ILSAC GF-7, the next pair of industry performance specifications for conventional engine oils used in conventional light-duty vehicles, has been sent to ballot by the Auto/Oil Advisory Panel, opening a period for public comment.
Following a precedent established with the previous standard, GF-6, GF-7 has been broken into two specifications by viscosity grade: GF-7B for 0W-16 oils and GF-7A for all other grades.
The ballot must be approved by two-thirds of those voting. The ballot and public comment period close March 18, and AOAP is scheduled to meet March 22 in Detroit, where the organization could adopt the specifications. The organization aims to do that and to schedule commercial introduction of the new specs for March of 2025.
Written at the direction of the International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee, which represents automakers in the North American market, GF-7 would replace GF-6, although the organization would continue allowing commercial use of the older standard for one year after the newer one is introduced.
When development of GF-7 was undertaken in 2022, automakers and the lubricant industry targeted commercial introduction for 2028, but the schedule was accelerated because of government pressure on original equipment manufacturers to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. The balloted specs step up requirements in that area.
The new specs would also require improved performance in areas such as protection against low-speed pre-ignition, wear protection at low temperatures and prevention of piston deposits.
ILSAC and API engine oil specs – the latter are usually introduced in tandem with the former – are also followed in other parts of the world where American and Japanese cars are popular.