Everything You Need To Know About GF-6 And API SP Motor Oil Standards
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AMSOIL’s synthetic motor oils meet or exceed the latest performance standards, such as GM dexos1 Gen 2, ILSAC GF-6, and API.
In this post we are going to talk about Everything You Need To Know About GF-6 And API SP Motor Oil Standards.
As the conditions in which your engine runs get worse, so do the demands on your motor oil. Because of this, oil specifications like ILSAC GF-6, API SP, and GM dexos1 Gen 2 need to be kept up-to-date.
The engine oil is put under more stress by new engine parts like turbochargers, direct injection, and variable valve timing (VVT). This, in turn, has led to stricter rules about what oil can and can’t do.
Here’s what we’ll talk about:
- How strict rules about gas mileage make engines work harder
- What does “low-speed pre-ignition” (LSPI) mean?
- How engine oil helps stop LSPI
- ILSAC GF-6, API SP, and GM dexos are some of the standards.
- Do AMSOIL’s synthetic motor oils meet the standards set by GM, ILSAC, and API?
Even after doubling the length of the industry-standard Sequence IIIH Engine Test, AMSOIL delivered exceptional performance. Watch now.
How strict rules about gas mileage make engines work harder
new stands help Improve fuel economy
In the United States, Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) standards call for a fleet-wide average of about 40 mpg by 2026.
To meet these requirements, the auto industry has focused on making engines that are smaller and use less gas. In fact, most new cars have either GDI (gasoline direct injection) or a turbocharger, or both (T-GDI).
Severe operating conditions
Smaller, more efficient engines that make the power and torque of larger displacement engines operate under harsher conditions can cause…
- Extreme engine knock, also referred to as low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI)
- A rise in engine temperature
- Defective fuel injectors
- If the oil is subpar, there will be increased wear and deposits.
LSPI, which can destroy pistons and connecting rods, is the biggest problem that is coming up with motor oil.
What does "low-speed pre-ignition" (LSPI) mean?
LSPI can cause pistons and rods to crack.
LSPI is when the mixture of fuel and air ignites on its own before the spark ignites it.
It is a different way to say pre-ignition. Pre-ignition, which is also called “engine knock,” has been around since the beginning of engines that burn fuel.
LSPI, on the other hand, happens at low speed and high torque, like when a T-GDI engine starts moving from a stoplight.
This can cause the fuel and air to burn too early in the combustion cycle, throwing off the timing of the engine.
As the piston moves up the cylinder, it hits the expanding combustion charge, which could break the pistons or connecting rods.
How engine oil helps stop LSPI
LSPI can be stopped with oil.
Experts think that this is because oil or fuel droplets or deposits in the cylinder sometimes catch fire. The heat in the droplets and deposits is enough to light the mixture of air and fuel before the spark-triggered ignition.
The way oil is made can help cut down on LSPI.
Some parts of motor oil can make LSPI worse, while others can help get rid of it. It’s tempting to think, “Well, just throw a bunch of LSPI-reducing ingredients into your formulas.” But over the years, some ingredients that help reduce LSPI have been taken out of motor oil for other reasons.
ILSAC GF-6, API SP, and GM dexos are some of the standards.
To meet these new needs, the next generation of motor oils must pass an LSPI test.
General Motors was the first company to have its own LSPI test for oils. On August 31, 2017, its GM dexos1 Gen 2 specs went into effect.
The most recent standard from the American Petroleum Institute (API), called API SP, went into effect in May 2020. The latest standard from the International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee, ILSAC GF-6, did the same thing. Most of the time, it looks like API specifications.
By splitting its specification into two parts, ILSAC has set a new trend in the market for motor oil for passenger cars. Compatibility.ns is one of the most important ways in which the two specifications are different.
Look at the table below. Both versions focus on preventing wear, stopping LSPI, and making the engine cleaner. But GF-6B has a more difficult test for fuel economy.
The API emblem on the front label of the package makes it easy to tell if an engine oil is ILSAC GF-6A or 6B. A shield means that the product meets the GF-6B standard, while the traditional starburst means that it meets the GF-6A standard.
Both of the ILSAC standards meet the industry standard API SP standard, which is usually found in owner’s manuals.
You don't need to worry to much about LPI
You don’t need to worry too much about LSPI right now.
The computer in your car is set up to avoid operating conditions that can cause LSPI. But running your engine in those conditions will help it use less gas.
Do AMSOIL's synthetic motor oils meet the standards set by GM, ILSAC, and API?
AMSOIL’s synthetic motor oils meet or exceed the latest industry standards, such as ILSAC GF-6, API SP, and GM dexos1 Gen 2.
Our synthetic motor oils are safe to use in engines that call for those specs.
In fact, the engine test required by GM’s dexos1 Gen 2 specification showed that AMSOIL gave 100 percent protection against LSPI.
*Based on independent testing of Signature Series 5W-30, XL 5W-30 and OE 5W-30 in the LSPI engine test as required for the GM dexos1® Gen 2 specification.
Why AMSOIL? Superior protection against wear, improved fuel economy and better performance under extreme temperatures. AMSOIL is the only oil that is able to last up to 25,000 miles. Save yourself time and money and protect your car or truck by using AMSOIL products. Your vehicle will last longer and you will lower your maintenance expenses. Protect your Honda, Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, Ford, Chrysler or any other vehicle with AMSOIL synthetic oil!
We advise you to consult your owners manual for proper fluid recommendations and to consult the appropriate repair manual for proper maintenance procedures and specs. Follow all appropriate safety practices. We are not responsible for misuse of products.