Keep in mind that if a brand name oil company bottler puts on the label that it "meets or eceeds", then its considered advertising and subject to Truth in advertising laws that require advertisements are truthful and not misleading. These laws are enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Be foolish for a brand to put that on the label unless they can prove it true. But its possible with so many actually not producing motor oil but buying them packaged under their brand from some blender, there's always the chance of shortcuts taken affecting quality. Its been know to happen, e.g. Tractor Supply Hydraulic Oils
Approved vs. "Meets or Exceeds / Recommended"
- Thread starter Hoster987
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All motor oil/other transportation lube companies are blenders. ("Mixers"). There is a strange implication there. Not sure if meant as a slight. Because a large company happens to make some or all of their own base oils at a different facility does not imply better finished product. Said company still physically makes/blends oils/lubes very much the same as other companies.
All of the top lube companies have test equipment and knowledge and time (testing) to know a finished lubricant meets a stated requirement.
All of the top lube companies have test equipment and knowledge and time (testing) to know a finished lubricant meets a stated requirement.
Good point. I mean most if not all the R&D brains behind these formulations are from the additive suppliers. All of the brands, whether big or small, rely on the additive companies to do the majority of the testing and formula development. The only differentiator is that the very large companies, like Mobil etc., can afford to work with the additive companies to create custom tweaks to the market ready packages specifically for them. Their volumes enable that level of development, but it is typically done on the additive company side, and not on the oil brand’s side.
Another thing is validation testing. Sure you want to boost your oil and make it better, fine. Just hope you tested it enough to prove that. And quite frankly, only Amsoil really gives you any sense of how it performs on standardized tests in the boutique world.
From Mobil 1 engineer:
"That level of testing, that level of prove-out work is really what we can bring to the table versus most smaller brands. We don't just want to pass the test to get the checkmark, we do what's called "Proof of Performance", Salvesen Says. " I think that level of testing, that leve of prove-out work is really what we can bring to the table versus most smaller brands."
How was the oil change "screwed up"?And in my lifetime I did not do 2 oil changes, both done at dealerships, and one of them was screwed up. Our OC experiences cancel each other out
Having worked at a large dealer for 12 years I can say that the lube rack isn’t a sought after job for talented techs. Sometimes a new guy might start there and move up quickly if they show drive. On the other hand I’ve seen top techs make mistakes on LOF’s including myself.
Pretty fluffy. Sure some of the really small companies don't do any testing. Is Mobil THAT much better in this area? I mean big companies never pinch pennies or cut corners.
Yeah that was taken from a Mobil 1/Chevy article so it was definitely an ad. I think he was trying to make the point that they don't just use pre-approved ad packs and that they do a lot of testing on the track to validate and exceed specs. And so do smaller brands. Amsoil does a lot of testing, and the others can outsource to SWRI. I get what he is saying but at the same time it's not as if the others don't do any testing. And then you also have the fact that the approved oils are locked in a box from a treat rate point of view.
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Yes, as you may know, Mobil owns 50% of Infineum (Shell being the other 50%) so Mobil must have some leverage. My understanding is that if Infineum sells an A+B package, for example, to Mobil 1 which gains Porsche approval, then a XYZ company buys the same A+B package and adds C and D (and/or more of A and B), the A+B+C+D oil becomes "Recommended / Meets" Porsche requirements.
AZjeff
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@CKN sorry I missed this. On the first free oil change on the new '21 Sierra 3500HD I was getting checked out and the service writer handed me the invoice. I looked and it said oil used 0W-20. The 6.6 gas specs 5W-30. I asked him if they used the oil on the invoice and he said absolutely. I said you used the wrong oil then. He didn't know what to say but the neighboring service writer heard me and came over and said Oh don't worry they hit the wrong key they used the right oil. I said I'd like it changed out. Nope. So now who do you believe? The guy who said absolutely with conviction or the guy trying to CYA? There was no effort to bring the tech out to say the right oil was absolutely put in. I now have on record with the dealer the first oil change was the wrong oil. If something goes wrong during warranty now what??
Came home dumped the 8 quarts of oil and put in the 5W-30 I intended to run. Didn't go back for the 2nd free OC. Half the guys here would say it would make no difference and the other half would say they should have make it right by putting in known 5W-30.
Oh and the other OC that I didn't do was the first free change on a new RAV4. It wasn't worth the 55 mile drive and the 2 hour wait with an appointment so didn't go back for the other free ones then either. It helps that I really enjoy changing oil and will keep doing it as long as I'm able.
Yea-that's a shady scenario for sure. And yea-I wouldn't drive the 55 miles either.
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