API Certification Marks and Service Symbol

The API Certification Marks and Service Symbols are designed to clearly indicate oils that meet the performance requirements set by US and international vehicle and engine manufacturers and the lubricant industry.

From the first licencing date of March 31 2025, oils meeting the engine protection standard and fuel economy requirements of ILSAC GF-7A are licencable and must display the API Certification Mark also known as the 'Starburst'.

The API Certification Mark or ‘Starburst’

This 'Starburst' Mark cannot be applied to SAE 0W-16 viscosity grade oils.

From March 31 2026, oils meeting ILSAC GF-6A will no longer be eligible to display the API ‘Starburst’ and will no longer appear on the online EOLCS Directory. From this point, ILSAC GF-7A will provide the only basis for issuance of a licence to use the API ‘Starburst’.

From the first allowable use date, oils meeting the engine protection standard and fuel economy requirements of ILSAC GF-7B are licencable and must display the API Certification Mark also known as the ‘Shield’.

The API Certification Mark or ‘Shield’

This Certification Mark can only be applied to oils having a viscosity grade of SAE 0W-16.

From March 31 2026, oils meeting ILSAC GF-6B will no longer be eligible to display the API ‘Shield’ and will no longer appear on the online EOLCS Directory. From this point, ILSAC GF-7B will provide the only basis for issuance of a licence to use the API ‘Shield’.

API SQ category

Motor oils designed for cars, vans, and light trucks with gasoline engines fall under the API ‘S’ (Service) categories. Starting March 31 2025, API Service SQ may be licenced for use in the upper portion of the API Service Symbol also known as the ‘Donut’.

API Service Symbol or ‘Donut’

The SAE viscosity grade is shown in the center of the 'Donut'.

Oils meeting SQ with Resource Conserving requirements may be licenced to display ‘Resource Conserving’ in the lower portion of the API Service Symbol in conjunction with API Service SQ in the upper portion. The API SN PLUS designation is not currently included as a licencing option for API SQ oils as the performance requirements are redundant.

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