Q Motor Oil
PQIA issues Consumer Alerts on the Q brand “10•30” and “10•40” motor oils recently purchased at a convenience store in Florence Kentucky. Based on the results of the samples tested, use of these products in virtually all automobile engines on the road today could cause harm to the engine.
Among other significant technical issues with the two samples of Q Motor Oil tested, the labels on the product do not comply with the Uniform Packaging and Labeling Regulations of the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act, SAE J300 Engine Oil Viscosity Classification, and the Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 130.
PQIA will be reaching out to the corporate management of the convenience store chain where this oil was purchased to bring the sample test results and the product’s labeling deficiencies to their attention.
Product: Q Motor Oil
Viscosity Grade: “10•30”
Labeled: No API Service Category or any other specifications shown
The front label on this product states “10•30” in large print, which could be interpreted by a consumer as meaning the oil is an SAE 10W-30 viscosity grade. The back label, however, states “Viscosity Range 10 To 30.” This terminology is not consistent with any industry definitions for SAE viscosity grades.
In addition, although the labels on this product do not claim it meets any API Service Category (or any other specification for that matter), the test results on this sample indicates the product lacks an effective level of additives to protect the engine in most cars currently on the road from wear, sludge, and deposits. Further, the elemental analysis results for this sample indicate the product may be contaminated with used oil and abrasive material.
Product: Q Motor Oil
Viscosity Grade: “10•40”
Labeled: No API Service Category or any other specifications shown
The front label on this product states “10•40” in large print, which could be interpreted by a consumer as meaning the oil is an SAE 10W-40 viscosity grade, The back label, however, states “Viscosity Range 10 To 40.” This terminology is not consistent with any industry definitions for SAE viscosity grades. The results of the tests conducted on this sample do not meet the SAE J300 specifications for an SAE 10W-40 Viscosity Grade. The Kinematic Viscosity for the sample tested at 100°C is 10% lower than the minimum viscosity specification for this SAE grade.
In addition, the elemental analysis results for this sample indicate the product may be contaminated with used oil and abrasive material.
At some convenience stores visited by PQIA, the Q brand motor oil has a significant presence on the shelves. As seen in the image below, the Q brand is represented by 15 facings, or half of the motor oil displayed at the store recently visited in Florence Kentucky.
Further, in addition to recently observing the brand in Florence, Kentucky, PQIA has issued Consumer Alerts on samples of the Q brand in the past from Sparta, KY, North Lima and Cleveland, Ohio. Click links below for details.
Q 10•40 Motor Oil -North Lima Ohio – 4/19/2017
Q 10•30 Motor Oil – North Lima Ohio – 4/19/2017
Q 5•30 Motor Oil – North Lima Ohio – 4/19/2017
Q 10•30 Motor Oil – Cleveland Ohio – 9/15/2017
Q 10•30 Motor Oil – North Lima Ohio – 4/25/2018
Q ATF – North Lima Oho, – 4/25/2018
Q 5•30 Motor Oil – Sparta, KY – 5/10/2018
Consumers are cautioned that use of these products in virtually all automobiles on the road today could cause harm to the engine.
