Ready for the Future: ILSAC GF-7 Solutions from Chevron Oronite

In the drive to reduce emissions and fuel consumption, automotive OEMs worldwide are designing more efficient passenger car engines with more effective aftertreatment systems. As engines evolve, so must the lubricants they depend on for protection and smooth operation. With today’s smaller and more powerful engines, demand is growing among OEMs for lubricants that can withstand higher stresses, hotter temperatures, and tighter tolerances between moving parts.

The Automotive Oil Advisory Panel (AOAP) met on March 22, 2024, to finalize the new oil category ILSAC GF-7A and GF-7B for gasoline-powered internal combustion engines. In June 2024, the API Lubricants Group announced the new API SQ service category, replicating most ILSAC GF-7 standards without fuel economy tests. However, they have proposed the inclusion of ultra-low viscosity oils SAE 0W-8 and SAE 0W-12 to the API SQ service category. The first license date for both ILSAC GF-7 and API SQ is March 31, 2025.

Chevron Oronite, a global leader in passenger car motor oil additives, offers multiple solutions to support our customers for the timely launch of ISAC GF-7 and API SQ lubricants.

Drivers of Change

The ILSAC GF-7 specifications primarily address the need for improved fuel efficiency and durability in modern engines, aged oil Low Speed Pre-ignition (LSPI), and improved Weighted Piston Deposit (WPD) for the Model Year 2026 vehicle launches. The new spec introduces more exacting engine test requirements that call for:

• Tightening the limits of the Sequence VIE, Sequence IIIH, and Sequence X tests.
• Other improvements include a new oil MRV to a max of 40,000 cP, the introduction of four additional new seal tests, a new engine oil gelation test (EOGT), and a filterability test to better screen oils before field issues.
• The upgrade includes limiting the finished oil sulfated ash to 0.9wt% max.

Solutions

Chevron Oronite has been an active participant in the development of the ILSAC GF-7 standard, and we were the first additive marketer to announce a range of solutions for this new category. Delivering increased fuel economy to meet reduced emissions and protecting these engines to improve their durability became the primary focus as we started testing our current GF-6 additive technologies.

In extensive testing, Chevron Oronite’s products – OLOA® 55516, OLOA® 55600 and OLOA® 55603 – have proven to meet or exceed the more stringent GF-7 standards on all these measures.

Total Cost of Ownership

• Chevron Oronite’s solutions lowers Total Cost of Ownership, providing significant value to lubricant marketers. With any of Chevron Oronite’s current products – OLOA® 55516, OLOA® 55600, and OLOA® 55603 – our customers will be able to:
• Directly upgrade the current ILSAC GF-6/API SP final formulations to meet the new ILSAC GF-7 and API SQ categories.
• Claim ILSAC GF-7 on the dexos®1 Gen 3 approved final formulations.
• Extend current product lifecycles.
• Minimize the cost of change.
• Significantly reduce complexity.
• Immediately address OEM and end-user needs.

Our readiness means that our customers can transition smoothly, maintain their competitive edge, and advance their lower carbon goals. By leveraging our extensive global expertise and innovative technologies, we have become recognized as a trusted partner to lubricant marketers as they navigate the evolving PCMO standards.

Learn more about Chevron Oronite’s GF-7 readiness by contacting your local Oronite representative or visiting our GF-7 website.