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Technology Demonstration & Field Trials: Paving the Way for the Next Generation of Diesel Engine Oils

As diesel engines evolve to meet more stringent emissions regulations and operate under increasingly demanding conditions, the engine oils that protect them must keep pace. A critical part of the development of PC-12 engine oils is the technology demonstration period. This time allows oil marketers to confirm that their proposed PC-12 formulations can meet the performance, durability, and chemical limits required for next-generation engine protection. PC-12 oils will also support the demands of modern, lower-emission diesel engines and provide the protection and performance that older engines need.

This 12-month phase, which began in January 2025, is a key step in the journey to bring the PC-12 category to market. The technology demonstration period will give oil marketers and additive suppliers the time and framework needed to develop and test candidate oils against performance targets. These target limits, agreed upon in late 2024, will be finalized at the end of the demonstration period to receive approval and balloting from API and ASTM by December 2025.

The first licensing date for PC-12 engine oils will be January 1, 2027, following a mandatory 12-month waiting period throughout 2026. This waiting period provides the time needed for the oil manufacturers to complete the engine testing requirements of the category. With engine testing in high demand, the extra time allows oil marketers the opportunity to complete development and compliance testing to ensure that oils will be ready to be introduced into the market on the first licensing date.

A core component of this process is validating that the candidate oils meet chemical composition limits set by the API New Category Development Team (NCDT). These limits are designed to maintain durability and protect sensitive aftertreatment systems while lowering environmental impact. That means stricter constraints on phosphorus, sulfur, and sulfated ash levels—all without sacrificing the protective capabilities fleets and drivers rely on.

Another key component of technology demonstration is evaluating performance in the field. Shell Lubricants conducts field trials with its Shell Rotella PC-12 candidate oils in fleet trucks alongside lab testing. These real-world evaluations are crucial for ensuring that the oils pass technical specifications and stand up to the rigors of daily fleet operation. From heat and soot to start-stop conditions and long-haul cycles, these trials offer robust validation that the oils deliver the durability and performance fleets expect.

API, oil marketers, additive suppliers, engine manufacturers and other industry parties are well on their way to adopting PC-12 specifications. This will include bringing new Shell Rotella heavy duty diesel engine oils to the market that continue to meet or exceed the requirements of the new oil category.