The independent resource for information and insights on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace
The independent resource for information and insights on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) conducts independent testing of consumer, commercial, and industrial lubricants. PQIA’s mission is to serve the consumer of lubricants by testing and reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace. It is expected that this improved visibility of quality will lead to wider conformance by lubricant manufacturers to specification and performance claims.
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) conducts independent testing of consumer, commercial, and industrial lubricants. PQIA’s mission is to serve the consumer of lubricants by testing and reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace. It is expected that this improved visibility of quality will lead to wider conformance by lubricant manufacturers to specification and performance claims.
Lubricant Manufacturers
As you will see when looking at the test reports and assessments for the products that follow, the Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) redesigned the format of its reports. In addition to a more contemporary look and feel and the mobile responsiveness of the reports, another change is the addition of information describing the importance of each test and the performance additives used in motor oils. And for those interested in learning more, the reports include links to PQIA QuickReferences. In addition to the QuickReferences currently linked in the reports, PQIA has a number of other QuickReferences and educational pieces in the works. There will be links to these and others in the sample reports and on the PQIA website when complete.
Many of these changes were made in response to consumers looking to understand more about PQIA’s reports and what the data means. The PQIA is encouraged by the level of interest consumers take in its website and the motor oil quality in the market, and we welcome suggestions to enhance our website and make it more meaningful to consumers.
Coming soon, also in response to consumer interest, a deep dive into high-mileage motor oils and PQIA reports on samples of the many brands of these products found on store shelves.
The results of the tests conducted on the three products shown below meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label, and are consistent with the listed API Service Categories.
Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Caught Selling Expired and Obsolete Items… Chains have Agreed to Significant Business Reforms
New York Attorney General Letitia James announced yesterday that Dollar General, Dollar Tree, and Family Dollar will pay $1.2 million in fines and damages for selling expired products. The settlements resolve a multi-month undercover investigation over the chains’ sale of expired over-the-counter drugs, Dollar General’s sale of obsolete motor oil, and Dollar Tree and Family Dollar’s failure to comply with New York’s bottle deposit law. Click for More>>
A class action agreement to settle has been reached with Smitty’s Supply, Inc. and Tractor Supply Company on behalf of Missouri purchasers of Super S SuperTrac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid. As described in detail in public filings, the Settlement provides significant payments to the Class in a way that addresses the fundamental issues underlying this case.
The First Amended Class Action Complaint case alleges that the SuperTrac 303 product was negligently and deceptively labeled, marketed and manufactured and that use of such product could cause damage to tractors and other equipment. Click for More>>
METUCHEN, NJ, AUGUST 8, 2019 – The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) together with Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), today announced that Mark Griffin, President of the Michigan Petroleum Association/Michigan Association of Convenience Stores or MPA/MACS will be the keynote speaker at the upcoming lubricant industry conference, “Bridging the Gap.” Click for More>>>
It’s not unusual to hear someone say, “Motor oil is motor oil, they are all the same.” Although this is far from true, it’s not hard to understand why some might think so.
As with many consumer products, the differences between products are often determined by using the five senses. In the case of food, for example, a consumer relies on sight to make a buying decision by looking at the price and the package to either actually see the product or a picture of it. Some go further to read the expiration date, ingredients and nutritional facts on the package to determine if the product is good for them. And when it comes time to eat, a consumer’s sense of taste, smell, and touch has the final say in what they consider good, better, best, and even bad. Read More>>
The 104th Annual National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) was held last week to take public testimony and vote on amendments to NIST Handbook 130. Tractor Hydraulic Fluid was among them and PQIA is pleased to report that all commenters were in support of the amended language to both the Uniform Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities and the Uniform Fuels and Automotive Lubricants Regulation sections on Tractor Hydraulic Fluid.
Click here to view the new regulations that will take effect January 1, 2020.
The PQIA recently visited two areas (Chicago and Ohio) where it has previously found motor oils and transmissions fluids on store shelves that can cause harm to vehicles. To our disappointment, despite efforts to raise awareness about such products and encourage states weights and measures to address the issue, we continue to find such products on stores shelves.
The PQIA now issues Consumer Alerts on two products recently purchased in Markham, IL, and three from Youngstown, OH. These motor oils can cause harm to an engine, and the ATF sited can cause harm to transmissions. PQIA advises consumers to be particularly vigilant when shopping for motor oils and transmission fluids in these areas and to be aware PQIA has issued consumer alerts on the following products recently purchased in Illinois and Ohio.
PQIA Consumer Alerts warn buyers about products found in the market that can cause harm to engines or transmissions. Alerts are issued on the following five lubricants recently examined by PQIA.
Click bottles for details
The results of the tests conducted on the two products shown below meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label, and are consistent with the listed API Service Categories.
Click bottles for details
Note: The Midwest Plus product is labeled, “For use where an SJ/SAE 5W-30 motor oil is recommended.” API SJ motor oils are intended for use in vehicles built prior to 2002. It should be noted that although the product references the API SJ Service Category, the label does not state that it meets or is approved under API SJ.
Responding to Consumers As you will see when looking at the test reports and assessments for the products that follow, the Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) redesigned the format
Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Caught Selling Expired and Obsolete Items… Chains have Agreed to Significant Business Reforms New York Attorney General Letitia James announced yesterday that Dollar
A class action agreement to settle has been reached with Smitty’s Supply, Inc. and Tractor Supply Company on behalf of Missouri purchasers of Super S SuperTrac 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid.
Although They May Look Similar – Motor Oils Are Not All The Same PQIA Educational Series – Volume 1 Issue 1 July 31, 2019 It’s not unusual to hear someone
Tractor Hydraulic Fluid – NCWM Approves Amendments to HB130 The 104th Annual National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) was held last week to take public testimony and vote on
Chicago and Ohio – Buyer Beware The PQIA recently visited two areas (Chicago and Ohio) where it has previously found motor oils and transmissions fluids on store shelves that can
After just over a year since API began licensing motor oil against the SN PLUS Service Category, PQIA is observing its dominant presence in the market. Below are four more
The SN PLUS Service Category was introduced as a supplement to API SN specification in 2018 to mitigate low speed pre-ignition (LSPI) events in Turbocharged Gasoline Direct Injection (TGDI) engines.
The president of US Global Petroleum (USGP), Dean Mohammad contacted PQIA today to advise that its Petromerica brand of motor oils are currently API licensed. Whereas the brand did not
Following the 2017 Central Weights and Measures Association (CWMA) Interim Conference presentation by the Petroleum Quality Institute of America’s President, Thomas Glenn, weights and measures inspectors in the City of
The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act (FPLA) and the Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations requires each package of consumer commodities bear a label on which there is the name and
On April 10, 2019, Federal District Court Judge Ortrie Smith issued his Order granting preliminary approval to a class action settlement on behalf of more than 10,000 purchasers of O’Reilly
Samples of the following six brands are the most recent examined by PQIA and the tests conducted on the samples meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade
UPDATE: Petromerica Motor Oils are Now API Licensed Petromerica Semi Synthetic passenger car motor oils display the API Certification mark, but are not API licensed products. The PQIA reported on
From time-to-time PQIA hears from folks that say they never
Responding to Consumers As you will see when looking at the test reports and assessments for the products that follow,
Dollar General, Dollar Tree and Family Dollar Caught Selling Expired and Obsolete Items… Chains have Agreed to Significant Business Reforms
A class action agreement to settle has been reached with Smitty’s Supply, Inc. and Tractor Supply Company on behalf of
Although They May Look Similar – Motor Oils Are Not All The Same PQIA Educational Series – Volume 1 Issue
Tractor Hydraulic Fluid – NCWM Approves Amendments to HB130 The 104th Annual National Conference on Weights and Measures (NCWM) was
Chicago and Ohio – Buyer Beware The PQIA recently visited two areas (Chicago and Ohio) where it has previously found
After just over a year since API began licensing motor oil against the SN PLUS Service Category, PQIA is observing
The SN PLUS Service Category was introduced as a supplement to API SN specification in 2018 to mitigate low speed
The president of US Global Petroleum (USGP), Dean Mohammad contacted PQIA today to advise that its Petromerica brand of motor
Following the 2017 Central Weights and Measures Association (CWMA) Interim Conference presentation by the Petroleum Quality Institute of America’s President,
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