ILSAC oil specifications

ILSAC, the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee, was formed in 1992 by representatives of the AAMA (American Automobile Manufacturers Association, DaimlerChrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors Corporation) and JAMA (Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association) to define lubricant licensing and specification parameters. Together with the tripartite system (API, SAE, and ASTM), EOLCS, the Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System, was formed. ILSAC oils often carry the API Service Symbol (donut), including the Energy Conserving designation and/or API Certification (Starburst).

ILSAC GF-1
The ILSAC GF-1 standard indicates that the oil meets both API SH and Energy Conserving II (EC-II) requirements. It was created in 1990 and supplemented in 1992, and became the minimum requirement for oil used in American and Japanese cars.

ILSAC GF-2
ILSAC GF-2 replaced GF-1 in 1996. The oil must meet both API SJ and EC-II requirements. GF-2 standards require 0W-30, 0W-40, 5W-20, 5W-30, 5W-40, 5W-50, 10W-30, 10W-40 and 10W-50 motor oils to meet strict requirements for phosphorus content, low temperature operation, high temperature deposition and foam control.

ILSAC GF-3
ILSAC GF-3 oil must meet both API SL and EC-II requirements. The GF-3 standard has stricter parameters regarding the long-term impact of the oil on the vehicle's exhaust system, improved fuel economy and improved volatility, deposit control and viscosity. The standard also requires less additive degradation and reduced oil consumption rates over the life of the oil.

ILSAC GF-4
ILSAC GF-4 is similar to API SM service category, but requires the additional sequence VIB Fuel Economy Test (ASTM D6837).

ILSAC GF-5
Introduced in October 2010 for 2011 and older vehicles, designed to provide higher temperature deposit protection for pistons and turbochargers, more stringent sediment control, improved fuel economy, improved emission control system compatibility, gasket compatibility, and protection for ethanol-containing engines on fuels up to E85.

ILSAC GF-6
The ILSAC GF-6 specification is currently under development and will likely be split into two sub-specifications. ILSAC GF-6A is fully backward compatible with ILSAC GF-5 but would provide improved fuel economy, improved engine protection and improved performance while maintaining durability. ILSAC GF-6B would provide similar performance to ILSAC GF-5A but would allow for lower viscosity oils such as 0W-16, taking advantage of the fuel economy benefits of the new SAE 16 viscosity grade.

GF-6A - GF-6A attributes include:

Backward compatible with older engines
Improved durability to mitigate LSPI
Good fuel economy as measured by Sequence VIE
Covers SAE 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosity grades
Min HTHS = 2.6 for XW-20; Min HTHS = 2.9 for XW-30

GF-6B - GF-6B attributes include:

Not backward compatible with older engines
Improved durability to mitigate LSPI
Improved fuel economy as measured by Sequence VIF
Only covers visual SAE 0W-16, min HTHS = 2.3
For more information, visit gf-6.com.