For more than 30 years, the Code of Practice (COP) has helped raise the bar for testing and performance of engine lubricants.
Code of Practice Resources
Petroleum Additives Product Approval Code of Practice
Through the ACC Petroleum Additives Panel (Panel), the Product Approval Protocol Task Group (PAPTG) developed the Product Approval Code of Practice for engine oil testing that was implemented in March 1992. Compliance with the Code of Practice is voluntary. The American Petroleum Institute (API) requires that all engine tests conducted in support of API certification and licensing be conducted under the ACC Product Approval Code of Practice.
View the Petroleum Additives Product Approval Code of PracticePrevious Edition of the Code of Practice
Industry Resources Code of Practice
To assist in the process of test development and preparation of information needed for test consideration, the ACC PAPTG provides the following resources.
Code of Practice Approved Auditors
Code of Practice Compliance Acknowledgement
- 2023 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2022 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2021 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2020 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2019 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2018 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2017 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2016 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2015 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2014 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2013 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2012 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2011 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2010 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2009 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
- 2008 – Code of Practice Compliance Letter
Code of Practice Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2023 Alert Bulletins
- Registration and Retroactive Engine Test Registration of the Sequence IX Aged Oil
- ACC Code of Practice Engine Test Registration Fees
PAPTG 2019 Alert Bulletins
- Clarification to the July 8, 2019 Alert Bulletin
- Registration and Retroactive Engine Test Registration of the Sequence IIIH60 and IIIH70
- Retroactive Engine Test Registration of the Sequence IVB
PAPTG 2018 Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2017 Alert Bulletins
- Retroactive Engine Test Registration of Sequence VH
- Retroactive Engine Test Registration of Sequence IX
- Retroactive Engine Test Registration of the Sequence VIF
PAPTG 2016 Alert Bulletins
- Retroactive Registration of the Sequence VIE
- Clarification to the September 7, 2016 Alert Bulletin
- Retroactive Registration of the Sequence IIIH, IIIHA and IIIHB
PAPTG 2015 Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2014 Alert Bulletins
- No alert bulletins were issued in 2014.
PAPTG 2013 Alert Bulletins
- No alert bulletins were issued in 2013.
PAPTG 2012 Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2011 Alert Bulletins
- No alert bulletins were issued in 2011.
PAPTG 2010 Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2009 Alert Bulletins
- Sequence IIIGB Test Registration
- Sequence VID Test Registration
- ACC Code of Practice Engine Test Registration Fees
PAPTG 2008 Alert Bulletins
- Process for Delinquent ACC and ATC Test Registration Invoices
- Clarification of Online ACC Candidate Engine Test Registration
PAPTG 2007 Alert Bulletins
- ACC Code of Practice Engine Test Registration Fees
- ACC Code of Practice Engine Test Registration Fees
PAPTG 2006 Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2005 Alert Bulletins
- Change to the Use of Candidate Engine Test Registration Fees
- Retroactive and Provisional Test Registration of Heavy-Duty Tests
- Reduction in Test Registration Fees
PAPTG 2004 Alert Bulletins
PAPTG 2003 Alert Bulletins
- Registration of the Sequence IIIG-A
- Inclusion of the Sequence IIIG into the Code of Practice
- Suspension of Code Bulletin C-24
PAPTG 2002 Alert Bulletins
Code of Practice Code Bulletins
Code Bulletins that have been issued since the 2005 edition of the ACC Product Approval Code of Practice are listed here. All other Code Bulletins have been archived. For older Code Bulletins, please contact the PAPTG Manager.
- Code Bulletin C-28 – Inclusion of the Sequence IIIG into Appendices H and I of the Code of Practice
- Code Bulletin C-29 – Inclusion of Information Request to Tab 4 of the COP
- Code Bulletin C-30 – Change in Appendix I, Guideline 5 to include Group III
- Code Bulletin C-31 – Mack T-12, Cummins ISM and ISB Accepted Into the Code
- Code Bulletin C-32 – Mack T-11 Accepted Into the Code
- Code Bulletin C-33 – Caterpillar C-13 Accepted In the Code
- Code Bulletin C-34 – August 2007 Edition of the ACC Product Approval Code of Practice
- Code Bulletin C-35 – Clarification Regarding Specific Engine Test in Appendix H
- Code Bulletin C-36 – ACC Monitoring Agency Contact Information and Revision to Tab 3
- Code Bulletin C-37 – Appendix J Clarification – Sponsor and Laboratory Compliance
- Code Bulletin C-38 – Appendix H Guideline 5
- Code Bulletin C-39 – Tab 1 – Glossary of Terms: Base Stock Slate
- Code Bulletin C-40 – Appendix F – MTEP Methods for Rated Parameters: Sequences IIIGB and VID
- Code Bulletin C-41 – Product Approval Code of Practice – December 2010 Edition
- Code Bulletin C-42 – Inclusion of Information Request to Tab 4
- Code Bulletin C-43 – Appendix D Revisions and Edits
- Code Bulletin C-44 – Appendix J Reviews and Edits
- Code Bulletin C-45 – Appendix B Revisions
- Code Bulletin C-46 – Appendix B Revisions
- Code Bulletin C-47 – Appendix A - Acceptance of COAT and Volvo T-13 Engine Tests
- Code Bulletin C-48 – Appendix H – Edits to Guidelines for Minor Formulation Modifications
- Code Bulletin C-49 – Appendix F Revision- Defining MTEP for the Caterpillar engine Oil Aeration Test (COAT), Mack T-12, and Volvo T-13
- Correction: Code Bulletin C-49 – August 2016
- Code Bulletin C-50 – Appendix A Revision - Accepting the Sequence IIIH, IIIHA, IIIHB and the Sequence VIE
- Code Bulletin C-51 – Appendix H and I Revisions - Inclusion of the Sequence IIIH and VIE
- Code Bulletin C-52 – Appendix A Revision – Accepting the Sequence VIF
- Code Bulletin C-53 – Appendix K Revision – Template for Acceptance of New Tests
- Code Bulletin C-54 – Appendix F Revision- Defining MTEP for the Sequence IIIH, Sequence IIIHA, Sequence IIIHB, Sequence VIE, Sequence VIF
- Code Bulletin C-55 – Appendix A Revision – Acceptance of the Sequence IX into the ACC Product Approval Code of Practice
- Code Bulletin C-56 – Appendix B Revision – Formulation coding for several Sequence tests
- Code Bulletin C-57 – Appendix H & I Revisions – Sequence VIF and IX
- Code Bulletin C-58 – Appendix F Revision - Defining MTEP for the Sequence IX
- Code Bulletin C-59 – Product Approval Code of Practice – January 2018 Edition
- Code Bulletin C-60 – Acceptance of the Sequence X into the Product Approval Code of Practice – January Edition
- Code Bulletin C-61 - Acceptance of the Sequence IVB into the Product Approval Code of Practice – January 2018 Edition
- Code Bulletin C-62 - Acceptance of Sequence IIIH60 & IIIH70 into the Product Approval Code of Practice - January 2018 Edition
- Code Bulletin C-63 - Product Approval Code of Practice- March 2023 Edition
- Code Bulletin C-64 - Acceptance of the Sequence IX Aged Oil into the into the Product Approval Code of Practice- March 2023 Edition
Code of Practice Replacement Pages
Changes have been made to the ACC Product Approval Code of Practice January 2018 Edition. The replacement pages below contain the changes and are considered in effect. Code practitioners are advised to replace pages in their Code with these pages. Please note that all changes have been previously communicated in Code Bulletins. If you have questions, please contact the PAPTG Manager.