American Petroleum Institute and GF-5

What role does API play in GF-5?

The American Petroleum Institute (API) is the primary trade organization representing the oil and natural gas industry. While the API serves many functions for the engine oil industry, one of the most important is the role it plays in licensing standards to help consumers select the most appropriate oil for their passenger car engines.

API contributes to the passenger vehicle motor oil specification process by working with the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) through a joint committee of ILSAC and Oil called ILSAC/OIL, to verify the need for a specification change.

API, which has representatives from oil marketers and additive companies, provides 50% of the joint committee members. The API Licensing Committee (API LC) jointly sets the number of members with ILSAC.

The API works with equipment manufacturers, oil marketers, additive companies, and testing laboratories to help create these engine oil standards. Together, these industry representatives establish service classifications or categories and decide on the performance requirements for oils within each category. These groups are also involved in establishing the tests to measure performance and physical properties of oils.

API's Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) is a process used by qualifying engine oil marketers to enable use of vital package labeling denoting API certification. EOLCS also includes the Aftermarket Audit Program (AMAP), which ensures products displaying API's symbols are compliant. This system helps consumers select certified oils best suited to their vehicle engines. This system is described in the Engine Oils Publications section of the API website at http://www.api.org/certifications/engineoil/pubs/index.cfm.

Another important role of the API is providing administrative support for the ILSAC/OIL committee. API members help fund the committee's activities through payment of licensing fees.