The American Petroleum Institute (API) has proposed a first licensing date of May 1, 2018 for API SN Plus, Kevin Ferrick, API’s senior manager, EOLCS/DEF/MOM, told ASTM International last week in Houston, Texas, U.S.A.

ILSAC GF-6 development delays have resulted in a request from 10 automakers to come up with a supplemental standard to the current API SN gasoline engine oil spec to address low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) problem in turbocharged direct injection gasoline engines.

The addition of the Sequence IX LSPI test to API SN and modified Donuts, which have been approved and are shown here, are the only direct changes being made in this supplemental category called API SN Plus.

Ferrick told F&L Asia that the API Lubricants Group is currently balloting the proposed first licensing date.

The following is the proposed “user language” for API SN Plus:

API Service Category SN engine oils that also carry the classification SN PLUS are formulated to provide API SN performance and additional protection against low-speed pre-ignition for turbocharged direct injection gasoline-powered vehicles.

 Starting May 1, 2018, oils that meet the requirements for API SN with SN PLUS or API SN with SN PLUS and Resource Conserving at the limit shown in Annex G, Table G-5, and are properly licensed may display “SN PLUS” or “Resource Conserving SN PLUS” in the lower portion of the API Service Symbol in conjunction with API SN in the upper portion.

 Oils that satisfy SN PLUS can also effectively lubricate engines calling for API SN. API SN with Resource Conserving, or ILSAC GF-5. API SN with SN PLUS and API SN with SN PLUS and Resource Conserving are also backward compatible to API Service Categories before API SN.