Europe's engine oil manufacturing trade body, ATIEL, has announced new Group III base oil interchange guidelines.
Based on the TU5 engine test for gasoline engines, the announcement is set to reduce the numer of tests need to validate alternative Group III base stocks regardless of supplier in engine oil formulation.
The latest interchange guidance is published in an amended Appendix B of the ATIEL's Code of Practice and is based on collaboration of a number of Group III producers to provide data and analysis of the CEC L-088-02 test, also known as TU5JP-L4, based on the Peugeot engine.
According to ATIEL Committee Chairman, Adri van de Ven, "Having a robust interchange guideline avoids costly and unnecessary engine testing each time a new source or type of Group III base stock is used in a lubricant formulation."
Although other tests will still be required to satisfy ACEA standards for high performence sequences, this latest enhancement means that despite process and production variations, the new guidelines will ensure consistent formulations regardless of the base oil source.
In order to fulfil requirements, the Group III base oils must be manufactured in accordance with the Code of Practice, part of the European Lubricants Quality Management system (EELQMS) which has approval from ACEA, the Euro carmakers' trade body. The interchange guidelines cover A/B and C sequences.