F+L Webcast

In Episode 51 of F+L Webcast, host Vicky Villena-Denton spoke with Darryl Purificati, senior technical advisor for OEM and automotive for Petro-Canada Lubricants, an HF Sinclair brand. With more than 30 years of experience in the energy sector, Purificati recently concluded a three-and-a-half-year term as chair of the American Petroleum Institute (API) Lubricants Group. Based in Washington, D.C., the API represents nearly 600 corporate members across the oil and natural gas industry. These members include producers, refiners, suppliers, pipeline operators, marine transporters, and service companies.  The API Lubricants Group is responsible for the oversight of engine oil standards. This group operates as a consensus-based body, bringing together oil marketers, additive companies, and automotive manufacturers (OEMs) to coordinate technical requirements and performance specifications. The group's core mandate is to manage API 1509, which outlines the processes for the Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS).  The chair of the API Lubricants Group must act as a negotiator between stakeholders with competing technical and commercial interests. These include automotive manufacturers (OEMs) seeking fuel efficiency, longer drain intervals, and engine durability; additive companies providing the technology; and oil marketers focused on production and distribution. Purificati emphasised the importance of API 1509. This document maintains performance standards for both light-duty passenger cars and heavy-duty engine oils. The Starburst symbol represents the International Lubricant Specification Advisory Committee (ILSAC) standards, while the Donut indicates the API viscosity grade and performance level. Beyond setting specifications, API manages the Aftermarket Audit Program (AMAP), which samples products in the global marketplace to ensure they deliver the performance promised on the label.  Purificati’s leadership term began as the industry was navigating the introduction of ILSAC GF-6. During his tenure, he helped shepherd the industry through the transition to GF-7 and the initial development of GF-8. While GF-6 was a highly complex category involving numerous engine tests, GF-7 was fast-tracked to meet industry needs. Originally, the next major upgrade was targeted for 2028, but the industry opted to split the development timeline. GF-7 was released with a first licensing date of March 2025 as an upgrade to GF-6.GF-8 is currently in development and represents a more significant performance step forward, targeted for 2028.A major focus of Purificati’s chairmanship was PC-12, the 12th proposed category for heavy-duty engine oils. Developing a new category is a massive undertaking, often taking five to seven years and requiring substantial investment due to the complexity of heavy-duty engine tests. Purificati confirmed that the API Lubricants Group voted to ballot three critical items for PC-12 in Houston, Texas, U.S.A., in December 2025: User language: Ensuring the category description accurately represents the standard.Adoption of specification: Formal acceptance of the standard as drafted.First license date: The proposed first licensing date is January 1, 2027.Results of the ballot will be discussed at the next API Lubricants Group Meeting in February 2026 in San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A. Once approved and implemented, the working title PC-12 will be officially known in the market as API CL-4 and API FB-4. The primary technical difference between the two lies in their High Temperature High Shear (HTHS) viscosity, which determines the oil's film thickness and its fuel efficiency. CL-4 is designed to provide robust protection and durability for existing heavy-duty engines. Unlike CL-4, low HTHS oils like FB-4 are designed for newer engine architectures and may not be backward compatible with all older equipment.