ATF Licensing Made Easy

We ask Katrina Jones, Driveline Group Lead, Afton Customer Technical Services, about all things licensing.

Why get a license for ATF?

Licensed ATF undergoes rigorous testing and approval to ensure it supports reliable long-term performance for specific transmission technologies. 

The license shows that the fluid fully meets the OEM-defined performance specification and is approved for use in its transmissions. This gives end-users confidence that the fluid will provide reliable performance and protection, as validated by the OEM, compared to market products that might claim to meet requirements, but do not carry a license. In other words, the license provides proof of the fullest rigor of the data supporting the product claims.

What licenses are there? 

Ford and GM have specific licensing processes for MERCON® LV and DEXRON®-VI, respectively.

To gain an original formulator license, you are free to use a novel fluid formulation and must demonstrate acceptable performance and blending of the formulation. All specification tests must be run and passed at an independent test house. 

For a reblender license, the oil marketer needs to prove they can blend an already-licensed formulation, using an approved additive at a specific treat rate with the same base oil ratios. Only a subset of the specification tests is required.  

A rebranded license is sought by oil marketers wishing to buy licensed fluid from an original formulator or reblender to sell under their own brand. No testing is needed for this.    

The OEMs may allow global or regional licenses. Backwards-compatible specifications may mean that older licenses are cancelled when new licenses are issued.

What is involved in licensing? 

Candidate fluids must be blended, shipped, and independently tested; the OEM will review the test results and decide whether to approve. Legal documentation is also required as an initial step. 

Key steps vary by OEM, so it's probably best explained as a simple process flow.

The DEXRON®-VI reblend process remained unchanged for 20 years before it was digitized in 2024 to align with the dexos® engine oil licensing process; licenses are now issued automatically upon OEM approval. We can guide our customers through the process if they are not familiar with it.  

The MERCON® LV process is not digital, but Afton can help expedite timings for our customers.

How long does it take to get a license? 

That can vary. An original formulation requires development time, of course, but the main variable can be testing bottlenecks at the test houses, especially for tests like the GM Cycling Test. OEM committee review timescales may also differ. 

Our licensing experience helps to save our customers time. Still, as a guide, an original formulator license typically takes 9-12 months, a reblender license nearer 3-6 months, and a rebrander license just a few weeks, as no testing is needed.

How much does a license cost?

It depends on the OEM, the type of license, and which and how many tests are involved so that it could be anywhere from $40k to $200k. The biggest variable is typically rig referencing costs for the GM Cycling test.
 

How can Afton help me get a license? 

We use our process experience, additive expertise, in-house facilities, and OEM liaison to expedite customer licenses. 

Our mechanical lab is the only one with a GM Cycling Test rig outside Southwest Research Institute, which means we can test to the full DEXRON®-VI specification, including friction capability. We can also run most MERCON® LV tests, as we have a Low-Speed Friction squawk test rig. 

This accelerates our fluid development and approval, in tandem with our predictive models and in-house screener tests for FZG and DKA performance. 

Final testing must still be run at one of two independent test houses, but we work closely with OEM licensing committees and may ask to review test data prior to final license submission. Should anything unexpected appear, our in-house testing insights ensure we ask the right questions to find the solution.  

This has also helped us develop dual-licensed technology that simultaneously meets Ford, GM and other OEM specs. Afton technology is used in most of today’s dual-licensed products.

What other benefits can Afton offer?

Test houses only report a pass/fail on the digitized DEXRON®-VI system. We can offer deeper insights and often gain approval faster, thanks to the numerical data from our own testing. 

We can also help customers with product differentiation as our test rigs allow us to run fluids beyond specification, even to failure, to demonstrate clear performance benefits.  

Genuine multi-vehicle ATF holding DEXRON®-VI and MERCON® LV licenses, which also meet other OEM specifications, is challenging to formulate but offers huge benefits: broad vehicle coverage with simplified inventory and logistics. Afton can share our successful dual-licensed additive technology with customers.

Where do customers tend to get stuck with licensing? 

The new digitized DEXRON®-VI licensing process can be a challenge for some customers, especially those not already familiar with GM’s dexos® process. Afton works closely with the TMC e-submission team to help answer customer queries and expedite submissions. 

When customers have a specific formulation approach in mind, Afton can leverage key OEM contacts to establish if this is likely to gain approval before proceeding with fluid development. 

If a dual license is required, it makes sense to start with this in mind, as the specification profile determines the most appropriate additive technology. Changing the formulation approach partway is possible, but it will delay obtaining the license. 

What surprises people about the process?

How different the Ford and GM licensing approval processes are. For example, GM accepts representative fluids for testing, whereas Ford requires completion of licensing paperwork first and a production-ready batch of fluid for testing. 

For dual licensing, Afton can advise customers on the most efficient way to achieve approval via both processes, depending on their constraints.

How do I start working with Afton on licensing? 

Please contact your local Afton Chemical Sales representative

DEXRON® and dexos® are registered trademarks of General Motors LLC.
MERCON® is a registered trademark of Ford Motor Company.