Is Marathon Petroleum dropping their STP partnership?

[JohnnyG]

It's really not all that hard. There are a ton of off-the-shelf detergent packages that any company could acquire and then use as their own and claim it as their "brand". STP isn't listed anywhere in the EPA list of certified pump fuel additives. But whatever was being supplied to Marathon must have been on this list.

https://www3.epa.gov/otaq/fuels1/ffars/web-detrg.htm

And it gets pretty obvious that a lot of stuff is just marketing speak to give the impression that additives were developed in-house. Shell (which heavily markets their superior additives showing their chemists) isn't anywhere on the list, nor is Infineum. Not sure who their source is, but it wouldn't surprise me if it were BASF, Lubrizol, Afton, or even Chevron Oronite.

Oh well, so much for TopTier gas! We don't know what's in it, but we put in more!

 

[y_p_w]

Oh well, so much for TopTier gas! We don't know what's in it, but we put in more!

Sure. Gotta love "trade secrets".

 

[BHopkins]

It was basically just more VI improver modifier, and antiwear/acid neutralizing additives. Probably from the era of “thicker is better”. It probably threw the balance of additives off compared to just using properly formulated motor oil and changing it regularly.

Aftermarket gasoline additive are less likely to upset the balance of anything.

The current company probably makes more in oil filters and fully formulated motor oils. Not sure if the motor oil additives are different these days.

Fixed it for you. "Improver" is a real stretch, for what it was.

 

[y_p_w]

Fixed it for you. "Improver" is a real stretch, for what it was.

I'm pretty sure the technical term is "viscosity index improver". I make no endorsement about the accuracy of the phrase.

 

[BHopkins]

I'm pretty sure the technical term is "viscosity index improver". I make no endorsement about the accuracy of the phrase.

Yes, I'm pretty sure you are right. I was just having a little fun, and letting my disdain for STP show through somewhat.