Originally Posted By: OVERK1LL
Does ExxonMobil not certify oils?
Historically passenger car engine oil specifications used by the API in their engine oil category system were developed within ASTM by the ASTM Passenger Car Engine Oil Classification Panel, which then published them in ASTM D 4485, Standard Specification for Performance of Engine Oils.
ASTM then provided calibration materials and other technical support to labs wishing to conduct oil certifications.
Starting with GF-4 the specification was developed outside of the ASTM consensus process by ILSAC.
The ASTM, however, still provides substantial technical support to the industry and to labs interested in doing testing to standards:
http://www.astm.org/Standards/D6709.htm
and the ASTM Test Monitoring Center (TMC) provides a calibration service to those laboratories that supply performance data for product verification in tests such as the API Sequence tests.
There are labs which do this testing for a fee, the additive companies typically have formulations which are certified and are available to those using their additives, and the major oil companies all have fully equipped labs capable of running the API sequences and much more.
The cost for testing a passenger car motor oil formulation the last time I talked to anyone on it was in the range of a quarter million dollars. That of course could vary depending on whether the formula passed the tests the first time or required multiple test runs with formula modifications. Certification for a Heavy Duty Diesel formula was in the range of a half million.
Most of the major oil companies have their own proprietary formulas developed, tested and licensed.
Also, the majors regularly buy and test other majors' formulas.
The notion that Ashland has access to tests or procedures that ExxonMobil does not is wishful thinking.
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