Below are three more brands of motor oils PQIA found on the shelves in the Chicago market. PQIA issues Consumer Alerts on two, and an Advisory on another. See below for details:
CONSUMER ALERT
XPRESS LUBE PRO 10W-30
The results of the tests conducted on this sample do NOT meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label. The Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C is lower than the minimum viscosity specification for this SAE grade. The organometallic additive levels in this sample indicate the product is NOT suitable for use in the majority of automobile engines currently on the road, and use of this product in modern automobile engines will likely cause harm to the engine.
CONSUMER ALERT
AP Lubes Supertech 10W30
The results of the tests conducted on this sample do NOT meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label. The Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C is 50% lower than the minimum viscosity specification for this SAE grade. In addition, the organometallic additive levels in this sample indicate the product is NOT suitable for use in the majority of automobile engines currently on the road, and the metal analysis results for this sample indicate the product may be contaminated with used oil and abrasive material. Use of this product in modern automobile engines will likely cause harm to the engine. The label on this product does not list any API Service Category,
Note: Whereas this product is label “Supertech Motor Oil” it should not be confused with the Walmart brand of the same name.
ADVISORY
MAG 5 STAR SAE 10-40
The results of the tests conducted on this sample do NOT meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label, and are NOT consistent with the referenced American Petroleum Institute (API) Service Category. The Kinematic Viscosity @ 100°C is lower than the minimum viscosity specification for this SAE grade and the Low-Temperature Cranking Viscosity is 22% higher than the maximum viscosity specification for this SAE grade. The organometallic additive levels in this sample indicate the product is NOT suitable for use in the majority of automobile engines currently on the road, and use of this product in modern automobile engines may cause harm to the engine.
Adding to PQIA’s concerns is the claim that this is a multigrade SAE 10-40 motor oil that is “rated API SA and is not suitable for most gasoline engines manufactured after 1951.” By definition, API SA motor oils are straight mineral oils that contain no additives, and therefore cannot be multi-viscosity grade products; the terms API SA and multigrade are mutually exclusive. Furthermore, the API states that SA oils are not suitable for most gasoline engines manufactured after 1930 (not 1951 as shown on the product on the label).
Related Stories:
Four More From Chicago – Three Good, One Bad
March 8, 2016
 |
 |
 |
 |
PQIA ISSUES A DON’T BUY ON THREE PRODUCTS PURCHASED IN CHICAGO
March 1, 2016
 |
 |
 |
