improve fuel economy, too. “With these advancements came a request from automakers in 2012 to develop more robust engine oils that would be capable of meeting the needs of current and future gasoline engines,” he wrote recently in a briefing about the new oil standards.

Over the past seven years, API, working with the industry, developed what are called ILSAC (International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee) GF-6A, ILSAC GF-6B and API SP oils. These new oils are licensable under API’s engine oil program. The new standards are the latest in a line of performance specifications that have gotten steadily more stringent. These new standards will replace the ILSAC GF-5 and API SN standards.

Harmening explains that GF-6A oils are backward-compatible with GF-5 oils and older standards, and in viscosities as low as 0W-20. GF-6B oils are backward-compatible with 0W-16 oils meeting API-SN performance and are intended for gasoline engines requiring 0W-16 oils.

He adds that there’s a third standard that not only includes the new ILSAC specifications, but also covers engine oils intended for uses not covered by ILSAC specifications, and it has been approved as API Service Category SP. This is backward-compatible with API SN oils.

Why 7 years?

Some may wonder why it took seven years to develop new standards for these higher-performing engines even though they’re already on the market. “That takes us back to the advancement of engine technology and the need to develop tests for modern engines, to ensure that new oils meet the needs of a diverse group of engines,” Harmening explains.

Creation of new motor oil standards requires collaboration and consensus among a lot of industry players, from vehicle and engine manufacturers to oil marketers to additive companies. “It is a challenging process to create engine oils that meet all the needs of different types of engines from a variety of manufacturers,” he says. “Development of the engine tests required for the new standard requires a great deal of time and effort to ensure that the test is fit for purpose.”

The new standards specify more stringent engine oil performance requirements for spark-ignited internal combustion engines. During the process, seven new or replacement engine tests were developed, evaluated and measured for precision. And companies ran tests to demonstrate that oils can meet the more stringent requirements.

For example, the new tests include the first-ever timing chain wear test and a new test to measure fuel economy improvement provided by very low-viscosity engine oils. The standards also include a test designed to protect against a phenomenon experienced by some gasoline engines knowns as low-speed preignition.

LSPI is an abnormal ignition event where the fuel-air mixture in the cylinder ignites before intended. This can cause higher pressures in the cylinder. In mild cases, according to a report from Chevron, this can cause engine noise; but when severe enough, LSPI can cause engine damage. There are a range of causes for the phenomenon, but lubricating oil is consider to be one cause.

Harmening notes that the auto industry, oil marketers, additive companies and others worked with API to develop the new performance standards to meet the needs of people who use their vehicles every day for work and leisure activities. The oil marketers are working to introduce oils that meet the new standards, which went into effect May 1.

Source: American Petroleum Institute, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.