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Independent Lubricant Testing and Research |
The American Petroleum Institute (API) licenses marketers of engine oil
around the world the use of the API Service Symbol and the API
Certification
Mark. Engine oils displaying these marks are required to meet minimum
performance
standards as demonstrated by engine and bench tests. For passenger car
oils, the latest API service category is SM. The latest heavy-duty
service
category is CG-4. In addition, oils that demonstrate fuel economy
benefits
may be designated Energy Conserving.
A list of the tests required for all currently active API engine oil performance categories may be found in ASTM D 4485, the Standard Specification for Performance of Engine Oils. These tests were defined in accordance with the ASTM consensus process, with participation from oil, additive, automotive and general interest sectors. API's publication 1509, Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) describes the voluntary system and the roles of various independent organizations that are a part of the EOLCS.
Contact the API at http://www.api.org or at:
American Petroleum Institute
1220 L Street, Northwest
Washington, D.C. 20005
Telephone 202-682-8000
Fax 202-682-8154
The 'Starburst' Certification
Mark indicates
an oil has met the current
Minimum Performance Standard for Passenger Car Engine Oils issued by
the
International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee
(ILSAC).
ILSAC standards are a cooperative effort of the American Automobile
Manufacturers
Association (AAMA) and the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association,
Inc. (JAMA). The GF-4 standard corresponds to the API SM
category.
Work is now under way on new and revised tests for the next standard --
GF-5.
Contact AAMA at http://www.aama.com or at:
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