As Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) continue to strive for increased fuel economy and compliance with emission regulations, needs for new motor oil standards arise.
To increase fuel economy and power, many OEMs began using Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engines, some of which are susceptible to the Low Speed Pre-Ignition (LSPI) phenomenon. Motor oils can be reformulated to help prevent LSPI, and the American Petroleum Institute (API) made the decision in 2017 to introduce a supplemental service category (API SN PLUS) to address this need while the new ILSAC GF-6 standard was developed. The ILSAC GF-6 standard includes SAE 0W-16, addresses LSPI, protection against timing chain wear, improved cleanliness and fuel economy enhancements.
ILSAC has always tried to make its standards “evergreen,” which means they are backward-compatible. What that means is when a new standard is activated, the previous standard becomes obsolete, so the latest standard meets the needs of both new and prior engine technologies.
Additionally, previous ILSAC standards (such as GF-5) did not include the SAE 0W-16 viscosity grade which will become more prevalent in the future. This new SAE 0W-16 viscosity is not intended for use in most older engines, as most older engines are not equipped to operate with a lubricant at such a low viscosity. For this reason, ILSAC determined the need for an ILSAC GF-6A standard, which is backward-compatible, and an ILSAC GF-6B standard, which is ONLY for SAE 0W-16. Oils meeting the GF-6B standard are NOT backward-compatible (unless specified by an OEM), and this distinction is noted clearly on motor oil labels.