ILSAC GF-7: Timing is Everything

At the recent Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association’s Annual Meeting - ILMA Engage 2023 – ILMA organizers invited Afton to provide an ILSAC GF-7 update at the conference. During the session, Ian Atherton, Americas PCMO Marketing Manager, led the discussion with an insightful presentation, fielding many questions from the attendees.

As the PCMO market leader in North America, Afton is keen to see the industry adopt a more efficient approach to new specification development, supporting the OEM need for advanced technology. The OEM proposal for ILSAC GF-7 addresses both industry needs, benefiting oil marketers, OEMs, and the consumer.

The current proposed staged change includes the introduction of API SP PLUS, followed by the 0W-8 & 0W-12 grades built into ILSAC GF-6B, and then the definition of GF-7 in 2028. Afton believes, instead, that a single meaningful upgrade to a more demanding GF-7 specification based on existing engine tests for 1Q25 is a more efficient, streamlined use of industry resources. This approach enables oil marketers to offer customers a defined upgrade in performance versus GF-6. The revised timing of the first licensing for GF-7 in 1Q25 also aligns with the extremely challenging EPA Greenhouse Gas emission standards. It will provide a meaningful contribution to OEM plans to meet those challenging standards with enhanced fuel efficiency and oil robustness.

View excerpts from Afton's presentation at ILMA Engage 2023 below.

 
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