Is the "relaxed" API rating out yet??

[1bioguy]

I just bought some Trop Artic synthetic blend API SM that appears to have a date code of maybee late July 2005. Is that API "relaxed rating" out yet that I read about here? Would it be better to look for an honest rating of SL than a new possibly untrue SM? Is this new oil really hitting the streets or just urban rumor?

 

[The_Jeff]

You're fine in July. Remember Katrina hit around 9/1.

The gas you're running is presently more likely to be "relaxed."

 

[Blue99]

The lubricants industry currently has some very real problems with both additives and base oil shortages, and it's not all entirely hurricane related.

API is not actually relaxing the SM service grade, but rather, being more liberal in restrictions on substitutions for additives & base oils in licensed formulations.

Here is the Lube Report Article #1 dealing with licensing and Lube Report Article #2 detailing the shortages.

Seems like everything from plastic bottles to viscosity improvers are tight right now!

 

[JHZR2]

so whats the best way to ensure that were getting good stuff? Buy synthetics only? Buy SL rated oils only? Euro oils only? Amsoil only?

JMH

 

[texasproud]

More fun to come...Hurricane Wilma will enter the gulf, disrupt capacity and supply and deal more grief.

 

[bulwnkl]

Ahh, the incredible beauty and foresight of a "Just-in-Time" economy.

 

[XS650]

quote:

---

Originally posted by bulwnkl:

Ahh, the incredible beauty and foresight of a "Just-in-Time" economy.

---

There is a very fine line between

Just-in-Time
and
Not-Quite-in-Time

 

[bulwnkl]

Quite right. Even if you're on the Just-in-Time side of the line, you still get skunked when anything at all goes wrong...

 

[Michael SR]

quote:

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Originally posted by eljefino:
The gas you're running is presently more likely to be "relaxed."

---

we seem to be back to "non-relaxed" gasoline in houston. i say that because my cars run great on regular gasoline, but my subaru pings frequently on the epa special stuff. it's been pinging again since last fillup.

-michael