Pennzoil - 91778 Veracruz

As Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) continue to strive for increased fuel economy and compliance with emission regulations, there becomes a need for new ILSAC standards.

To increase fuel economy, many OEMs have also begun using Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engines, 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 work on ILSAC GF-6 was being completed. The ILSAC GF-6 standard includes SAE 0W-16, addresses LSPI and includes protection against timing chain wear. 

ILSAC has always tried to make its standards “evergreen,” which means they are backward-compatible, so when a new standard is activated, the previous standard becomes obsolete. That means 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 0W-16 viscosity grade which will become more prevalent in the future. However, the new SAE 0W-16 viscosity grade has not been specified for 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 will NOT be backward-compatible unless specified by an OEM, and this distinction will be noted clearly on eligible Pennzoil Platinum motor oil labels.