--quote--
Beginning in March 2002, the ILSAC/Oil Committee was convened to develop the next generation ILSAC Standard in accordance with the procedures within API Publication 1509 – Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS). The ILSAC/Oil Committee is comprised of representatives from the international automakers and oil and additive marketers. These meetings have been open to all interested parties, who have also contributed their expertise to the discussions. During discussions, the following was adopted as the “Needs Statement” and served as the basis for developing the draft ILSAC GF-4 Standard: ILSAC GF-4 is needed as a minimum performance standard providing for the protection of emission systems to meet the 2004 MY Tier 2, Bin 5 emissions limits, and also providing:
(1) Improved fuel economy, and fuel economy retention
(2) Improved robustness of engine oil to protect the durability of future engines
(3) Enhanced protection of the in-use fleet during real world customer usage, i.e., provides backward compatibility to service older engine designs.
More specifically, ILSAC GF-4 oils must include the following improvements:
1. A reduction of the effects of poisoning of catalyst and emission system components to meet the Federal Regulation for the 2004 MY Tier 2, Bin 5 vehicles. One of the most demanding requirements of this regulation is a limit of 0.07 gm/mile NOx at 120,000 miles. The levels of phosphorus and sulfur commonly used in current GF-3 oils have been shown to damage catalysts
2. Low temperature rheological properties of used engine oils that have been stressed in high temperature, high load operation must be controlled to reduce the possibility of field failures due to inadequate low temperature pumpability.
3. An increase in fuel economy and an increase in both FEI retention and durability, relative to GF-3. This is needed to provide reduction in CO2 emissions while allowing a vehicle sales mix desired by the customer.
4. Improved robustness during high temperature, high load operation to improve piston ring belt cleanliness and control of nitration and oxidation. This is needed because the higher power density and higher speeds in modern engines put higher stress on the oil. Failure to control piston ring belt deposits causes high oil consumption and increases exhaust emissions. Failure to control nitration and oxidation could lead to unacceptable viscosity increase leading to engine failure.
If this draft is ultimately adopted as part of API 1509, it is anticipated that the first use of this Standard as the basis for API licensing of the Certification Mark will be no later than July 2004, with discontinued use of the ILSAC GF-3 Standard as the basis for licensing to follow no later than April 2005.
--end quote--
http://api-ep.api.org/filelibrary/ILSAC GF-4 Request for Comments 8-4-03.pdf
Expect to see new GF-4 and API Service Category SM oils between July 2004 and April 2005, and required for Model Year 2005 vehicles. ILSAC includes representatives only from U.S. and Japanese car makers as well as oil industry people. API will develop Service Category SM from the ILSAC proposal in conjunction with European makers as well as U.S. and Asian makers.
Ken
[ August 06, 2003, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: Ken2 ]
Beginning in March 2002, the ILSAC/Oil Committee was convened to develop the next generation ILSAC Standard in accordance with the procedures within API Publication 1509 – Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS). The ILSAC/Oil Committee is comprised of representatives from the international automakers and oil and additive marketers. These meetings have been open to all interested parties, who have also contributed their expertise to the discussions. During discussions, the following was adopted as the “Needs Statement” and served as the basis for developing the draft ILSAC GF-4 Standard: ILSAC GF-4 is needed as a minimum performance standard providing for the protection of emission systems to meet the 2004 MY Tier 2, Bin 5 emissions limits, and also providing:
(1) Improved fuel economy, and fuel economy retention
(2) Improved robustness of engine oil to protect the durability of future engines
(3) Enhanced protection of the in-use fleet during real world customer usage, i.e., provides backward compatibility to service older engine designs.
More specifically, ILSAC GF-4 oils must include the following improvements:
1. A reduction of the effects of poisoning of catalyst and emission system components to meet the Federal Regulation for the 2004 MY Tier 2, Bin 5 vehicles. One of the most demanding requirements of this regulation is a limit of 0.07 gm/mile NOx at 120,000 miles. The levels of phosphorus and sulfur commonly used in current GF-3 oils have been shown to damage catalysts
2. Low temperature rheological properties of used engine oils that have been stressed in high temperature, high load operation must be controlled to reduce the possibility of field failures due to inadequate low temperature pumpability.
3. An increase in fuel economy and an increase in both FEI retention and durability, relative to GF-3. This is needed to provide reduction in CO2 emissions while allowing a vehicle sales mix desired by the customer.
4. Improved robustness during high temperature, high load operation to improve piston ring belt cleanliness and control of nitration and oxidation. This is needed because the higher power density and higher speeds in modern engines put higher stress on the oil. Failure to control piston ring belt deposits causes high oil consumption and increases exhaust emissions. Failure to control nitration and oxidation could lead to unacceptable viscosity increase leading to engine failure.
If this draft is ultimately adopted as part of API 1509, it is anticipated that the first use of this Standard as the basis for API licensing of the Certification Mark will be no later than July 2004, with discontinued use of the ILSAC GF-3 Standard as the basis for licensing to follow no later than April 2005.
--end quote--
http://api-ep.api.org/filelibrary/ILSAC GF-4 Request for Comments 8-4-03.pdf
Expect to see new GF-4 and API Service Category SM oils between July 2004 and April 2005, and required for Model Year 2005 vehicles. ILSAC includes representatives only from U.S. and Japanese car makers as well as oil industry people. API will develop Service Category SM from the ILSAC proposal in conjunction with European makers as well as U.S. and Asian makers.
Ken
[ August 06, 2003, 08:55 AM: Message edited by: Ken2 ]
