ILMA Compoundings November 2017 - 26

Definitions
procedure. These include lowering the
sulphur in the fuel to 130 parts per
million (ppm) plus 10 ppm to reduce
the corrosive nature of the test and
increasing the initial oil charge level
from 2,400 milliliters (ml) to 3,000
ml. A new prove out matrix will be
run by the San Antonio labs, which
will hopefully allow the test precision
matrix to be run. The target is now to
approve the Sequence IVB test as an
ASTM standard between December
2017 and January 2018.
The Sequence IVB could be the
formulation-defining test for ILSAC
GF-6. Unfortunately, the fact that it
most likely will be the last test to be
completed puts incredible pressure on
the technical demonstration period,
which is when additive companies
optimize their technology around the
new tests and test conditions.
SEQUENCE IIIH
The Sequence IIIH lab-severity task
force has been working to address the
mild viscosity increase trend seen with
the batch 4 pistons. A new batch of pistons has been ordered, and it is hoped
that this will help the Sequence IIIH
test get back on track, with analysis of
the new batch 5 beginning in November. Time is pressing here, with the
BOI/VGRA matrix waiting to approve
the BOI/VGRA interchange guidelines
for the new API SN Plus supplement.
SEQUENCE VIE AND SEQUENCE VIF
Industry will validate that adequate
hardware will be available to support
the API SN Plus supplement and
ILSAC GF-6 for the Sequence VIE
and VIF tests. For Sequence VIE, the
work to validate the new short blocks
is complete. However, the test cannot
be used for licensing until limits have
been established for meeting ILSAC
GF-5 requirements; a separate Category Life Oversight Group (CLOG)
activity is in place to develop these
limits. Validation of the Sequence VIF

26

NOVEMBER 2017

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

ACC

American Chemistry Council

AOAP

Auto/Oil Advisory Panel

API

American Petroleum Institute

API LG

API Lubricants Group

ASTM

ASTM International - standard development organization

BOI

Base Oil Interchange

CLOG

Category Life Oversight Group

HDEOCP

Heavy-Duty Engine Oil Classification Panel

ILSAC

International Lubricants Standardization and Advisory Committee

PAP

Petroleum Additives Panel

PCEOCP

Passenger Car Engine Oil Classification Panel

VGRA

Viscosity Grade Read Across

hardware will be undertaken once the
Sequence VIE has been validated.
The Sequence VIF test is also
included for the SAE 0W-16 grade
requirements in the API SN Plus supplement. CLOG is also evaluating the
limits for ILSAC GF-5 and is utilizing
a designed matrix of oils, including
available reference data and data from
tests voluntarily funded by Oronite
and Infineum.

Base oil interchange and
viscosity grade read across
The BOI/VGRA task force has recommended a set of matrix designs to
establish read across in the Sequence
IIIH, IVB, VH, VIE, LSPI and Chain
Wear tests to API Lubricants Group
and ACC Petroleum Additives Panel,
who are funding the industry work.
The designs have met the funding
commitment put forward by ACC
and API, which includes additional
funding from API and from individual
ACC and API member companies.

The cost of the testing is estimated
at $5.96 million, not including the
funding of donated tests from laboratories running the tests. This is by far
the most money spent at one time on
read across for a new specification and
is a result of the number of new tests
being introduced and the rising cost of
engine tests.

Supplemental category
progressing
In August, the API Lubricants Group
agreed to accept and progress the
request for a new supplement to API
SN, which would offer LSPI protection without having to wait for the
full category upgrade. While original
equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
would like the supplement to become
effective by January 2018, this date
has not been agreed upon. ACC and
API oil marketers need to review the
supplement description and assess all
the steps needed to deliver it, including finalizing the test, establishing
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ILMA Compoundings November 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ILMA Compoundings November 2017
