Additive producers form lubricant category testing work group

The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) Product Approval Protocol Task Group (PAPTG) has formed a Lubricant Category Testing Work Group (LCTWG) to initiate projects to examine the economic benefits and technical effectiveness of lubricant additive performance tests in future passenger car motor oil (PCMO) and heavy-duty diesel oil (HDD) industry standards. The ACC PAPTG is comprised of nine petroleum additive producers.

According to ACC PAPTG representative James Booth from Chevron Oronite, who presented the ACC PAPTG liaison report to ASTM International Subcommittee D02.B on automotive lubricants last week in Bellevue, Wash., U.S.A., discussions between LCTWG and the ASTM Technical Guidance Committee (TGC) regarding ASTM processes on materials substitution have led the latter to consider how to address inconsistency in test procedure language, and to develop a process for establishing material equivalency. During the ASTM Test Monitoring Center (TMC) Executive Committee, ACC PAPTG presented a recommendation that ASTM develop written general guidelines on its processes for supplying fuels and critical parts.

TGC is a standing committee under the ASTM TMC Executive Committee, whose membership is primarily made up of chairmen from surveillance panels, test developers and hardware suppliers for tests that are part of the ASTM Test Monitoring System. Generally, the TGC advises and assists in technical matters concerning test procedures.