The API Engine Oil Aftermarket Audit Program -Three Year Cumulative Report

The history and scope of the API Engine Oil Licensing and Aftermarket Audit Program is presented along with the analysis of 1518 samples of Passenger Car Motor Oils (PCMO) and Heavy Duty Diesel Engine Oils (DEO) purchased over the past three years in retail markets in the United States and various other countries. The samples represent oils licensed to display the API Certification Mark and/or the API Service Symbol containing one or more of the following designations: SG, SH, SJ, CD, CF, CF-2, CF-4, CG-4. The samples were audited for physical and chemical conformance to API licensing criteria; compliance to performance requirements in engine and bench tests; and container labeling conformity to API criteria. This paper describes the licensing and auditing methodology used, and presents the results of this monitoring and enforcement function that forms the basis of API's Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System.