Examples of "low quality" oil?

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Dec 4, 2024
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I read "low quality" oil is a possible culprit for oil caused engine problems. I thought all oil here in the U.S. had to measure up to a specification.

What are examples of low quality oil?

Is what they use in Jiffy Lube and Valvoline oil change places examples of low quality oil? At Jiffy Lube I've used semi-synthetic. At Valvoline I had them put in conventional oil the only time I bought my car there.
 
Seems to be some questionable quality bulk oil around-I know we’ve had some dealership oil changes that seem to burn off oil a lot more quickly than name brand oil does. AFAIK VIOC & Jiffy Lube have to buy their bulk from Valvoline & SOPUS respectively, so they SHOULD be OK.
 
Lubes that are API certified, ILSAC approved, or certified to various Euro standards, are typically "good enough" for most purposes. Some manufacturer specs go above those.

Lubes which are not certified to some standard can either be better or worse. Better because they are not constrained by the imposed limits of the standard. Or worse because they are not worthy of even meeting those standards.

If you want to know what is used at your local quick change place, go ask them what they use and ask to see the specs for that particular lube. I would suspect that Vavoline uses the bulk corporate lube; certainly not junk oil. Can't say what Jiffy Lubes uses, but I suspect it's at least an API approved lube.
 
Seems to be some questionable quality bulk oil around-I know we’ve had some dealership oil changes that seem to burn off oil a lot more quickly than name brand oil does. AFAIK VIOC & Jiffy Lube have to buy their bulk from Valvoline & SOPUS respectively, so they SHOULD be OK.
There's not much stopping them from dumping synblend 5w20 in something calling for full syn 0w16, or API 5w30 in a euro car that needs a stout 40 weight. Yeah it's ok oil for a 20 year old Lesabre but some cars are more high strung.
 
A previously discussed topic, there are others but these are direct to your question:





 
I read "low quality" oil is a possible culprit for oil caused engine problems. I thought all oil here in the U.S. had to measure up to a specification.

What are examples of low quality oil?

Is what they use in Jiffy Lube and Valvoline oil change places examples of low quality oil? At Jiffy Lube I've used semi-synthetic. At Valvoline I had them put in conventional oil the only time I bought my car there.

I wouldn't say they use especially low quality oil. However, if you have a vehicle of the last fifteen years or so with no leaks, why not use a synthetic? The off the shelf market (Walmart, auto parts store) has moved to primarily synthetic.
 
Lubes that are API certified, ILSAC approved, or certified to various Euro standards, are typically "good enough" for most purposes. Some manufacturer specs go above those.

Lubes which are not certified to some standard can either be better or worse. Better because they are not constrained by the imposed limits of the standard. Or worse because they are not worthy of even meeting those standards.

If you want to know what is used at your local quick change place, go ask them what they use and ask to see the specs for that particular lube. I would suspect that Vavoline uses the bulk corporate lube; certainly not junk oil. Can't say what Jiffy Lubes uses, but I suspect it's at least an API approved lube.


Jiffy lube is owned by SOPUS.

So it would be something like Formula Shell. Or Pennzoil yellow bottle.
 
There are still a lot of “bathtub” blenders left in the U.S. specifically in major markets - for me, Detroit and Chicago.

These oils will be made by blenders that… I even hesitate to call blenders. Some come from better known people that sell off spec product like Smitty’s.

These bathtub blenders often use line wash, used oil that is “filtered” - not re-refined, and half or less treat with additives.
 
Dollar general was actually sued and settled for selling motor oil that met a very old API spec. Honestly if you were pouring it in a 1986 Buick and changed it every 3000, it was likely still fine. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit...auto-motor-oil-28-5m-class-action-settlement/

I don't think you can get a "bad" API SN / SP IMHO. It still may not meet spec on certain vehicles, so that should be what you follow anyway.

 
There are still a lot of “bathtub” blenders left in the U.S. specifically in major markets - for me, Detroit and Chicago.

These oils will be made by blenders that… I even hesitate to call blenders. Some come from better known people that sell off spec product like Smitty’s.

These bathtub blenders often use line wash, used oil that is “filtered” - not re-refined, and half or less treat with additives.

When I was in the installer market there was a Co. that apparently ( I am in no way making accusations) used the "bathtub" line wash
method that is mentioned above. Silogram lubricants. Spelled backwards is a name. There pricing was nearly 50% below what I was paying for the Havoline products that I used at the time. As a Texaco Xpress Lube my tanks were tested regularly to insure the oils I used were in fact Texaco products. After a branding change at my location I was required to use SOPUS products as a Shell Rapid Lube.
Ultimately ended using Reladyne products with the DuraMax label.
 
I've used some of that gas station no api certified oil in small engines. They didn't last nearly as long as modern small engines running the stuff we have today.
 
Dollar general was actually sued and settled for selling motor oil that met a very old API spec. Honestly if you were pouring it in a 1986 Buick and changed it every 3000, it was likely still fine. https://topclassactions.com/lawsuit...auto-motor-oil-28-5m-class-action-settlement/

I don't think you can get a "bad" API SN / SP IMHO. It still may not meet spec on certain vehicles, so that should be what you follow anyway.

For those who want “more oil” …
(still at the stop and robs)

 
There was a thread here regarding oils the Ohio Department of Weights and Measures went after. There were 10 of them.
It was said these antiquated mixtures may or may not have been acceptable in 1930.

The real life considerations pertaining to selling this stuff in gas stations -to desperate drivers at the full price of modern oils- vs. the unreasonable assertion that corporations have the right to market whatever they want, was the issue.
 
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