ILSAC oil specifications
ILSAC is the U.S.–Japanese vehicle-manufacturer group that defines minimum performance and fuel-economy requirements for passenger-car gasoline engine oils. Its GF categories are used with the API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS). An ILSAC claim is not a vehicle-manufacturer approval and does not replace the viscosity grade, oil-performance level, or any OEM-specific requirement stated in the owner’s manual.
ILSAC oils may carry API quality marks. The API Certification Mark, commonly called the Starburst, identifies an API-licensed oil meeting current ILSAC GF-7A requirements. The API Shield identifies an API-licensed ILSAC GF-7B oil and, at present, is used only for SAE 0W-16 oils. The API Service Symbol, or Donut, separately identifies the API service category and viscosity grade. API SQ with the Resource Conserving designation corresponds to ILSAC GF-7A; an API SQ claim by itself does not necessarily establish an ILSAC GF-7A claim. See the related American Petroleum Institute page for API category and mark context.
Current and transitional categories
| ILSAC category | Status on August 13, 2026 | Scope and principal changes |
|---|---|---|
| GF-7A | Current | Introduced in March 2025. It adds protection against fresh- and aged-oil low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI), improved timing-chain-wear protection, improved piston and turbocharger deposit control, sludge and varnish control, fuel economy, emissions-system protection, low-temperature pumpability, and protection for engines operating on ethanol-containing fuels up to E85. It is the current mainstream ILSAC category and is back-serviceable where earlier GF categories are specified, subject to the vehicle manufacturer’s viscosity and other requirements. |
| GF-7B | Current | Introduced in March 2025. It provides the GF-7 performance package for SAE 0W-16 oils and is identified by the API Shield when API licensed. It is intended only where the vehicle manufacturer specifies the applicable low-viscosity oil; it is not a substitute for a heavier grade merely because it is a newer category. See The SAE 16 Viscosity Grade. |
| GF-6A | Transitional; obsolete October 1, 2026 | Introduced in May 2020. GF-6A added LSPI and timing-chain-wear protection, stronger high-temperature deposit, sludge and varnish control, fuel economy, emissions-system protection, and E85 compatibility. Where GF-6A is specified, API directs users to GF-7A, while retaining the manufacturer’s required viscosity grade and any OEM approval. |
| GF-6B | Transitional; obsolete October 1, 2026 | Introduced in May 2020 for SAE 0W-16 oils. Where GF-6B is specified, API directs users to GF-7B. The distinction between the A and B categories remains important because viscosity suitability is vehicle-specific. |
Historical categories
| ILSAC category | Historical API relationship | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| GF-5 | Introduced with the API SN generation in 2010. It strengthened high-temperature piston-deposit and turbocharger protection, sludge control, fuel economy, emissions-system and seal compatibility, and protection for engines using ethanol-containing fuels up to E85. | Obsolete. API identifies GF-7A as the current replacement where GF-5 is recommended. |
| GF-4 | Associated with the API SM generation and introduced in 2004. It continued the focus on fuel economy, deposit control, wear protection, and emissions-system compatibility. | Obsolete. API identifies GF-7A as the current replacement where GF-4 is recommended. |
| GF-3 | Associated with the API SL generation and introduced in 2001. It increased emphasis on oxidation resistance, deposit protection, fuel-economy retention, and low-temperature performance. | Obsolete. API identifies GF-7A as the current replacement where GF-3 is recommended. |
| GF-2 | Associated with the API SJ generation and introduced in 1996. It built on GF-1 with improved wear, volatility, oxidation, and fuel-economy performance. | Obsolete. API identifies GF-7A as the current replacement where GF-2 is recommended. |
| GF-1 | Associated with the API SH generation; first issued in 1990 and revised in 1992. It established the early ILSAC gasoline-oil framework, including fuel-economy and emissions-system-related considerations. | Obsolete. API identifies GF-7A as the current replacement where GF-1 is recommended. |
Compatibility and label reading
For gasoline engines, the current ILSAC category incorporates the performance intent of earlier GF categories. In general, GF-7A can service applications that call for GF-1 through GF-6A, and GF-7B can service GF-6B applications. This does not override a required SAE viscosity grade, a manufacturer-specific approval, a special high-temperature/high-shear requirement, or instructions for engines not designed for an ILSAC oil.
Always verify the current vehicle manufacturer documentation before selecting an oil. This is particularly important for SAE 0W-16 applications, turbocharged engines, hybrid engines, and vehicles that specify a manufacturer approval rather than, or in addition to, an ILSAC category. For more on the API gasoline categories that accompany these specifications, see API Engine Oil Service Category Charts.