SAE ballot approves new ultra-low viscosity grade

A new ultra-low viscosity grade called SAE 16 was successfully balloted within the Fuel and Lubricants TC1 Engine Lubrication Committee of the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in June, according to the latest issue of Fuels & Lubes International.
However, due to some procedural hiccups — unfamiliarity with the new SAE online ballot process and confusion about the ballot deadline and TC1 voting membership — the result is being referred back to the committee for guidance.
“Ordinarily, a passing TC1 ballot would be referred to the SAE Fuels and Lubricants Council for a mandatory 28-day ballot, but we decided today to defer the decision to proceed, given the uncertainties with the ballot process,” says Michael Covitch, chairman of the SAE Fuel and Lubricants Engine Oil Viscosity Classification (EOVC) Task Force.
Covitch is a senior fellow at the Lubrizol Corp., based in Wickliffe, Ohio, U.S.A. The task force is responsible for SAE J300, the Engine Oil Viscosity Classification Surface Vehicle Standard.