Delay in development of PC-11 and GF-6 engine oils


PC-11 and GF-6 engine oils developments are likely to be delayed.

Originally intended to be in use by 1st April 2016 and 1st January 2017 respectively, the PC-11 deadline is likely to be delayed by three to six months. This will also impact on the GF-6 specifications because oil marketers require at least a nine-month separation between the two categories.

According to Lube Report, the delay has apparently been caused by the American Petroleum Institute's (API) New Category Development Team's review of the status of the engine sequence tests that are needed for PC-11, as well as a proposal for three new engine tests.

Passenger Car Motor Oil (PCMO) test development work is also behind schedule, while new lower viscosity oils have presented an additional challenge to the specification development processes.