What You Need To Know About The New Family of ILSAC GF-6 Products

 

Starting May 1, 2020 passenger car motor oils will face a major change. A new standard called GF-6 (aka API SP) created by the ‘International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee’ (ILSAC) in close collaboration with the American Petroleum Institue (API) will be introduced. The new standard was designed from the ground up to overcome the challenges posed by new automotive technologies and replace the current GF-5 classification.

 

You may be wondering, why the ILSAC GF-6 standard is necessary and how it will affect Shell motor oils? That’s the topic of this article. We’ll give you a ‘bird-eye view’ of Shell’s new API SP motor oils and how your business can benefit from them in the short-term.

 

A full range of API SP compliant motor oils

 

If you distribute Pennzoil, Quaker State, or Formula Shell motor oils then you have nothing to worry about. Shell has been working hard to ensure that everything is ready by May 1, 2020, when the new ILSAC GF-6 standard for motor oil officially launches. Main Shell brands will count with a broad range of API SP compliant products to satisfy the passenger car sector.

 

Benefits common to all Shell motor oil brands

 

Since the new API SP service class supersedes the GF-5 standard it shares all benefits from current API SN and API SN Plus motor oil:

 

• Low temperature wear control
• High temperature wear control
• Superior corrosion protection
• Shear stability
• Catalyst compatibility
• Carbon deposits control
• E85 compatibility

 

Moreover, the new API SP motor oil exceeds the GF-5 standard in many areas offering enhanced properties such as:

 

• Better oxidation stability
• Enhanced combustion chamber cleanliness
• Superior sludge and varnish control
• Better fuel economy
• Fuel economy retention

 

Last but not least, newest Shell motor oils coming in May 2020 offer unique advantages required by the GF-6 standard:

 

• Timing chain wear control
• Low-speed pre-ignition control LPSI
• Lower viscosity grades

 

Shell brands give you total flexibility

 

The new API SP motor oil is fully compatible with legacy API SN PLUS, SN, SM, SL and SJ categories. Therefore, during 2020 many GF-5 motor oils will coexist with newer GF-6a and GF-b products. Meaning you can restock your inventory with API SP motor oil or continue distributing API SN and API SN Plus while it lasts. It’s up to you. What you can rest assured is that Shell will count with plenty of GF-6 compatible products. Each brand will start with a slightly different strategy regarding what viscosities will be available, but nonetheless each one will be prepared with the appropriate products based on their specific market.

 

 

API SP compliant Pennzoil motor oils

 

Pennzoil will offer a wider range of products, including the novel 0W-16 ILSAC GF-6b ultra-low viscosity motor oil as well as the low viscosity GF-6a capable 0W-20 motor oil.

 

Shell Viscosities	API SP Capable?	Resource Conserving Capable?	GF-6a Capable?	GF-6b Capable?
0W-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
5W-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
5W-30	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
10W-30	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
0W-16	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

 

 

 

API SP compliant Quaker State motor oils

 

The inclusion of the 0W-20 motor oil guarantees to count with a product ideal in cold weather areas, granting the brand a competitive catalogue for 2020-2021.

 

Shell Viscosities	API SP Capable?	Resource Conserving Capable?	GF-6a Capable?	GF-6b Capable?
0W-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
5W-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
5W-30	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
10W-30	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

 

API SP compliant Formula Shell motor oils

 

Initially, Formula Shell will only count with three API SP viscosities targeted at most common passenger cars and SUVs. All these products will replace API SN and API SN Plus motor oils used by newer vehicles.

 

Shell Viscosities	API SP Capable?	Resource Conserving Capable?	GF-6a Capable?	GF-6b Capable?
5W-20	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
5W-30	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
10W-30	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

 

Our commitment

 

At Dennison Lubricants we are committed to offering you the best products. Pennzoil, Quaker State, and Formula Shell are just some of the API SP motor oil brands we can offer you. Let us assist you during this transition, take advantage of the great opportunity that the GF-6 standard offers you this year. If you would like to learn more, you can also check out this informative FAQ from Pennzoil.

 

let us be your trusted advisor through this change contact us by using the form below or by calling 1-800-564-5142, or emailing info@denlube.com and our team will be more than happy to assist you.

 

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