Marketers of engine oil must obtain a license from API to use the API Engine Oil Quality Marks: the API Service Symbol "Donut" and Certification Mark "Starburst." The use of the API Marks is a marketer's warranty that its licensed oils comply with the requirements set forth in API 1509 and API's Application for Licensure. The license application requires the applicant to certify that its oils meet Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS) requirements.
To become licensed, applicants must complete the following steps:
- Register at engineoil.api.org
- Verify email address
- Enter company information
- Complete product information for the engine oil or oils to be licensed (brand names, viscosity grades, API service categories, and traceability codes for packaged products). Note that API will not allow licensed brand names that contain any reference to API, API Service Categories, SAE viscosities, or any terms that infer API endorsement (for example, the terms “certified,” “approved,” “licensed,” “accredited,” “endorsed,” “qualified,” “verified,” etc.)
- Complete detailed formulation information (physical and chemical properties, base stocks, and additive treat rate information)
- Sign the API License Agreement
- Generate an application invoice
- Pay the application fee and enter necessary payment information
The online system will not permit an invoice to be generated until at least one oil (brand, viscosity grade, service category or categories and formulation data) has been submitted for API review. API reviews applications only after complete payment has been received.
An applicant may not display the API Service Symbol and/or Certification Mark on any engine oil or refer to the oil as API certified, licensed or approved until the applicant has paid the application fee, signed the license agreement certifying that the oil meets API requirements, and received notice from the API online system that the oil has been licensed.
To manage an existing license, please click here. Be sure to update your bookmarks to engineoil.api.org.
Please direct any questions or comments regarding licensing to EOLCS@api.org.
Click here for the EOLCS User Guide
The new EOLCS fee structure—effective December 15, 2015—is shown below and can be downloaded here.
| Fee Type |
Fee (USD) |
| License application fee |
$4,000 |
| License renewal fee |
$4,000 |
| Additional renewal fee based on volume |
$0.0070 |
At time of annual license renewal, licensee must report volume of API-licensed engine oil sold. API assesses $0.0070 per gallon fee on each gallon reported in excess of 1 million gallons. All API-licensed engine oil brands, whether sold in packages or in bulk, must be counted in the volume reported.
[Note that the application and renewal fees are per license, not per engine oil. For example, if an oil marketer submits an application for one oil, the application fee is $4,000. If the marketer submits an application for more than one oil, the application fee is still just $4,000.]
Benefits from API licensing include association with the 2016 campaign; independent verification of the quality of licensed oils sold in the marketplace; listing in the real-time on-line Directory of EOLCS licensees; participation in programs to ensure precision of new tests used to qualify oils; and rights to use the API quality marks (the API Service Symbol Donut and Certification Mark Starburst), symbols of quality that identify licensed engine oils to consumers. This includes using the marks on licensed oil packages, in media, and on promotional materials.