ACEA Oil Sequences 2023

With growing concern over greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) countries have set stricter fuel economy regulations to reduce fuel consumption and emissions from road transport.

The newest combustion engines and those under development are optimised for the highest efficiency, which means achieving the lowest friction without compromising wear behaviour. To exploit the full fuel economy potential, engine oils with low viscosity, lower than the European market having 0W20 grades, are necessary.

ACEA’s Light-duty Lubricants Taskforce (TF-LDL) surveyed ACEA’s light-duty vehicle members. The result was a 0W16 grade oil usable for gasoline and diesel applications. Hence, the C7-23 oil category was formed. C7-23 is based on the C6-21 performance level. To formulate a C7-23, a viscosity adjustment down to the 0W16 grade is sufficient, with no need to change the base oil or develop a new formulation.

In the 2023 Sequence, the lifetime extension of the two Coordinating European Council (CEC) tests, L-111 and L-106, could be secured until 2028. A similar approach was reached on CEC L-099 (diesel wear test). This test was eliminated in the 2021 edition of the ACEA Light-duty Oil Sequence due to lifetime restrictions. Recently, the lifetime could be extended until at least 2027. ACEA’s light-duty members welcome the possibility of using the CEC L-099 for legacy oil categories (A3/B4, A5/B5, C2, C3, C4, and C5).

Periodically, ACEA publishes revisions to the Light-duty Oil Sequences to address engine developments driven by a combination of regulatory and performance needs, which are complemented by the necessary test maintenance requirements.