PQIA issues Consumer Alert on two motor oils

[Tom NJ]

The PQIA website has several new and interesting items.

Petroleum Quality Institute of America

The first report analyzes two motor oils (5w30 and 10w30) whose viscosities are so low they are actually below the SAE J300 scale. They contain very little additives and have NOACK volatilites of nearly 80%, yet claim to provide protection against wear, rust, and corrosion.

The accompanying article "Who can you Trust" notes that both of these oils were available in a convenience store at a Shell gas station, and discusses who is responsible, including comments from the President for Shell Lubricants, Americas.

This is followed by an analysis of five more motor oils purchased in the Midwest in January. All of these oils look acceptable.

Finally, Delfin responds to PQIAs analysis of their product from December.

Tom NJ

 

[buster]

Thanks Tom, good to know.

 

[Drew99GT]

It amazes me why someone would even bother to purchase an off brand oil!

OTOH, that Liberty Gold stuff would make a great cold weather oil! 1,090 CCS @ -30C!

 

[Rand]

Originally Posted By: Drew99GT
It amazes me why someone would even bother to purchase an off brand oil!

OTOH, that Liberty Gold stuff would make a great cold weather oil! 1,090 CCS @ -30C!


I'm guessing that was a joke?

 

[CATERHAM]

Wow, KV100 spec's of 3cSt and 2cSt respectively with not additives at all! They look more like a "cutting oil" used in machining operations and probabily would serve a similar function in an engine once the oil temps got above 50C.

I never would have thought you could get an error of this magnitude in the market place.

 

[rpn453]

Thanks for sharing. I've never seen either brand. It appears neither carries API certification.

I would never use something like that, but I do use Motomaster and SuperTech products. I figure Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart have a lot to lose if their house-brand oil is found to be of poor or inconsistent quality. Maybe not as much as the major oil brands though.

 

[mongo161]

Tom, Thanks for your post Tom and Thanks to PQIA for helping to keep consumers who buy oil current on the dangers of buying some oils on the market. I appreciate the web site that PQIA has to keep us abreast of motor oils being sold by Major Oil Companies as well as the Store Brands.

 

[Tom NJ]

I'm sure most BITOG folks would steer clear of these oils, but the other 99.99% of the population doesn't have a clue. It wouldn't surprise me if these oils are in thousands of engines.

Nothing irks me more than those who prey on the innocent.

Tom NJ

 

[mongo161]

IMO...I wonder how much of this out of spec oil finds its way into the fast lube places. Who ever has it, must try to get rid of it, in all kinds of ingenious ways. I hope that the independent motor oil distributors, for the Oil Change places, are not on the list of client for these/and other out of spec oils?

IMO....Just because an Oil Change place says Pennzoil, Shell, Texaco or Mobil, in Neon Lights and they buy their oil from some independent, does not mean that name on the side of the oil barrel in the quick lube place is what is being sold to consumers.

Don't forget for one moment that these barrels and vats are refilled by what comes off the delivery truck.....who knows for sure what is mixed in with for the final product.

 

[Brons2]

Tom,

Will you be retesting the major brands' SN oils?

 

[xxch4osxx]

Originally Posted By: rpn453
Thanks for sharing. I've never seen either brand. It appears neither carries API certification.

I would never use something like that, but I do use Motomaster and SuperTech products. I figure Canadian Tire and Wal-Mart have a lot to lose if their house-brand oil is found to be of poor or inconsistent quality. Maybe not as much as the major oil brands though.
Motomaster oil is now made by Shell as far as I know. Imperial Oil used to make it for Canadian Tire. not much to worry about with Motomaster oils.

 

[123Saab]

Originally Posted By: mongo161
IMO...I wonder how much of this out of spec oil finds its way into the fast lube places. Who ever has it, must try to get rid of it, in all kinds of ingenious ways. I hope that the independent motor oil distributors, for the Oil Change places, are not on the list of client for these/and other out of spec oils?

IMO....Just because an Oil Change place says Pennzoil, Shell, Texaco or Mobil, in Neon Lights and they buy their oil from some independent, does not mean that name on the side of the oil barrel in the quick lube place is what is being sold to consumers.

Don't forget for one moment that these barrels and vats are refilled by what comes off the delivery truck.....who knows for sure what is mixed in with for the final product.


Mongo, that is a good question.

I use my local mechanic, and bring my own oil, But also My local Jiffylube that sells Pennzoil actually used bottles of PP that I could see them pouring in to my Jeep when I was in a hurry to get an oilchange.

And Thank you Tom, For the Info.

 

[Tom NJ]

Originally Posted By: Brons2
Tom,

Will you be retesting the major brands' SN oils?

Oils are sampled randomly, sometimes within a theme, and depending where we happen to be traveling. The intent is that all oils be subject to resampling on a periodic basis, so yes major brand SN oils will come up in time.

There are a lot of oil brands out there!

Tom NJ

 

[Tom NJ]

Originally Posted By: mongo161
IMO...I wonder how much of this out of spec oil finds its way into the fast lube places...Don't forget for one moment that these barrels and vats are refilled by what comes off the delivery truck.....who knows for sure what is mixed in with for the final product.


It is difficult to obtain samples from fast lube bulk tanks while maintaining a solid chain of custody, but we are working on it.

We are heck-bent on protecting innocent consumers from oil predators, and will be throwing a lot more resources into the effort!

Tom NJ

Full disclosure - I am an advisor to PQIA, not an employee.

 

[spasm3]

Those oils make supertech look top shelf!!

 

[TTK]

Does/has PQIA tested synthetic oils? Couldn't seem to find it on their site.

 

[Tom NJ]

Synthetics will be picked up in time. Since they are usually a company's best offering, it is unlikely that any specification or claims issues will be found in this class of products.

Tom NJ

 

[Sayjac]

Quote:
It amazes me why someone would even bother to purchase an off brand oil...
+1 The cost benefit with all the value priced dino oils from the majors, it's just not worth it, imo.

Unfortunately, some of the folks that run into these gas convenience stores are just looking for something to top off/add at the lowest price. Generally, none are very low priced at these stores.

While some of the convenience stores are not always, or even many times, owned by the gas pump logo brand, it is what buyers would associate with any purchase. Good business that Shell is responding to this consumer alert.

 

[A_Harman]

I go through Sturgis, MI about once a month. Does anybody out there in BITOG-land want me to pick up a case of that Bullseye oil for them?

 

[A_Harman]

That Bullseye stuff is a real fraud because they have a stamp on the bottle that looks pretty much like the API starburst. Looks to me to be the product of a criminal enterprise. When you're out and about and need top-up oil, buy a national name brand that has the API starburst AND service symbol on the bottle.