Want to license an engine oil? Certify a lubricating grease? Sell an approved outboard motor oil? Verify that your food-grade lubricant meets international standards for food safety?
Here’s a quick reference.
Automotive Engine Oils
American Petroleum Institute
The American Petroleum Institute (API) licenses heavy-duty and passenger car engine oils worldwide that meet the standards described in API 1509, “Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System.”
Contact: Jeff Harmening, American Petroleum Institute, 200 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 202-682-8310
- Email: eolcs@api.org
- View licensee directory at engineoil.api.org
General Motors
General Motors recommends the use of engine oils licensed to the Dexos specifications in all its gasoline and light-duty diesel engines globally. The trademarked Dexos specifications supersede previous GM engine oil specifications. The latest passenger car engine oil spec, Dexos1 Gen 3, had its first available use on Sept. 1, 2021. GM Customer Care and Aftersales manages Dexos licensing.
GM Customer Care and Aftersales, Attn: Garret Paul Bien, (Mail Code 480-204-150), 31057 Louis Chevrolet Road, Warren, MI 48093-2355, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 248-296-3488
- Email: garret.1.bien@gm.com
- Website: www.gmdexos.com
Japan Automotive Standards Organization
The Japan Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) adopted in 2019 the GLV-1 classification for SAE 0W-12 and SAE 0W-8 gasoline passenger car engine oils, which conform to the JASO M 364:2019 standard. Marketers of conforming oils can submit data, pay a fee and be listed in JASO’s “On-File” system, in both Japanese and English.
Contact: JASO Engine Oil Standards Implementation Panel; c/o Business Dept., Japan Lubricating Oil Society; 2-16-1, Hinode, Funabashi-shi; Chiba 273-0015, Japan.
- Phone: +81 47-433-5181
- Website: www.jalos.or.jp/onfile
European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System
The European Engine Lubricants Quality Management System (EELQMS) is a voluntary program for automotive engine oils used in European vehicles. Jointly developed by the European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA), the Technical Committee of Petroleum Additive Manufacturers in Europe (ATC) and the Technical Association of the European Lubricants Industry (ATIEL), it is the only system that can be used to support claims against ACEA’s oil standards. The EELQMS is administered by Services to Associations and Industry in the Lubricants sector (SAIL).
Contact: Christine Marlet, ATIEL, rue Belliard, 40, 1040 Brussels, Belgium
- Phone: +32 2 786 30 31
- Email: info@eelqms.eu
- Website: www.eelqms.eu or www.sail-europe.eu/
Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz maintains a series of specifications called “sheets” for both gasoline-fueled cars (MB 229.1, 229.3, etc.) and diesel engines (the MB 228 series). Products that have been tested and approved by Mercedes-Benz are listed under the relevant sheet at https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com.
Suppliers seeking a product approval from Mercedes-Benz first must gain access to the company’s online BEAM system, or Operating Fluid Application Module, at https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/beam. Begin by using the site to send a short introductory letter in PDF format on your company stationery. After review and acceptance, the automaker will send a contract “Terms of Use for BEAM” to complete the authorization and set up an account. Those with BEAM access can see the procedures to follow, full specifications, costs, services, status overview and other details.
Contact:
- Website: https://bevo.mercedes-benz.com/beam
International Fluids Consortium
The International Fluids Consortium (IFC) is a not-for-profit membership organization focused on developing and maintaining global fluid specifications. Founded by vehicle manufacturers, IFC provides a forum to identify fluid technology needs to align with evolving hardware requirements and collaborate with industry partners to accelerate the development and commercialization of vehicle fluids.
Contact: Center for Quality Assurance, 4800 James Savage Road, Midland, Michigan 48642 USA
- Phone: +1 989-496-2399
- Email: admin@IFCstandards.org
- Website: https://ifcstandards.org
Engine Oil Supply Chain
Motor Oil Matters
Started by Shell and now under the American Petroleum Institute, “Motor Oil Matters” aims to ensure consumers receive high-quality engine oils via a secure chain of custody, with controls in place from the blending plant to the distributor to the installer or point of sale. Distributors and installers that are licensees may display the appropriate logo.
Contact: Jeff Harmening, American Petroleum Institute, 200 Massachusetts Ave. N.W., Washington, DC 20001, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 202-682-8310
- Website: motoroilmatters.org
Fire-Resistant Hydraulic Fluids
FM Approvals
FM Approvals reviews, tests and audits hydraulic fluids and their manufacturers for conformance to Standard 6930, “Flammability Classification of Industrial Fluids.”
Contact: Joanna Blaney, FM Approvals, P.O. Box 9102, Norwood, MA 02062-9102, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 781-255-4725
- Email: joanna.blaney@FMapprovals.com
- Website: www.fmapprovals.com/approval-standards
Food-Grade Lubricants
NSF International
NSF International is a recognized registration (NSF Nonfood Compounds Registration) and certification body (ISO 21469) of lubricants and other compounds that may have incidental contact with food. Its online White Book lists products that comply. NSF acquired its European counterpart InS Services in July 2019. NSF is working to transfer all InS approvals to the NSF registry.
Contact: Nonfood Compounds Registration Program, NSF International, 789 N. Dixboro Rd., Ann Arbor, MI 48105, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 800-673-6275
- Email: nonfood@nsf.org
- Verify products at www.nsfwhitebook.org
Lubricating Grease
NLGI
Since 1990, the National Lubricating Grease Institute (NLGI) has licensed automotive service greases described in ASTM D4950, “Standard Classification & Specification for Automotive Service Grease.” Categories include GC, LB and GC-LB for wheel-bearing greases.
In 2020, NLGI launched the High-Performance Multiuse Grease (HPM) certification in order to set a new performance standard that grease users and specifiers can utilize for selecting greases to use in their applications. The HPM certification offers a core specification, along with four enhancement performance tags including: Water Resistance (HPM + WR), and/or High Load Carrying Capacity (HPM + HL), and/or Salt Water Corrosion Resistance (HPM + CR), and/or Low Temperature Performance (HPM + LT).
Contact: Crystal O’Halloran, NLGI, 118 N. Conistor St., Suite B-281, Liberty, MO 64068, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 816-524-2500
- Email: nlgi@nlgi.org
- Verify products at www.nlgi.org/certifications/product
Marine Engine Oils
National Marine Manufacturers Association
The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) licenses two-stroke and four-stroke cycle gasoline inboard and outboard engine oils worldwide. Its longstanding FC-W and TC-W3 licenses were joined in 2009 by a third category for catalyzed marine engines (“FC-W Catalyst Compatible”).
Contact: Scott Berry, NMMA, 231 S. LaSalle St., Suite 2050, Chicago, IL 60604, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 312-946-6254
- Email: sberry@nmma.org
- Verify products at www.nmma.org/certification/oil
Motorcycle Engine Oils
JASO
JASO, representing six automotive and oil organizations in Japan, licenses motorcycle engine oils meeting its JASO T-903 standard for four-stroke engine oils (licensed as MA, MA1, MA2 and MB) and JASO M345:2018 for two-cycle oils (licensed as FB, FC and FD). Marketers of conforming oils can submit data, pay a fee and be listed in JASO’s “On-File” system, in both Japanese and English.
Contact: JASO Engine Oil Standards Implementation Panel; c/o Business Dept., Japan Lubricating Oil Society; 2-16-1, Hinode, Funabashi-shi; Chiba 273-0015, Japan.
- Phone: +81 47-433-5181
- Website: www.jalos.or.jp/onfile
Transmission Fluids
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles
Fiat Chrysler Automobiles recommends using licensed ATF+4 in transmissions that specify ATF+4, ATF+3, ATF+2, and ATF+. Licensing and quality monitoring is administered by the Center for Quality Assurance.
Contact: Center for Quality Assurance, Attn: Licensing Administration, 4800 James Savage Rd., Midland, MI 48642, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 989-496-2399
- Email: ATF+4@CenterForQA.com
- Website: https://www.CenterForQA.com
Ford
Ford’s ATF license system, administered by Southwest Research Institute, uses the Mercon brand and permits use of only Mercon V, Mercon LV and Mercon ULV products for all its vehicles.
Contact: Chintan Ved, Chairperson, MERCON Committee, Ford Motor Co., Livonia ATO, 35500 Plymouth Rd., Box 215, Livonia, MI 48150, U.S.A.
- Email: cved@ford.com
General Motors
General Motors licenses its trademarked Dexron products, with sub-licenses managed by Afton Chemical, Infineum and Lubrizol.
Contact: GM Customer Care and Aftersales, Attn: Joseph Pospisil, (Mail Code 480-204-150), 31057 Louis Chevrolet Road, Warren, MI 48093-2355, U.S.A.
- Phone: +1 248-292-9174
- Email: joseph.pospisil@gm.com
