Did Exxonmobil hire Matlock?

[john1944]

Preface: The following discourse is in no way to be construed as a Mobil 1 "bashing". I believe Mobil 1 is a fine oil - along with many other brands. This is just what I noticed when I was comparing the Mobil 1 0W-40 old (2006) PDS to the new (2010) PDS. I expected the "Typical Properties" to change - which they did - but I also noticed the change in wording in the "Product Description" and "Features and Benefits". It's as though exxonmobil hired Benjamin L. Matlock to go over the wording with a fine-tooth comb. I have hi-lighted the changed words in red .

old: Product Description
new: Product Description

old: Mobil 1 0W-40 is the most advanced performance synthetic engine oil designed to provide ultimate cleaning power, wear protection and overall performance.

new: Mobil 1 0W-40 is an advanced performance synthetic engine oil designed to help provide exceptional cleaning power, wear protection and overall performance.

old: Mobil 1 0W-40, European Car Formula(NA) or Protection Formula(EU), exceeds the requirements of the leading industry and car manufacturers' standards required for newer modern gasoline and diesel powered automobile engines.

new: Mobil 1 0w-40, European Car Formula(NA) or Protection Formula(EU), meets or exceeds the requirements of leading industry and car manufacturers' standards required for newer modern gasoline and diesel powered automobile engines.

old: The Mobil 1 Technology is race proven and the choice of NASCAR racing.

new: The Mobil 1 Technology is race proven and the choice of NASCAR racing.

old: Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for all types of vehicles anywhere in the world and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils cannot.

new: Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for all types of vehicles and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils may not .

comment: "anywhere in the world " was redacted from new.

old: It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin.

new: Mobil 1 Technology comes as standard equipment in many different performance vehicles.

comment: "It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin" was redacted from the newPDS. Is Mobil 1 not factory fill in those cars now? Mobil uses "Mobil 1 Technology comes as standard equipment" in the new PDS. Have they sold the technology to Castrol?, xyz co.?, and that xyz oil is factory fll now?


old: Features and Benefits
new: Features and Potential Benefits

old: Mobil 1 0W-40 is made with a proprietary blend of ultra high performance synthetic basestocks fortified with Supersyn Technology.

new: Mobil 1 0W-40 is made with a proprietary blend of ultra high performance synthetic basestocks fortified with a precisely balanced component system.

comment: "Supersyn Technology" was redacted from new and replaced with "a precisely balanced component system". Is Supersyn gone?


old: Mobil 1 0W-40's wide viscosity range provides unsurpassed levels of protection, fuel savings and the best overall smooth driving experience.

new: Mobil 1 0W-40's wide viscosity range helps provide unsurpassed levels of protection, and a smooth driving experience.

comment: "fuel savings" and "best overall" were redacted from new.

old: Mobil 1 0W-40 keeps engines starting in Arctic extreme cold and cleans deposits, sludge and varnish often formed in high temperature operating conditions.

new: Mobil 1 0W-40 helps to keep engines starting in Arctic extreme cold and cleans deposits, sludge and varnish often formed in high temperature operating conditions.

old: Exceeding most of the global industry standards and the major leading builder requirements is the cornerstone of the performance reserve that lets Mobil 1 0W-40 keep performing well after conventional oils cannot.

new: Meeting or exceeding many global industry standards and major leading builder requirements is the cornerstone of the performance reserve that lets Mobil 1 0W-40 keep performing well after conventional oils may not .

Okay BITOGers, in the words of Matlock "what say?"

 

[lexus114]

whoa,tmi

 

[tinmanSC]

Sounds like the team that wrote the Mobil answers for BITOG got a hold of this document too; adding slippery language is kinda annoying.

 

[ottotheclown]

Just avoid them easy to do with all the choices. Free country last I looked.

Originally Posted By: tinmanSC
Sounds like the team that wrote the Mobil answers for BITOG got a hold of this document too; adding slippery language is kinda annoying.

 

[unDummy]

They cleaned up their wording. No biggie. Easy easy way to avoid BBB/FTC complaints.

 

[Jim 5]

It's called truth in advertising. There's a truth behind every revision. If look at the revisions they all make sense given what we know about synthetics vs. conventional oil etc.

 

[bepperb]

I do quite a bit of documentation at work, I wonder if there is a "steve is the financial services guy" who picks apart what I write. Half the time I probably delete something with an old trademark/marketing term, go get a soda, come back and write the same thing worded differently and think nothing of it.

 

[demarpaint]

Smart legal team if you ask me. It will keep them out of trouble, especially in the socitey we live in. The attorneys picked their words carefully and are hard at work earning their keep.

One mistake comes to mind.

"old: Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for all types of vehicles anywhere in the world and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils cannot.

new: Mobil 1 0W-40 is perfect for all types of vehicles and has the performance reserve to protect when conventional engine oils may not ."

They should have said "all types of vehicles calling for a 40 grade oil". Not to beat the thick thin horse again but using it in an engine specifically calling for a 20 grade oil might get them in some trouble if something goes wrong with the engine. Funny if you call them and ask about using an oil that isn't spec'd for your car they'll tell you use what the mfg recommends. Someone should advise their legal dept. LOL

 

[buster]

The 0w40 is a better oil than the previous 0w40. That is a fact.

 

[john1944]

Originally Posted By: unDummy
They cleaned up their wording. No biggie. Easy easy way to avoid BBB/FTC complaints.



comment: "It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin" was redacted from the newPDS. Is Mobil 1 not factory fill in those cars now? Mobil uses "Mobil 1 Technology comes as standard equipment" in the new PDS. Have they sold the technology to Castrol?, xyz co.?, and that xyz oil is factory fll now?

comment: "Supersyn Technology" was redacted from new and replaced with "a precisely balanced component system". Is Supersyn gone?

Mobil 1 0W-40 is apparently not used as factory fill in the world's finest performance vehicles, they apparently sold their technology to other oil companies, and Supersyn is apparently gone is not just cleaning up their wording .

 

[iunderpressure]

I did like how pennzoil answered the questions here very direct compared to mobil's responses.

 

[dwendt44]

Quote:
comment: "It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin" was redacted from the newPDS. Is Mobil 1 not factory fill in those cars now? Mobil uses "Mobil 1 Technology comes as standard equipment" in the new PDS. Have they sold the technology to Castrol?, xyz co.?, and that xyz oil is factory fll now?


Since more than those three MFGs use Mobil 1 oil as factory fill, perhaps Mobil doesn't want to appear to favor one over the others. Or, they want to stop mentioning MFGs without a 'kick-back'.

 

[Jim 5]

Originally Posted By: dwendt44
Quote:
comment: "It is the first choice at the factory for the some of the world's finest performance vehicles: Mercedes-Benz AMG, Porsche, and Aston Martin" was redacted from the newPDS. Is Mobil 1 not factory fill in those cars now? Mobil uses "Mobil 1 Technology comes as standard equipment" in the new PDS. Have they sold the technology to Castrol?, xyz co.?, and that xyz oil is factory fll now?


Since more than those three MFGs use Mobil 1 oil as factory fill, perhaps Mobil doesn't want to appear to favor one over the others. Or, they want to stop mentioning MFGs without a 'kick-back'.


Or they don't want to commit to an advertising campaign, printing on bottles, posters, etc. based on manufacturer factory fill statements that could change at any time. What the car manufacturers use as a factory fill is largely outside Mobil's direct control.