The new improved lubricant standards for the latest engine technology go into effect on 31 March 2025

Engine technology continues to change and improve, requiring engine oil enhancements to meet the demands of modern vehicles.
That’s where GF (Gasoline Fuelled) standards come in – every five to seven years a new series of sequence tests or standards are introduced to measure engine oil performance parameters.
The latest standards take effect 31 March 2025. Implemented by ILSAC (International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee), GF-7A and GF-7B specifications help improve fuel efficiency, timing chain wear, deposits, thermal stability and more.
Valvoline says the good news for its customers is that its current GF-6 engine oils not only will be upgraded to meet GF-7 standards, but they also exceed them, providing “exceptional performance and protection against the four main causes of engine breakdown: wear, friction, heat and deposits.”

The new GF-7 standards, effective 31 March 2025
New lubricant standards are going from GF-6 to GF-7, calling for more stringent engine oil protection and performance levels in numerous areas, including:
• Fuel economy and fuel economy retention
• Engine durability
• Wear protection
• Low-speed pre-ignition reduction in both new and aged oils
• Piston cleanliness
• Timing chain wear protection
GF-7 continues the A and B sub-specifications started first with the 2020 GF-6 upgrade.
The GF-7A designation applies to all grades 0W-20 and heavier. It is backward compatible to all previous GF-6A, GF-5 and older specifications.
The GF-7B designation applies to all SAE 0W-16 viscosity products and is backward compatible to GF-6B only.
The ILSAC GF-7A and GF-7B industry standards contain several upgrades to the existing engine series tests.
The Sequence IIIH (Deposit Test), Sequence VIE (Fuel Economy) and Sequence X (Timing Chain Wear) are increasing the performance limits a baseline lubricant must pass.
Thanks to Valvoline’s dedicated internal Engine Lab (the only engine lab of any major oil brand), Valvoline says it is capable of running these required tests to ensure Valvoline not only meets the standards but exceeds them.
It says this allows Valvoline to provide products that go above and beyond just the basic standard of protection.
Valvoline notes that engine oils are not allowed to claim GF-7 / API SQ specifications until 31 March 2025, stating that it expects to quickly bring to market GF-7 qualified products to meet new vehicle needs and will communicate conversion timelines closer to product launch dates.

For more from Valvoline, visit www.valvolineglobal.com.au