Filing, certification and approval are different claims
A JASO on-file code records a filing under the relevant implementation system. It should not be relabelled as government approval or an OEM approval.
Reference noteKNOWLEDGE CENTRES
Five forces reshaping lubricant technology.
Independent technical analysis, practical frameworks and source-conscious reference material across specifications, circularity, formulation, emissions and packaging responsibility.
STRUCTURED FOR DECISIONS
Permanent knowledge, not a disappearing news stream.
Each centre connects technical detail with commercial consequence. Standards and regulatory entries carry dates, scope, status and primary-source links.
01KNOWLEDGE CENTRE
Asian Specifications Centre
JASO, Chinese standards and market-specific requirements, explained without collapsing unlike systems into one list.
2 articles5 records4 updates
Enter the centre →02KNOWLEDGE CENTRECircular Economy & RRBO Centre
Follow used lubricating oil from collection and segregation through re-refining, RRBO qualification and finished-lubricant performance.
12 articles5 records3 updates
Enter the centre →03KNOWLEDGE CENTREAdditive Performance Centre
Chemical similarity is not proof of finished-lubricant performance.
2 articles5 records3 updates
Enter the centre →04KNOWLEDGE CENTREEmissions & Future Technology Centre
Understand how emissions hardware, efficiency targets and new powertrains reshape lubricant chemistry.
2 articles5 records3 updates
Enter the centre →05KNOWLEDGE CENTRESustainable Packaging Centre
Product stewardship does not end with the lubricant formulation.
2 articles5 records3 updates
Enter the centre →CROSS-CENTRE LIBRARY
One search across the complete knowledgebase.
Search all five centres and filter between original articles, knowledge notes, database records and current official updates.
76 resourcesLatest updates are manually verified, not a live news feed.
Asian Specifications CentreAsian Specifications Centre Asian Specifications Centre Asian Specifications Centre Circular Economy & RRBO Centre Circular Economy & RRBO Centre Circular Economy & RRBO Centre Additive Performance Centre Additive Performance Centre Additive Performance Centre Emissions & Future Technology Centre Emissions & Future Technology Centre Emissions & Future Technology Centre Sustainable Packaging Centre Sustainable Packaging Centre Sustainable Packaging Centre Asian Specifications Centre
How the JASO engine-oil families differ
Motorcycle four-stroke, two-stroke and automotive diesel oils sit under different JASO standards, classifications and filing arrangements. They should never be treated as one specification ladder.
Read article →Asian Specifications CentreHow to read Chinese lubricant standards without false cross-equivalence
A Chinese standard number identifies a specific document and status. It is not enough to describe a product simply as meeting a generic ‘China specification’.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreUsed-oil quality begins at collection, not at the re-refinery
Segregation, storage and chain of custody determine whether a used-oil stream can become dependable re-refining feedstock.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreRRBO is not a finished-lubricant specification
Re-refined base oil can be a valuable formulation input, but origin alone does not establish the performance of the finished product.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreDesigning a ULO collection system that protects feedstock value
A practical architecture for linking generation points, authorised collection, segregated storage, transport and verified treatment without treating collection volume alone as proof of circularity.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreFrom generator to guard tank: chain of custody for ULO
A control framework connecting every physical load, sample, tank movement and processing record while explaining why mass balance alone cannot prove material identity.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreContamination triage for ULO: water, fuel, glycol, solvents and metals
A staged screening framework for safe unloading and feedstock routing that explains both the value and limitations of common laboratory tests.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreFeedstock sampling and acceptance specifications for re-refining
How to build a defensible incoming-feed specification covering representative sampling, analytical methods, decision rules, quarantine and supplier performance.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreWhat re-refining processes actually remove
Re-refining is a treatment train, not a single purification step. Pretreatment, distillation, extraction, adsorption and hydrogen finishing address different contaminant classes and create different residual streams.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreHow to qualify RRBO quality and consistency
A single certificate of analysis is a batch snapshot. Dependable RRBO procurement requires an intended-use specification, multi-batch evidence, process control, contamination screening and formal change management.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreFormulating finished lubricants with re-refined base stocks
RRBO can support technically sound finished lubricants, but it must enter the formulation through controlled base-stock qualification, current interchange rules and performance validation.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreUsed oil is not one legal category
Used-oil regulation changes across jurisdictions and across the material's journey. Collection, treatment, movement, end-of-waste status and finished-lubricant claims require separate evidence.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreCan an RRBO project make commercial sense?
No universal RRBO return exists. Viability depends on controlled feedstock, achieved yield, plant configuration, product quality, residue cost, customer qualification and contracted demand.
Read article →Circular Economy & RRBO CentreWhen is RRBO environmentally better?
RRBO can offer environmental benefits, but the result depends on the question, geography, process, energy system, allocation method, product performance and comparator.
Read article →Additive Performance CentreChemical similarity is not performance equivalence
Elemental analysis and compositional resemblance can support an investigation. They cannot replace application-relevant performance evidence.
Read article →Additive Performance CentreA practical additive-supplier qualification system
Qualification should connect technical evidence, manufacturing control, traceability and change management rather than rely on a one-time sample.
Read article →Emissions & Future Technology CentreFrom Euro 7 rule to lubricant question
Emissions legislation defines vehicle obligations. Lubricant consequences must be traced through hardware, calibration and OEM requirements rather than asserted directly from the regulation.
Read article →Emissions & Future Technology CentreLow-SAPS is a system-design choice, not a synonym for better oil
Ash, phosphorus and sulphur constraints protect emissions systems, but the finished oil must still balance wear, deposits, oxidation and durability.
Read article →Sustainable Packaging CentreWhat responsible lubricant packaging must protect
A lighter or more recyclable pack is not sustainable if it leaks, contaminates recycling streams or fails to protect product authenticity.
Read article →Sustainable Packaging CentreHow to compare lubricant packaging formats without misleading results
Bottles, pails, drums, IBCs, returnable packs and bulk delivery must be compared on the same service delivered, not package weight alone.
Read article →Always record the standard year
Category letters may remain visible across revisions while tests, chemical limits, reference materials and transition dates change.
Reference noteChina VI is an emissions regime, not a universal oil category
Lubricant implications depend on engine, aftertreatment and vehicle-maker requirements. They cannot be inferred from the emissions label alone.
Reference noteSegregation preserves recovery options
Keeping used lubricating oil separate from solvents, coolant and incompatible wastes protects feedstock value and reduces downstream risk.
Reference noteMass balance needs a declared boundary
A circular-content claim should identify the facility, accounting period, inputs, outputs, losses and allocation method.
Reference noteColour is not a complete RRBO quality measure
Colour can support consistency monitoring, but performance-relevant qualification requires a wider controlled property set.
Reference noteElemental similarity has a narrow conclusion
Similar calcium, magnesium, zinc, phosphorus or boron values do not disclose molecular architecture or prove finished-oil performance.
Reference noteMatching treat rate does not match capability
Equal dosage can produce different reserve, compatibility and performance when component concentration or chemistry differs.
Reference noteQualification expires when key assumptions change
Site, process, raw-material or specification changes may require risk review and targeted requalification.
Reference noteMark regulatory implications as inference
An emissions rule can drive hardware and calibration changes without directly specifying lubricant chemistry.
Reference noteSAPS is a constraint set, not an overall quality score
Suitability depends on the complete performance category, viscosity grade and equipment requirement.
Reference noteHybrid duty cycles can change lubricant stress
Frequent stops, cool operation, restart events and fuel dilution may alter priorities, but the exact response remains powertrain-specific.
Reference noteTechnically recyclable does not mean locally recycled
Collection rules, residual product, sorting and reprocessing infrastructure determine the real end-of-life route.
Reference notePCR percentage needs a basis
State whether recycled content is calculated by pack mass, component, product family or another defined boundary.
Reference noteRefill performance depends on return behaviour
Cleaning, reverse logistics, achieved reuse cycles, product compatibility and loss prevention decide the outcome.
Reference noteMotorcycles: Four-stroke cycle gasoline engine oils
Defines MA, MA1, MA2 and MB friction classifications. The 2023 revision changed eligibility, phosphorus and evaporation requirements, reference oils and friction materials.
- Identifier
- JASO T 903:2023
- Scope
- Japan and international filing system
- Status
- Current; display effective 1 Oct 2023
Two-stroke-cycle gasoline engine oils: Classifications
Covers FB, FC and FD performance. JSAE lists the 2026 revision as current, while JALOS transition arrangements from its 2024 implementation materials remain publicly unclear.
- Identifier
- JASO M 345:2026
- Scope
- Japan
- Status
- Revised Mar 2026; filing transition not clarified
Automotive diesel engine oil standard
Defines DH-1, DH-2, DH-2F, DL-0, DL-1 and DL-2. The 2024 revision changed reference oils used in fuel-economy and valve-train-wear testing.
- Identifier
- JASO M 355:2024
- Scope
- Japan and international filing system
- Status
- Current; display effective 1 Oct 2024
Gasoline engine oils
Mandatory Chinese national standard replacing the 2006 edition. Participation by vehicle manufacturers in drafting does not constitute OEM approval for individual products.
- Identifier
- GB 11121-2025
- Scope
- China
- Status
- Mandatory; effective 1 Jul 2026
Diesel engine oils
Mandatory Chinese national standard replacing the 2006 edition. Detailed categories should be taken from the licensed standard text, not secondary summaries.
- Identifier
- GB 11122-2025
- Scope
- China
- Status
- Mandatory; effective 1 Jul 2026
Technical Guidelines on Used Oil Re-Refining or Other Re-Uses of Previously Used Oil
International technical guidance on environmentally sound collection, handling, storage, treatment, re-refining and alternative uses. It is guidance, not a finished-lubricant specification.
- Identifier
- Basel technical guideline
- Scope
- International
- Status
- Adopted non-binding guidance
Waste Framework Directive: waste-oil provisions
Defines waste oils and regeneration. Article 21 addresses separate collection, regeneration priority and mixing that impedes regeneration or equivalent recycling.
- Identifier
- Directive 2008/98/EC
- Scope
- European Union
- Status
- In force; consolidated 16 Oct 2025
Best Available Techniques Reference Document for Waste Treatment
Covers waste reception, sampling, storage, oil-water separation and waste-oil re-refining alongside other treatment activities.
- Identifier
- Waste Treatment BREF
- Scope
- European Union
- Status
- Published reference document
Standards for the Management of Used Oil
US federal requirements for generators, collection points, transporters, processors, re-refiners, burners and marketers. Subpart F covers processors and re-refiners.
- Identifier
- 40 CFR Part 279
- Scope
- United States
- Status
- Current federal regulation
Guide for Characterizing Hydrocarbon Lubricant Base Oils
Identifies test methods for hydrocarbon base oils derived from crude refining and used-oil re-refining. It is a characterisation guide, not a finished-oil approval.
- Identifier
- ASTM D6074-15(2022)
- Scope
- International voluntary standard
- Status
- Active; reapproved 2022
Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System
Defines API's voluntary licensing framework, performance categories, quality marks, formulation controls and marketplace monitoring.
- Identifier
- API 1509, 24th Edition
- Scope
- API global licensing programme
- Status
- Current edition
ATC Code of Practice
Specifies engine-test procedures, registration, reference-oil practices, reporting and record keeping within the European quality system.
- Identifier
- ATC Code of Practice
- Scope
- European industry quality system
- Status
- Current version listed by ATC-ERC
ATIEL Code of Practice, Issue 26
Defines EELQMS development, manufacturing, claims, documentation and audit expectations, including a statement on re-refined base stocks.
- Identifier
- Issue 26
- Scope
- European industry quality system
- Status
- Current
Determination of Additive Elements by ICP-AES
Quantifies selected elements in unused oils and additive packages. It can support compositional checks but does not establish equivalent lubricant performance.
- Identifier
- ASTM D4951-14(2019)
- Scope
- International voluntary standard
- Status
- Active; reapproved 2019
Homogeneity and Miscibility in Automotive Engine Oils
Bench method for whether an engine oil remains homogeneous and miscible with specified reference oils after a temperature cycle. It is not a complete approval test.
- Identifier
- ASTM D6922-13(2025)
- Scope
- International voluntary standard
- Status
- Active; reapproved 2025
Euro 7 emissions and battery-durability regulation
Covers exhaust, evaporative, brake and tyre emissions, battery durability, vehicle lifetime and environmental data. It does not prescribe engine-oil formulation.
- Identifier
- Regulation (EU) 2024/1257
- Scope
- European Union
- Status
- In force
Limits and measurement methods for light-duty vehicle emissions (China 6)
Mandatory Chinese light-duty emissions standard. The official register identifies the standard as current and records its 2026 amendment.
- Identifier
- GB 18352.6-2016
- Scope
- China
- Status
- Mandatory; current and amended 2026
Limits and measurement methods for diesel heavy-duty vehicles (China VI)
Mandatory Chinese heavy-duty emissions standard covering engine and vehicle emissions requirements, included in the 2026 amendment package.
- Identifier
- GB 17691-2018
- Scope
- China
- Status
- Mandatory; current and amended 2026
ACEA Oil Sequences 2023: Light-duty engines
Includes aftertreatment-compatible C categories and introduced C7-23 for SAE 0W-16 through defined tests and limits.
- Identifier
- ACEA 2023 Light-Duty Sequences
- Scope
- European industry specification
- Status
- Latest light-duty edition located
Global Technical Regulations registry
Official UN registry including hydrogen and fuel-cell vehicle safety and in-vehicle battery-durability regulations. These are not lubricant specifications.
- Identifier
- UN GTR registry
- Scope
- United Nations
- Status
- Live official registry
Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation
EU rules on recyclability, minimisation, recycled content, reuse and EPR. Application, packaging classification, timing and exemptions must be checked before making product-specific claims.
- Identifier
- Regulation (EU) 2025/40
- Scope
- European Union
- Status
- In force; generally applies 12 Aug 2026
Commission guidance for Regulation (EU) 2025/40
Official non-binding guidance on manufacturer and producer roles, exemptions, reuse, minimisation and EPR. Binding interpretation remains with the Court of Justice.
- Identifier
- C/2026/3084
- Scope
- European Union
- Status
- Official non-binding guidance
Producer Responsibility Obligations for Packaging and Packaging Waste
UK rules covering producer classes, registration, reporting, recycling obligations, disposal fees and scheme administration.
- Identifier
- UK SI 2024/1332
- Scope
- United Kingdom
- Status
- In force as amended
Recyclability Assessment Methodology 2027
UK statutory guidance for relevant household packaging across collection, sorting, reprocessing and end-use application. Industrial lubricant packs may fall outside that household scope.
- Identifier
- RAM 2027
- Scope
- United Kingdom
- Status
- Published 1 Jul 2026; last updated 2 Jul 2026
UN Model Regulations for Dangerous Goods, Revision 24
Model transport-safety rules covering packaging and IBCs, including provisions involving recycled plastic in flexible IBCs. They do not prove recyclability or lifecycle benefit.
- Identifier
- UN Model Regulations Rev. 24
- Scope
- United Nations model rules
- Status
- Published; requires national implementation
China publishes new diesel-engine-oil change criteria
GB/T 7607-2026 will replace the 2010 edition when it takes effect on 1 February 2027.
Open primary source ↗Asian Specifications CentreNew Chinese gasoline-engine-oil standard takes effect
GB 11121-2025 replaced the 2006 edition on 1 July 2026.
Open primary source ↗Asian Specifications CentreNew Chinese diesel-engine-oil standard takes effect
GB 11122-2025 replaced the 2006 edition on 1 July 2026.
Open primary source ↗Asian Specifications CentreJSAE revises the JASO two-stroke test and classification series
JASO M 340, M 341, M 342, M 343 and M 345 were revised to 2026 editions. Public JALOS filing-transition details remain unresolved.
Open primary source ↗Circular Economy & RRBO CentreEPA updates business guidance on managing used oil
The updated guidance clarifies Part 279 application, specification used oil, storage, hazardous-waste mixtures and processing. State rules may be stricter.
Open primary source ↗Circular Economy & RRBO CentreATIEL Issue 26 adds a statement on re-refined base stocks
The code addresses re-refined base stocks in automotive engine oils and clarifies audit requirements. It does not create automatic approval for an RRBS-containing formulation.
Open primary source ↗Circular Economy & RRBO CentreBasel Convention adopts a revised Annex IV
The amendment identifies R9 as recycling or re-refining of used oil. It is scheduled to become effective on 1 January 2030.
Open primary source ↗Additive Performance CentreAPI publishes the 24th edition of API 1509
The current edition governs API engine-oil licensing, formulation controls, quality marks and marketplace monitoring.
Open primary source ↗Additive Performance CentreATC issues its June 2026 Code of Practice
ATC-ERC identifies the 1 June version as current. The code governs consistent engine-test operation, registration and reporting used in ACEA and EELQMS development work.
Open primary source ↗Additive Performance CentreAPI SQ and ILSAC GF-7 become current gasoline-engine categories
API's guide identifies SQ, GF-7A and GF-7B and describes added coverage including aged-oil LSPI, timing-chain wear and deposit protection.
Open primary source ↗Emissions & Future Technology CentreEU publishes Euro 7 rules for battery durability and low-temperature EV range
The 13 July implementing regulation was published on 22 July. It covers real-world battery-durability metrics, low-temperature BEV range, electrified-system power and related monitoring, but is not an EV-fluid specification.
Open primary source ↗Emissions & Future Technology CentreEU publishes Euro 7 brake-particle testing rules
The regulation establishes type-approval rules, test methods and conformity requirements for M1 and N1 brake-particle emissions. It has no direct engine-oil requirement.
Open primary source ↗Emissions & Future Technology CentreChina amends light- and heavy-duty emissions standards
MEE and SAMR approved mandatory amendments to GB 18352.6-2016 and GB 17691-2018, effective 1 May 2026.
Open primary source ↗Sustainable Packaging CentreUK updates the 2026 EPR packaging-data file rules
Operational guidance was updated for reporting closed-loop packaging waste in the 2026 file specification.
Open primary source ↗Sustainable Packaging CentreUK updates the Recyclability Assessment Methodology for 2027
Published on 1 July and updated on 2 July with a clarification, the methodology covers relevant household packaging. RAM 1.1 remains the method for 2026 reporting.
Open primary source ↗Sustainable Packaging CentreEuropean Commission publishes formal PPWR guidance
The non-binding notice provides the Commission's current interpretation ahead of the regulation's general application date.
Open primary source ↗EVIDENCE STANDARD
Clear about what is known, claimed and still unresolved.
- Primary sources firstIssuing bodies, regulators, standards organisations and documented test evidence.
- Status and scope shownEdition, geography, application, effective date and review date wherever applicable.
- No false equivalenceChemical similarity, cross-reference and approval are treated as different claims.
- Corrections welcomedMaterial updates and corrections can be submitted through the contact page.