1. API Global Engine Oil
Standards
API Engine Oil Licensing
and Certification System
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
2. American Petroleum Institute
• Founded in 1919 to standardize specifications for drilling and
production equipment
• Only trade association that represents all aspects of
America’s oil and natural gas industry
• More than 400 corporate members—largest major oil
company to smallest of independents—from all segments of
industry: producers, refiners, suppliers, pipeline operators,
marine transporters, and service and supply companies that
support all segments of industry
• Broad range of programs
– Advocacy
– Research and statistics
– Standards
– Certification
– Education
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
3. Engine Oil Licensing and
Certification
• Voluntary program that defines, certifies, and
monitors engine oil performance
• Performance requirements, test methods, and
limits cooperatively established by vehicle/engine
manufacturers, technical societies, and trade
associations
• Licenses use of API Marks on oil motor oils that
meet performance standards
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
4. History API Engine Oil Performance
Standards
Pre 1947: Oils classified by SAE J300 viscosity grade only
1947: API defined three categories
Regular Straight mineral oil
Premium Mineral oil with oxidation inhibitors
Heavy Duty Mineral oil with oxidation
inhibitors and detergent/dispersants
1952: API defined categories for gasoline and diesel
ML, MM, MS for gasoline engines
DG, DM, DS for diesel engines
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
5. History API Engine Oil Performance
Standards
1960: API added Sequence Testing to requirements
Still no precise definitions of performance
Company specifications and US military (Mil)
specifications used
1970: API, ASTM, SAE developed present classification
system
S and C categories introduced
1993: EOLCS launched
Advent of ILSAC standards
ACC Code of Practice instituted
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
6. API Engine Oil Marks
Licensed marketers may display two types of marks
API Certification Mark API Service
“Starburst” Symbol “Donut”
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
7. Engine Oil Program Participation
538 licenses in 56 countries
6 Africa
173 Asia
36 Central America
43 Europe
31 Middle East
236 North America
13 South America
Represents >10,000 products
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
8. Directory of Licensees:
A Way to Communicate to Consumers
• List of all API Engine Oil licensees
• Available on the internet. This directory includes:
– Company name
– Products licensed
– Product information
• http://www.api.org/eolcs
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
9. Engine Oil Program’s Value
• Sets robust and up-to-date performance standards
for engine oils
• Tells consumers which products satisfy engine
manufacturer recommendations
• Gives consumers choice of quality products from
which to choose
• Provides user-friendly product information in easily
recognizable symbols
• Helps conserve energy
• Rigorous monitoring of products in market
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
10. Developing Engine Oil Standards
New Engine Oil Quality Standard
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
11. API Gasoline Engine Oil Standard
Timeline
Category Years Major Upgrades
“S” CATEGORIES THAT CAN NO LONGER BE LICENSED
SA Pre 1930
SB 1930–1963
SC 1964–1967
SD 1968–1971
SE 1972–1979
SF 1980–1988
SG 1989–1993 Fuel economy & phosphorus limits
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
12. API Gasoline Engine Oil Standard
Timeline
Cat Years Major Upgrades
“S” CATEGORIES THAT CAN BE LICENSED
SH* 1994 EOLCS, ACC Code
*Only if “C” Category listed first
SJ 1996 Lower phosphorus & volatility
SL 2001 Lower wear & volatility & more oxidation
control
SM 2004 Improved oxidation resistance & deposit
protection & better wear protection & low-
temperature performance
SN 2010 Improved high-temperature deposit
protection, more stringent sludge control, &
seal compatibility
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
13. ILSAC Engine Oil Standard Timeline
Standard Years Major Upgrades
ILSAC STANDARDS THAT CAN NO LONGER BE LICENSED
GF-1 1994 EOLCS, ACC Code
GF-2 1996 Lower phosphorus & volatility, better fuel
economy
GF-3 2001 Lower wear & volatility, more oxidation
control & fuel economy
GF-4 2004 Improved oxidation resistance & deposit
protection, better wear protection & low-
temperature performance, & fuel economy
ILSAC STANDARD THAT CAN BE LICENSED
GF-5 2010 Improved high-temperature deposit protection,
more stringent sludge control, seal compatibility,
improved fuel economy, turbo protection, emission
control system compatibility, & protection of engines
operating on fuel up to E85
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
14. Current Gasoline Engine Oil Standard
ILSAC GF-5
• Introduced October 1, 2010
• Fuel economy and fuel economy retention
– New fuel economy test (Sequence VID)
• Engine oil robustness
– Increased weighted piston deposit limit (Sequence IIIG)
– More stringent sludge limits (Sequence VG)
– Turbo protection (TEOST 33C)
– Phosphorus retention (Sequence IIIGB)
– Emulsion retention (protection of engines operating on ethanol-containing
fuels up to E85)
• Protection of emission control systems
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
15. Current Gasoline Engine Oil Standard
API SN and SN with Resource Conserving
• Also introduced October 1, 2010
• Engine oil robustness
– Increased weighted piston deposit limit (Sequence IIIG)
– More stringent sludge limits (Sequence VG)
– Seal compatibility
• Protection of emission control systems
• API SN with Resource Conserving matches ILSAC GF-5 by
combining API SN performance with improved fuel economy,
turbocharger protection, emission control system compatibility,
and protection of engines operating on ethanol containing
fuels up to E85
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
16. Diesel Engine Oil Category Timeline
Category Years AKA Major Distinctions
“C” CATEGORIES THAT CAN NO LONGER BE LICENSED
CA Pre 1961 DG
CB 1949–1960 DM
CC 1961–1990 DM
CD 1955–1990 DS
CE 1987–1995
CD-II 1987–1995
CF-4 1990–2008
CF 1994–2010
CF-2 1994–2010
CG-4 1995–2009
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
17. Diesel Engine Oil Category Timeline
Category Years AKA Major Distinctions
“C” CATEGORIES THAT CAN NOW BE LICENSED
CH-4 1998 On highway, high-speed; 1998
emissions
CI-4 2002 On highway, high-speed; 2004
emissions
CJ-4 2006 On highway, high-speed; 2007
emissions
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
18. Current Diesel Standards
• CJ-4: High-speed, 4-stroke engines designed to meet 2010
U.S. on-highway and Tier 4 nonroad exhaust emission
standards. Engineered for use in previous model year engines
and intended to maintain oil drain intervals when used in
conjunction with Ultra-Low Sulfur Diesel Fuel (15 ppm
maximum sulfur)
• CI-4 with CI-4 PLUS: Used in conjunction with API CI-4,
formulated to provide higher level of protection against soot-
related viscosity increase and viscosity loss due to shear
• CI-4: High-speed, 4-stroke engines designed to meet 2004
U.S. emissions standards implemented in 2002
• CH-4: High-speed, 4-stroke engines designed to meet 1998
USA emissions standards
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
19. Proposed API Diesel Standard
• Diesel engine manufacturers have requested new API diesel engine
oil standard that would provide:
– Improved oxidation stability
– Improved aeration benefits
– Shear stability
– Compatibility with biodiesel blends
– Prevention of scuffing/adhesive wear
• Recommended standard be split into two separate and distinct
subcategories
– One that preserves historical heavy-duty oil criteria
– One that provides fuel efficiency benefits while maintaining durability
• Discussions preliminary and ongoing but completion date of January
2016 requested
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 19
20. API Aftermarket Audit Program
• API program to ensure licensed products meet
standards
• Samples of licensed products purchased from
worldwide marketplace
• Samples tested to verify they conform to licensed
formulations & category requirements
• Action taken to fix oils that do not comply with
license agreement
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
22. 2010 AMAP Sample Location Profile
United States: 45 States (not AK, AZ, CO, HI, NE) + Puerto Rico
Australia Mexico
Canada Norway
Colombia South Korea
Dominican Republic Spain
India Taiwan
Japan Ukraine
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 22
23. 2010 AMAP: Comments
• Physical property and bench test issues continue to
increase, particularly for passenger car engine oils
• NOACK, CCS for fuel economy oils, HTHS & yield
stress leading physical property issues although
NOACK somewhat less
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 23
24. Using API-Licensed Oils Important
• API certification brings important parameters for
engine oils together in one coordinated program
• Oil quality proven through industry-developed
performance tests & robust standards
• Oil industry invests significant resources to prove oil
quality
• Continually upgraded by evolution of new
performance standards
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
25. Using API-Licensed Oils Important
• Developed in conjunction with and recommended
by OEMs
• Used globally
• Backed by oil marketer commitment to manufacture
licensed oils consistently
• Monitored by API aftermarket audit program
(AMAP) against known properties of licensed oil
• Goal = peace of mind for everyone choosing API-
licensed engine oil
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
26. Something New for
API Engine Oil Licensing and
Certification System
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 26
27. API Motor Oil Matters (MOM)
• API transformed Shell Motor Oil Matters program
into industry-wide, non-brand specific campaign
• Timely method for educating industry and
consumers on importance of using high-quality oils
meeting API performance standards
• Message consistent with OEM recommendations
• Consumers directed to demand quality oils
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 27
28. API Motor Oil Matters Objectives
• Educate marketers, distributors, and installers on importance
of oil quality
• Give credibility to marketers manufacturing quality motor oils,
distributors delivering those oils, and installers adding those
oils to cars and trucks
• Identify quality products from point of manufacture to
installation (brands accurately represented)
• Explain how use of quality oils limits or prevents liability
claims
• Demonstrate that off-specification oils are masquerading as
quality oils — identify off-spec oils to expose unlevel playing
field
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 28
29. API MOM Campaign: Start with
Marketers, Distributors and Installers
• Launched MotorOilMatters.org website with API
face
• Intend to promote MOM objectives to marketers,
distributors and installers
• Need to obtain support from industry groups
• Also need to strengthen API relationships with
trade pubs
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 29
30. API MOM Campaign: Then Move to
Consumers
• Give consumers something they need: objective, unbiased
information on motor oil
• Explain how high-quality motor oils protect engines and
preserve warranties
• Increase awareness of OEM recommendations and need for
performance standard beyond just recommended viscosity
grade
• For DIFM, demonstrate that off-specification oils are
masquerading as quality oils
• Remind consumers to ask for written proof of motor oil’s
viscosity grade, brand, and performance standard
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 30
31. API Motor Oil
Matters Web
Site
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 31
32. 1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 32
33. API Motor Oil Matters Benefits
Marketers, Distributors, Installers, Consumers
• Increased consumer awareness on importance of using API quality
motor oils
• Safeguards motor oil quality from manufacturer to distributor to
installer to consumer (true, industry-wide bulk oil chain of custody)
• Helps prevent deceptive trade practices in marketplace
• More aggressive API product quality monitoring (permitted by chain
of custody)
• Benefits environment by ensuring increased use of quality motor oils
• Highlights benefits from using OEM-recommended motor oil
• Rewards and identifies those “doing it right”
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 33
34. Motor Oil Matters Anticipated Results
• Level playing field established
• Distributors, installers and consumers understand that high-
quality motor oils protect engines and preserve warranties
• Installers and consumers more aware of OEM
recommendations and need to ask for viscosity grade and
performance standard
• DIFMers realize off-specification oils are masquerading as
quality oils and learn that API licensing protects them
• Consumers ask for quality oils and written proof of motor oil’s
viscosity grade, brand, and performance standard
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org 34
35. Thank You
Capt Lee
API Regional Representative
Global Industry Services
Regus Samsung Hub
3 Church Street, Level 8; Room No. 0836
Singapore 049483
captlee@api.org
Tel: (65) 6408 0118
Fax: (65) 6408 3775
1220 L Street, NW • Washington, DC 20005-4070 • www.api.org
