[M.D. Holloway]

new engine oil info...

Will GF-5 require new ingredients for lubricants?


Additive companies and Oil Marketers will determine the appropriate lubricant ingredients to meet GF-5 performance requirements, once GF-5 tests and limits are defined. The Needs Statement for GF-5 is approved by ILSAC/OIL and shapes the levels of performance required over and above GF-4.


Performance Additives
Additive technology will enable the performance levels that ultimately represent GF-5. These performance levels will likely require:

Improved phosphorous retention (ZDP) to enable emission system durability while maintaining engine protection
Increased levels of organic/inorganic Friction Modifiers to meet improved fuel economy and fuel economy retention
Enhanced emulsion and rust protection for Flex Fuel Vehicle specifically those that run on ethanol based fuel (E85)
Greater seal compatibility to help ensure seal longevity and prevent oil leakage in older vehicles, as demonstrated by a new seal test specifically developed for GF-5
Base Oils
A greater demand for 0W-20 oils is expected. Formulating 0W-20 oils requires the use of Group III Base Oils.

Viscosity Modifier
Viscosity modifying additives (VM) control the temperature-viscosity relationship of engine oils. Viscosity modifiers are susceptible to shear degradation in the engine. Viscosity modifiers with good fuel economy and high temperature deposit performance will be needed to meet the requirements of GF-5.

Pour Point Depressant (PPD)
Pour Point Depressants (PPD) continue to play an important role in managing both the new and used low temperature properties of the finished oil. As base stocks, additives, and VM evolve with new specifications, careful selection of PPD ensures fail-safe low temperatures performance.

Global Implications of ILSAC GF-5
Will the global marketplace accept the new specification?


Who is on board?

When a new North American Passenger Car Engine Oil Specification becomes officially available it will appear in other parts of the world concurrently. The new performance standards developed by the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) and certified by the American Petroleum Institute (API), are generally accepted by the rest of the world.

In Asia Pacific and Latin America motor oils follow the API performance level and as a result will eventually have ILSAC GF-5 oil in some of their markets. JAMA (Japanese Automotive Manufacturers Association), is part of ILSAC and has a vote in the development of the new specification. When oils are officially licensed and in the market in the USA, oils of the same performance level are immediately in the market in Japan and simultaneously in Korea, Australia and Canada.

In Europe the ACEA (European Automobile Manufactures Association) specifications are primarily followed.