API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification Systems

In this QuickChat, Hannah Bubser, editor of National Oil and Lube News, speaks with Jeff Harmening, senior program manager at the American Petroleum Institute (API), about the API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS).

The EOLCS, launched in 1993, is a voluntary certification program that allows engine oil marketers to use API's engine oil quality marks if they meet specific requirements. Harmening explains that the aftermarket audit program is a critical part of this system, ensuring that licensed oils comply with the standards set by API.

The program involves sampling and testing motor oil from the marketplace, often unannounced, to verify that the products meet the required specifications. This process also applies to iDesel Exhaust Fluid (DEF) certification, with API monitoring compliance through rigorous testing. Shop owners and consumers can verify if their oils or DEF are licensed by API through an online directory.

For a more in-depth look into the API-licensed oil marketers and the motor oil testing and compliance process, watch the full video.