ILMA Compoundings – October 2019 - 16

INDUSTRY RUNDOWN

The Move Is on to ILSAC
GF-6: Are You Ready?
By Martin Birze
Before you know it, it'll be May 1, 2020, the date
slated for the first licensing of ILSAC GF-6. If you're
an oil marketer, you should be well on your
way in developing products for this important
category upgrade. For those who might be lagging
behind, there's still time, but the clock is ticking.
Understanding what's driving this change and what
meeting the new standard entails may help you
speed the development process along.
IT'S ALL ABOUT EFFICIENCY
As stricter environmental regulations around the world drive
OEMs to make significant changes in vehicle hardware, it's
important to note that the only way to reduce the amount
of carbon dioxide coming out of a tailpipe is to reduce
the amount of fuel that is burned. Simply put, that means
increasing efficiency, which has led to engine downsizing,
gasoline direct-injection (GDI) engines, turbocharging and
gasoline particulate filters (GPF). To meet the demands of
these existing and next-generation engines, the industry is
relying on oil manufacturers to engineer higher-performance
lubricants that aid in fuel economy, provide emission system
compatibility, protect against low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI)
and provide cleanliness by fighting turbocharger deposits.
PREPARE TO PASS SEVEN TESTS
The move from ILSAC GF-5/API SN PLUS to ILSAC GF-6
represents a significant bolstering of performance characteristics. To meet the ILSAC GF-6 specifications, an oil must
pass seven challenging tests, six of which are completely new.
These include tests for fuel economy, LSPI, chain wear, sludge
and varnish, oxidation and deposits, wear, and corrosion.
Adding further complexity to the upgrade process is the fact
that there will be two separate specifications: ILSAC GF-6A
for all legacy viscosity grades and ILSAC GF-6B for 0W-16
viscosity-grade motor oils.
TURN CHALLENGES INTO OPPORTUNITIES
This mandatory upgrade presents the perfect opportunity
to reevaluate your portfolio of products and to look for
ways to boost cost-savings and profitability. Find healthier

OCTOBER 2019

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

formulation and operational strategies to improve your
bottom line. Explore covering multiple applications with
fewer SKUs. Use this time to optimize your brand's mainline
offering, better differentiate higher-tier products for a value
gain and capitalize on the growing synthetic market.
FIND THE NEW BALANCE
When developing formulations for ILSAC GF-5, it was
essential to find the right balance between fuel economy and
deposit control. For ILSAC GF-6 products, LSPI protection
is also required, making it critical to find the right balance of
all three of these important performance characteristics.
STREAMLINE AND SIMPLIFY
While change is not always easy, it does give you a new reason
to look for solutions that will give you greater flexibility
and more choices in your base oils. And for the additional
chemistry needed to achieve ILSAC GF-6 specs, don't saddle
your business with overcomplicated formulations. Simplify
processes by finding cost-effective solutions that use as few
additives and viscosity modifiers as possible.
STAY RELEVANT AND PROTECT YOUR BRAND
Consumers have an expectation that their motor oil will
meet the latest performance standards to protect their
investment. So, keep in mind that current ILSAC GF-5
licenses will expire on May 1, 2021, and API SN PLUS will
not satisfy all of the performance needs of ILSAC GF-6. To
protect the rapidly growing population of T/GDI-equipped
vehicles, as well as your company's reputation, you need to
be prepared.
Fortunately for any oil marketers that still have work to
do, there are industry partners with the chemical, formulation and testing expertise needed to get caught up. Find the
one that's right for your business, and do it sooner rather
than later. It's the best way to avoid any hiccups and delays
when it's time for solutions to hit the shelves next year.
Birze is business manager, consumer engine lubricants,
Americas, at Lubrizol Additives.

http://www.ILMA.ORG

ILMA Compoundings – October 2019

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