The Petroleum Quality Institute of America

About The Petroleum Quality Institute of America

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.

About The Petroleum Quality Institute of America

CONSUMER ADVISORIES AND ALERTS

PASSENGER CAR MOTOR OIL

HEAVY DUTY DIESEL ENGINE OIL

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FLUID

ANTIFREEZE & COOLANT

PQIA Supporters

Additive Manufacturers

Lubricant Manufacturers

Chemlube International

Lubrication Engineers

Reliance Fluid Technologies

Royal Mfg

Royal Purple

Safety-Kleen

Universal Lubricants, LLC

Warren Distribution

Warren Oil

Lubricant Distributors

Ocean State Oil and Domestic Fuel and Lubes

PQIA Advisory Board

Board Members

Consumer Alert

July 2, 2019

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 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.

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From the Lab

July 2, 2019

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.

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The results of the tests conducted on this sample meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label, and are consistent with the listed API Service Categories.

Note: This 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.

Recent News

Spotlight on API SN PLUS Motor Oils

May 31, 2019

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

SN PLUS Motor Oils – Calcium Down, Magnesium Up

May 31, 2019

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.

UPDATE: Petromerica Motor Oils are API Licensed

May 9, 2019

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

City of Madison Wisconsin Moves Forward – Orders Bad Oils Off the Retail Shelves

May 9, 2019

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

LABELING – RESPONSIBLE PARTY

May 9, 2019

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

Preliminary Class Action Settlement Approved For Missouri Purchasers Of O’Reilly 303 Tractor Hydraulic Fluid

April 16, 2019

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

Six New Samples Tested – All Look Good

April 15, 2019

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

Heads Up – Labeling Issue

April 15, 2019

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

Six More Brands Tested

February 22, 2019

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

PennStar Joins to Support PQIA

February 8, 2019

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America Welcomes PennStar as a New PQIA Supporter The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce PennStar has joined PQIA’s growing list

On Guard, Pure Guard, SASH, and S-OIL

February 6, 2019

Samples of the following four 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

Tractor Hydraulic Fluid – New Labeling Requirements on the Horizon

February 6, 2019

The National Conference on Weights and Measures held its 2019 interim meeting last month, and at that meeting its Laws and Regulations Committee made the decision to move forward voting