The Decade in Oil

[addyguy]

I know it's a bit late to post this, but as this is an oil site, lets talk about what the decade has seen for our favourite subject, oil.

2000 - decade dawns, API SL/GF-3 is firmly in place as the spec level.

2001 - 9/11, a spike in oil prices, and 'worries' about where our petro products originate from.

2004 - API SM/GF-4 spec comes into being; some people worry about the reduction in Zn/Phos levels being bad for cars. Moly levels 'tend' to rise in oils as a friction reducer.

2007(?) - a tribologist reports finding significant amounts of group 3 base oils in Mobil 1 synthetic; setting off a furious debate about Mobil 1's base oils compostion. Becomes so public it ends up on Wikepedia.

2008 - world economy overheats, and demand for enegy drives the price of crude up to an all-time high of $147 per barrel. Gas prices go up as well, and fuel economy becomes the No. 1 issue on everyone's mind.

2008 - Valvoline claims that Mobil 1 5w30 fails the API seq. IV wear test, and therefore does not meet API SM. Mobil claims it does. The 'times wars' begins - evey oils claims it is 'X' time better than Mobil 1.

2009 - Final preparations are under way for API SN/GF-5 spec levels to be aprroved and come into play.

I've done this quickly, so I'm sure there's ones I've missed - help me fill in the blanks!

Happy New Year Everyone!!!

 

[Art_Vandelay]

I love the title.

Happy New Year!

 

[qship1996]

I went into the decade using only Redline oils and atf/gear oil, and am leaving the decade still using them!!!! No change

 

[dsmith41]

When will API SN and GN-5 come into play? How will they be different? Probably more emissions restrictions.

 

[Boomer]

I went into the decade using all Mobil 1 lubricants and leave the decade still using M-1 products. No complaints, very clean engines and excellent gas mileage on the vehicles.

 

[IntegraVT]

I was going to say there should be some mention of the oil co megamergers, but ExxonMobil was two decades ago now. Darn, getting old.

Here's a couple of items...

2000 - Castrol acquired by BP Amoco.
2001 - ChevronTexaco formed when Chevron acquires Texaco.
2002 - SOPUS formed when Royal Dutch Shell acquires Pennzoil-Quaker State.
2002 - BITOG formed! Oil junkies and hoarders rejoice.
2005 - ChevronTexaco changes name to Chevron.
2009 - Ashland announces intent to sell Valvoline division.

 

[ekpolk]

I too came in using M1 only. Largely a result of my experience here, I've done some experimenting around, but once my dwindling stash of GC is gone, I'll be pretty much back to M1.

 

[bluestream]

2005: There are teething problems with a new PAO plant and ExxonMobil's facilities are hard hit by Hurricane Katrina. For a time after Hurricane Katrina ExxonMobil uses an interim formula for Mobil 1 (the bottles are differently marked than ordinary Mobil 1 production).

 

[Cyprs]

Biggest Highlight for me was around 2002 when Esso XD3 syn/conv blended oil went to full 100% POA and was sold for about $3.75 litre. It is still a good deal now at $5.00 per litre compared to other options out there. I believe this oil was one of the biggest stories of the decade for me, especially the 50k OCIs done with excellent results on analysis, there are people from BITOG still doing successfull 52K OCIs now.

Cyprs

 

[tig1]

This will be the fourth decade in a row I have entered using Mobil 1 oils and see no reason to change.

 

[addyguy]

I can't believe I forgot to put down the formation of BITOG.

Forgive me, for I have sinned!

I knew there were some mergers, but didn't know dates.....

 

[BobFout]

What were the diesel specs that changed in the 2000s?

 

[mva]

2008/2009

5W20 takes over 5W30 as the dominant OEM spec oil in North America.

 

[crazycrak]

this is gonna be some great history info

 

[Bruce T]

Ah, a decade retrospective is a grand idea. What were serious issues during these years now makes me laugh when I stand back.

I walked into BITOG thinking Valvoline SynPower was fully synthetic, not Group III. I didn't know what Group III was. I thought UOA was some kind of urinary infection.

 

[Robenstein]

To sum up the decade. The base oils got better, but for us muscle car fans, it was a frustrating trend in the reduction of anti wear ad packs.

We entered the decade able to use a wider variety of products, but not anymore.

 

[PT1]

You forgot ....2007 AAP has their PP bogo sale. In NE Ohio PT1 hits 20 AAP stores and cleans them out in 2 days...Pennzoil stock skyrockets...

 

[The_Jeff]

Don't forget the "split" of M1 into EP and regular.

Exxon's superflo synthetic folded with the XOM merger.

Peak brand oil appears, an answer to a question nobody asked the antifreeze people.

Havoline comes into the decade also being made by Equilon, astute BITOGers read the fine print on the bottles. For some reason I bought the non-Equillon if possible.

Regular green antifreeze became harder to find, and the anarchy of the AF world really took off over the last ten years.

Ethanol fuel really took off. MTBE got the heave-ho. Locally, 91 octane is as high as it goes; used to be able to get 93.

We may remember this as the decade of Tire Pressure Monitors and all their bugs... like the vacuum hose nightmare carbs of the early 80s.

We complain about E-core supertech filters, but in y2k Walmart had a gap between their old STP filters and the yet-to-arrive STs. I ran napa silvers then for an economy filter. Also y2k made sure WM stopped selling stuff called "Tech2000" in the US.

 

[mva]

How about widespread use of nitrogen fill in tires by OEM and even tire shops?

2008/2009?

 

[hardcore302]

Castrol Edge! :lol: