GM, and everyone else, it's not a decision made in a vacuum. The API specs are improving, but that doesn't mean that the OEM specs won't continue to be more stringent. The OEM specs didn't randomly emerge from the ether, they were brought into existence by manufacturers because the existing basic API and ACEA standards weren't sufficient.
If cheating is taking place, then all the more reason to use major brands with a seat at the table like XOM, SOPUS, Castrol...etc. If the bar is set too high for Joe Blow store brand; if they can't compete with a fully approved product sold for around the same price at Walmart (M1, PP, Edge...etc) then why is that my problem as a consumer?
If "Five Guys in a Shed" are making tubing for the nuclear energy sector and the NRC revises the quality standards to be more stringent, if BWXT and Alcan are still able to make the tubing to the same price point but "Five Guys in a Shed" start cheating, is that the fault of the NRC or the skids at Five Guys? And what does that say about their adherence to standards previously? It would (justifiably) call into question their QC history and spur an audit.
As I said in the OP, I suspect the increase in sales from distributing fully approved products didn't materialize for AMSOIL. But that doesn't mean they aren't using an approved additive package and just not sticking to the approved formula and top-treating. For a company that commands the prices that AMSOIL does for their product, forcing their products into that box and constraining formulation to keep the approval was not about it being unaffordable but more about it being a waste of money, since it had no meaningful impact on their sales in that sector, at least that's my suspicion, since I don't have access to their sales data.
I really can't stand the break up of quotes, especially trying to reply from a phone.
But it's what I pointed out earlier, in the thread: GM and others, are trying to drive people back to the dealership, or otherwise capitalize from it through monetary gain.
Your counter quote was: When OEM-approved oils are available off the shelf at reasonable prices at every store including Walmart, I'm not sure as to how this could be construed as some grand conspiracy to force buying oil from the dealership.
Well, we've seen GM, Ford and others essentially drive their own aftermarket parts re-sellers out of business. I can't tell you the number of ACDelco, Motorcraft, Mopar, etc. third party parts distributors that are now done. This is to drive the parts market back through the dealership(s) for independent shops. They've driven parts re-manufacturing essentially out of business as well, in a lot of cases, or only through factory programs. Everything used to have a core charge, now almost nothing automotive does. You're seeing serialized parts that require dealership level diagnostics to approve the repairs. (I.e. Right to repair argument.)
You're seeing oil specs, such as the MOPAR 0w40 spec, that literally no one else can meet. Just not worth the money, period. Or, simply won't ever be licensed - TES 295 was one of these, certain automotive gear oils, transmission fluids, etc. There's one manufacturer for it, period.
So yeah, it's not a 'grand conspiracy' - it's simply the facts that the automotive OEM's are directing the consumers, forcefully, to the dealerships. Then they're purposefully making large dealership networks that are essentially, OEM direct business. (You see this more in the Ag / construction side, but it's going to play out the same in automotive.)
Next - cheating.
The problem with your view on cheating, is you're looking at it from arguably, top 1% educated consumer. Let me remind you, the majority of people? Especially when it comes to engine oil? They're dumb. They are *very* dumb. They take it to a quicklube and get it changed, thats the end of the story for them. That is still the majority of the US engine oil market. Between My company, Reladyne and Cadance, there's over 40 million gallons of house branded PCMO business. In my case, yeah I don't cheat, won't cheat, not worth it. But I compete against people cheating every day, because there is an economic inventive from it, that allows shady players, to abuse the unwitting.
You're looking at it from the perspective that knows better. Not from the perspective that doesn't know better. Now you can say education - sure, but... How? Where do you begin on this? It goes back to my above topic, the easiest way is to force people back to the dealership, to tie it back in.
The other part about cheating, is the not-cheating, cheating. Or the gaming of specifications. For example, you can blend Petro Canada Group III's with Safety Kleen Group III's, toss in an afton additive package and BAM, Dexos 1 Gen 3 oil.
The problem is, it's trash. It's *Super* cheap, but they gamed the system, low noack, it's got the right approvals, but it's... not a good product, for it's category. And it's literally cheaper than some hydraulic oils to make. But, how many people on this board knew this before I just opened my mouth right now? No one. You assume you're getting a premium product when you buy that Dexos 1 Gen 3 name plate, but a lot of times, on top of the straight up cheating, you're getting a gamed product. Not a premium product you'd other wise assumed to be getting.
Third, Amsoil - The reason why I personally see this as a potential problem, is muddying up the market. If you have a player like Amsoil, or even Valvoline, going down the road of "Meets of Exceeds" it starts muddying up the market place more and more. People see these major brands that "meet or exceed" then when smitty's supply or starfire releases their newest wunderbrand oil, that makes you wonder what it is... People will buy it. Because hey, everyone else is doing that, right??
Again, personally / professionally - I don't particularly care. You do you. I'm just noting my view on the market place from someone that sees a very, very different view of the oil industry than probably anyone else here.
