American Petroleum Institute Evaluating Proposed ILSAC GF-8 Engine Oil Specification

The American Petroleum Institute has received a request from the International Lubricants Standardization and Advisory Committee for a new gasoline engine oil specification to be developed, according to a press release.

ILSAC’s request, received by the co-chairs of the Auto/Oil Advisory Panel and to the Chair of the API Lubricants Standards Group, requests updates be made to the ILSAC GF-7 specification that will further improve fuel economy, offer better protections for hybrid electric vehicle engine operation, and higher temperature internal combustion engine operation. 

The request also includes engine and bench tests to be replaced or modified that will improve passenger car engine oil globally.

The proposed specification, ILSAC GF-8, will replace GF-7. AOAP has already begun its evaluation of the specification, with ILSAC seeking a first-licensing date no later than the end of Q3 2028.

Goals for the new specification include maintaining backward compatibility with existing categories, an evaluation of ethanol fuel use in gasoline and of updated reference oils, and protection for future EPA/CARB requirements.