Shell Helix Ultra is API Service Category SQ ready for March 31, 2025

Shell Helix Ultra is now ready to meet the API Service Category SQ, one of the first passenger car motor oils (PCMO) to meet the API SQ specification. The first allowable licensing date of API SQ set by the American Petroleum Institute (API) is March 31, 2025.

The newly upgraded Shell Helix Ultra range ensures 100% engine power retention and better protection against challenges such as low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) and the elevated pressures and temperatures found in modern engines, particularly those equipped with turbocharged gasoline direct injection (TGDI) technology. Drivers can expect improved responsiveness, increased engine power, and better fuel efficiency, even under demanding conditions.

Shell’s exclusive PurePlus Technology, which produces a 99.5% base oil from natural gas, has further enhanced the product’s capabilities. Independent tests reveal that the updated formula can increase engine power by up to 1.8%, improve responsiveness by up to 3.4%, and boost fuel efficiency by up to 4%, according to Shell.

Jason Wong, Shell’s global executive vice president for Lubricants, stated, “Shell Helix Ultra is the #1 brand in the passenger car lubricants market globally. Now, we’re raising the bar further with our new products ready to meet the 2025 API SQ standard. This milestone demonstrates our commitment to innovation and technology leadership, helping drivers unleash more power from their engines and achieve better fuel efficiency.”

Global sales of the new Shell Helix Ultra products will begin on March 31, 2025.