PQIA tests six oils - Three are out of spec!

[Tom NJ]

"Test results find three of the six samples of engine oils PQIA purchased in the the Mid-Atlantic States fail to meet their labeled API/ILSAC specifications." In addition, one of the brands labeled SA "5-30" is not an API SA, SAE 5W-30. Instead, it more closely resembles a heavy duty engine oil and is clearly not an SAE 5W-30.

Petroleum Quality Institute of America

Tom NJ

 

[simple_gifts]

Thanks for that. Independent verification keeps everyone honest.

Tom CT

 

[bmwtechguy]

Supertech looks like one of the best of the private label 5W-30's. The TBN on the Mobil Clean 5000 looks like starting TBN of a few synthetics. Nice.

Too bad PittPenn has to drag the name of my old hometown down with a poor product.

 

[The Critic]

US Economy looks like the perfect oil for ArcoGraphite, given its make up.

Thanks for posting this, Tom. It's shocking that O'reilly's 5w-30 does not meet specs. I have a few quarts of that in my trunk tight now!

 

[edhackett]

If you want to save money on oil, buy those produced by the major oil companies; Chevron, Shell, Conoco-Phillips, etc. Their oils are often much cheaper than the "major" brands and are often the best of class.

Ed

 

[CATERHAM]

Too bad they don't do a HTHS vis test, too expensive I would think. I suspect all the oils tested would easily meet the requirement for a 30wt anyway.

 

[Gary Allan]

I couldn't find anyone to do the tapered plug HTHS test for less than $250 a hit.

 

[buster]

Thanks Tom. Glad I never see or use any of those brands. Stick with a major brand.

 

[Geonerd]

Originally Posted By: buster
Thanks Tom. Glad I never see or use any of those brands. Stick with a major brand.

That's EXACTLY the response the PQIA is looking for.

 

[Audi Junkie]

The PittPenn result is outright scary.

http://www.pqiamerica.com/PittPenn4-2010.htm

Look at the volatility on the Warren...

 

[Vilan]

I used some Pitt Penn oil a few years ago. Seemed to do all right. Though as I recall, "Quality" is their SA brand, not SM, so it's no surprise it doesn't meet SM standards. They have Quality, Superior, and something else. I'd look it up on their website but it seems to be down, and the article said their phone is disconnected, which doesn't sound good.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: Gary Allan
I couldn't find anyone to do the tapered plug HTHS test for less than $250 a hit.


AFAIK Terry Dyson does it for about $150, don't know what HTHS method though, still prohibitively expensive.

Or do it yourself bt installing an accurate oil pressure and oil temp' gauge. With a little experience you can predict the HTHS vis with an accuracy of +/- 0.1 cP.
Or send me the cost of 4 qts of the oil in qwestion and I'll do it for free!

 

[ottotheclown]

Any time they want to concentrate on testing the different synthetics rather than Mid Atlantic States oil, that are so popular now, it would be great. Anyone???
Originally Posted By: Tom NJ
"Test results find three of the six samples of engine oils PQIA purchased in the the Mid-Atlantic States fail to meet their labeled API/ILSAC specifications." In addition, one of the brands labeled SA "5-30" is not an API SA, SAE 5W-30. Instead, it more closely resembles a heavy duty engine oil and is clearly not an SAE 5W-30.

Petroleum Quality Institute of America

Tom NJ

 

[Tom NJ]

Originally Posted By: Geonerd
Originally Posted By: buster
Thanks Tom. Glad I never see or use any of those brands. Stick with a major brand.

That's EXACTLY the response the PQIA is looking for.



I know the founder of PQIA very well and I can assure you that he is a highly principled man and absolutely neutral. PQIA is sampling oils of various types from various regions and all results are published regardless of the manufacturer.

Personally I am happy someone is trying to police the industry and naming names, including minor brands, which are very popular in some regions. I would expect major brands to be of high quality, as are most minor brands, but there are a lot of no-name cheap low quality oils out there, especially in lower income areas where people tend to purchase based on price. These low end deceptive oils tend to fly under the radar - hopefully their exposure will help people.

Tom NJ

 

[typ901]

Now bring on the tests of Synthetics!

 

[Ben99GT]

I agree, I would like to see the PQIA test synthetics, especially the boutiques.

 

[mechtech2]

Nice link - thanks.

 

[CATERHAM]

Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
I agree, I would like to see the PQIA test synthetics, especially the boutiques.


Not likely or necessary particularly the boutiques that are targeted at an upscale market.
As Tom mentioned, it seems the PQIA are targeting the cheap oils that fly under the radar of most policing bodies.

 

[Ben99GT]

There is lots of comparative marketing going on with the high end oils, it would be nice to see a neutral party police some of their claims.

 

[tenderloin]

Received a call from Curtis at Omni. They have a sample from the batch of O'Reilly 5W-30 where the PQIA listed NOACK volatility at 15.6...higher than spec. Curtis claims Omni retested the batch and it came back at 13.5. He said they were sending the findings as well as having it tested by another lab to confirm their oil is in spec.

I believe they feel the PQIA result was off. Curtis said he would call back when they get the results of the independent tests. Can't beat that.