The International Lubricants Standardization and Advisory Committee (ILSAC) has formally requested the creation of a new specification for gasoline engine oil. This request has been communicated to the Co-Chairs of the Auto/Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP) and the Chair of the API Lubricants Standards Group. The AOAP is set to begin its assessment of this new specification, which is expected to be named ILSAC GF-8, intended to replace the existing ILSAC GF-7 specification, with the first licensing anticipated on March 31, 2025. The request outlines a goal for the API to complete the initial licensing by the end of the third quarter of 2028.

ILSAC aims to refine the GF-7 specification to enhance fuel efficiency, offer improved protection for hybrid electric vehicle (HEV) engines, and support higher temperature operations in internal combustion engines (ICE). Furthermore, specific engine and bench tests will be updated or substituted to boost the performance of passenger car engine oils on a global scale.

The new specification is being requested with the following improvements:

• Review for updating GF-8a Sequence IIIH update for percent viscosity increase
  • Keep the same or improve
• Review Sequence IIIHA for aged oil mini-rotary viscometer
  • Keep the same or lower
• Replace Sequence VH Engine Test with a new engine test that correlates the same or improved results.
• Replace Sequence VIE/F engine test with new or other EPA agreed upon substitute test with additional improvement in fuel economy relative to GF-7.
  • Correlation required to previous categories
• Maintain Sequence VIII and/or add the ASTM D130 copper corrosion or ASTM D6594 high-temperature corrosion bench test with correlation.
• Sequence IX: Carry over engine with a review of aged oil low speed pre-ignition (LSPI)
• Update WK86363 Oil Gelation Procedure with pass/fail criteria
• Update ASTM D7216 Annex A2 Seal Testing pass/fail criteria

Potential Engine Test End of Life:

• ILSAC review of the Sequence IX and X engine for replacement if necessary
• Evaluation of several tests, Sequence V, VI, & IX, for the impact of ethanol gasoline fuel blend
  • Protect for up to 20% ethanol gasoline fuel blend 

Goals for the new specification include:

• Maintain backward compatibility with existing categories
• Evaluation of ethanol fuel use in gasoline
• Evaluation of updated reference oils
• Protect for future EPA/CARB requirements 

Gasoline motor oil specifications are created using the procedure defined in Annex C of API 1509 – Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System, which includes a consensus-based process for developing new gasoline engine oil standards for API certification marks.