A Look at Four More Motor oil Brands and Viscosity Grades
December 30, 2015
PQIA examined four brands of motor oils in various viscosity grades availabe on retail shelves. The products were purchased in Pennsylvania, North and South Carolina, and New Jersey.
The results of the tests conducted on these samples meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grades listed on the product labels, and are consistent with the listed API Service Categories. CLICK FOR MORE
“Lawsuit: Dollar General motor oil not safe for cars newer than 1980s”
December 22, 2015
“A Houston man has filed a class-action lawsuit in federal court against Dollar General, claiming that the company sells a line of motor oils that are unsuitable for today’s cars.” CLICK for More
Related News: Why are Obsolete Motor Oils Still on the Shelves?
Five More Samples From the Washington, D.C. Area
December 22, 2015
PQIA issues consumer alerts on three out of five more samples from the Washington, D.C. area.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR TEST RESULTS and PQIA ASSESSMENTS
Results in on Seven Coolant/Antifreeze Samples
December 21, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America recently took a look at seven coolant/antifreeze products on retail shelves. Whereas four checked out fine, there are concerns with three.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR TEST RESULTS and PQIA ASSESSMENTS.
RelaDyne Joins to Support PQIA’s Efforts to Help Assure the Quality and Integrity of Lubricants in the Market
DECEMBER 17, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce RelaDyne has joined PQIA’s growing list of lubricant manufacturers, marketers, additive suppliers, and other supporters working to help assure the quality and integrity of motor oils, transmission fluids, and other lubricants in the market. CLICK HERE FOR MORE
Results in on more D.C. Samples
December 1, 2015
Although PQIA’s sampling of products purchased in the Washington D.C. area this year revealed reasons for concern, the good news is that there were a number of brands tested that had no issues. Click here for more.
PQIA issues a DON’T BUY on 3X Super Premium Motor Oil on Shelves in Florida!
November 18, 2015
A Dark Day in The Sunshine State
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA), issues a DON’T BUY on two “3X Super Premium Motor Oil” viscosity grades on the shelves in Florida!
The results of the tests conducted on the 3X Super Premium 10W-40 and 20W-50 samples DO NOT meet the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product labels. Also of high concern is the level of silicon in the samples. Such levels are unheard of in motor oils and strongly suggest the samples are highly contaminated.
In addition, these products are represented as mulitgrade motor oils meeting an API SA Service Classification. This can’t be. By definition, an API SA motor oil cannot be a multi-viscosity motor oil.
Click on Bottles Below for the Test Results and PQIA Assessments
and visit the PQIA BLOG for comments
Five More Samples from Washington, D.C.
November 13, 2015
PQIA takes a look at five 10W-40 motor oils purchased in the Washington, D.C. market. All look good.
Click on Bottles Below for the Data
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Florida Deserves Better – Part II
November 9, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) recently reported that the majority of motor oils PQIA observed on the shelves at convenience stores it recently visited in Florida are labeled as meeting only obsolete American Petroleum Institute (API) SA, SB, SC, and SG Service Categories. These Categories apply to motor oils formulated for use in cars built prior to 1930, 1951, 1967, and 1993, respectively, and according to the API they are obsolete and not suitable for engines built after these model years. Some, in fact, may cause harm to modern engines. To that, PQIA added that Florida deserves better.
Make no mistake about it, these obsolete motor oils are not hard to find. They are not dead stock covered with dust, hidden in a back room on top of a cooler in a Chokoloskee, Florida bait shop. Instead, they are eye level products served up to consumers at many high traffic convenience stores PQIA visited in Miami, Opa-Locka, Dania, West Palm Beach and other areas in Florida. And with shelves loaded with these obsolete motor oils, there is little wonder why a consumer would think it’s all good.
So here they are, although PQIA suspects there could be more, the following are the obsolete brands observed on the shelves at the convenient stores PQIA recently visited in Florida. They include; XCEL PREMIUM, EASYLUBE Premium, 3X Super Premium, VTech, and Thunder motor oils. CLICK FOR MORE
Figure 1
Florida Deserves Better
October 30, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA), represented by Thomas F. Glenn, President of PQIA, had the opportunity to sit on a distinguished panel last week at the annual Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association (ILMA) meeting in Boca Raton, Florida. The panel discussion titled, “The ILMA Ethics Initiative: Driving Toward Quality,” was well attended, informative, and underscored the lubricant industry’s collective interests and efforts to protect consumers from potentially harmful motor oils, and help assure suppliers compete on a level playing field.
With the ILMA meeting in Florida, and a good deal of the panel discussion about the actions the State of Florida takes to protect consumers from potentially engine damaging motor oils, PQIA decided to take a firsthand look at the motor oils currently on store shelves in the State. With that, following the ILMA meeting, Glenn took a drive from Boca Raton south to Miami, and back up North to West Palm Beach. Stops were made at several big chain auto parts stores and 18 convenience stores along the way. Although almost all the major and private label motor oils at the auto parts stores were labeled to meet current performance specifications, what PQIA found at the convenience stores was a real eye opener, and cause for concern.
The majority of the motor oils PQIA observed on the shelves at convenience stores visited in Florida were only labeled with obsolete API SA, SB, SC, and SG Service Categories. To put this in perspective, these motor oils were made for use in cars built prior to 1930, 1951, 1967, and 1993, respectively.According to the API these are obsolete and not suitable for engines built after these model years. Some, in fact, may cause harm to modern engines.
Adding to PQIA’s concerns is the significant presence of multigrade motor oils labeled API SA/SB. Plain and simple, this can’t be.
By definition, an API SA motor oil cannot be a multi-viscosity grade product. As shown in API 1509, Table A-1 of Annex A, API SA motor oils are “straight mineral oil.” As such, they contain no additives. Multigrade motor oil requires the use of viscosity modifier additives to be a multigrade. Consistent with the API definition, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in SAE J183 defines API SA oils as “straight” viscosity grade products. By either/or both of these definitions, the term API SA and multigrade are mutually exclusive; a motor oil cannot meet both an API SA Service Category and be an SAE multigrade.
Similarly, multigrade motor oils marked as API SB are a contradiction since SAE did not recognize “W’ grades until 1952, and API SB motor oils were formulated for use in vehicles built prior to 1951.
So what’s the deal?
Why are obsolete, potentially engine damaging motor oils, some of which by definition simply cannot exist, commonly found on convenience store shelves in the State of Florida? Moreover, what’s being done to protect consumers in Florida from these engine oils? You can be sure, PQIA will follow-up.
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America Announces Certification of Four Lubricant Manufacturers
October 22, 2015
Look for the PQIA Certification Mark – The Mark of Quality
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA), an independent organization with a mission to serve consumers of lubricants by testing and reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace, today announced that four lubricant manufacturers have recently completed the rigorous PQIA Lubricant Certification Process, and are now PQIA Certified Lubricant Suppliers. The program certifies the quality management practices, product integrity, and labeling of motor oils marketed by lubricant manufacturers and distributors.
Certified companies will be authorized to use the PQIA Certification Mark on their motor oil packaging and marketing material. The four companies meeting the PQIA Certification standards include:
According to Thomas F. Glenn, President of PQIA “The program is structured to help assure lubricant manufacturers and distributors meet PQIA’s standards, the requirements set forth by the American Petroleum Institute (API), the American Chemistry Council (ACC), and government regulations as they pertain to the manufacturing and marketing of lubricants.” In addition to determining if products are made right, Glenn says, “The PQIA Certification Program is intended to help assure the products made are right for consumers. This means the lubricants meet claimed specifications, are not labeled deceptively, display appropriate API Service Symbols and/or Certification Marks, and include any cautionary statements specified in the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) Standard J183.”
Glenn adds, “PQIA Certified Suppliers agree to the PQIA Code of Ethical Business Conduct (CODE), provide access to manufacturing and packaging facilities for PQIA plant audits and random and periodic sampling and testing of bulk and packaged lubricants.” For more information on the PQIA Certification Program and the Certification Process, contact Thomas Glenn.
PQIA’s First Round of Coolant/Antifreeze Testing – Two Products Show Reason for Concern
October 8, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America has been hard at work over the past few months developing a coolant/antifreeze program. In part, this pilot program was put in place to address the many questions and concerns PQIA receives about not only the motor oils in the market, but also the antifreeze on retail shelves. CLICK FOR MORE.
So here it is, the first group of antifreeze/coolants examined by PQIA. It’s disappointing to find that two of the six samples have issues.
Click bottles below for test results and PQIA’s assessments.
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Consumer Alert |
Six More Samples Tested – All Look Good
October 2, 2015
Click bottles below for the most recent round of products examined by PQIA. All looked good.
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| DuraMax | Phillips 66 Trop Artic | CENEX Auto Gold | CENEX Superlube TMS | Pento Super Performance III | Beck/Arnley Premium OE Synthetic |
Why are Obsolete Motor Oils Still on the Shelves?
October 2, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) recently visited a Dollar General not far from our office in central New Jersey. Understanding Dollar General operates 12,198 stores in 43 states as of July 31, 2015, it was interesting to see what motor oils they sell.
Whereas the store we visited offered a variety of brands, the Dollar General (DG) brand motor oil got our attention. And the reason it did is because the other motor oils on the shelves meet the current API SN Service Classification, the “DG” multi-viscosity motor oils do not. Instead, they meet an API “SF” Service Classification.
For those unfamiliar with API Service Classifications, “SF” is an obsolete API specification that defines the performance of motor oils formulated for use in cars built prior to 1988. Since that time, there have been six upgrades in motor oil standards.
More Samples From Washington, D.C.
September 18, 2015
Although PQIA found a number of obsolete and potentially engine damaging motor oils on retail shelves in the Washington, D.C. area, PQIA examined many products that checked out fine.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR MORE MOTOR OILS PQIA EXAMINED FROM THE D.C. AREA THAT CHECKED OUT FINE…
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Under the Nose of Our Lawmakers – Part III
Don’t Let the Bad Apples Spoil the Basket
September 3, 2015
For those following the PQIA series of articles on motor oils sold in the Washington, D.C. area (see below), it should be clear there is reason for concern. Although one might assume motor oils sold under the noses of our lawmakers and global movers and shakers are quality products, that’s not the case.
But don’t let the bad apples on the shelves in the D.C. area spoil the whole basket. Because while it was not hard for PQIA to find obsolete, potentially engine damaging motor oils on the shelves in the D.C. area, we also found a number of major and independent brands that checked out fine.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR SOME OF THE PRODUCTS PQIA TESTED FROM THE D.C. AREA THAT CHECKED OUT FINE…
and there are more to come.
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The Weights, Measures and Consumer Protection Division of the Missouri Department of Agriculture Adds Black Knight 20-50 to its list of banned motor oils
August 25, 2015
Add Black Knight 20-50 motor oil to the list of lubricants ordered off the shelves in the state of Missouri. Click for more
Under the Nose of Our Lawmakers – Part II
August 24, 2015
Sorting Out the Good from the Bad
On August 12th of this month, the Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) published a piece about the quality of motor oils sold “Under the Nose of Our Lawmakers” in Washington, D.C. In short, we expressed concerns about the fact that obsolete, potentially engine damaging motor oils are not only readily available on retail shelves in many states, they are also found on the shelves right under the nose of our lawmakers in Washington, D.C.
And to make matters worse, some of these obsolete motor oils are labeled with language that can easily mislead consumers into thinking they are premium products. An example of this is shown on the front labels of XCEL that state “PREMIUM” and “Protects like no other.” Whereas such statements might be true if protecting like no other means providing no more than the level of protection one could hope for in the 1930’s, these products fall well short of protecting the engines of nearly all cars currently on the road. Further, if your car is under warranty, forget about it. Use of obsolete motor oils, or others not specified in your owner’s manual will void your warranty.
Most recent Round of Samples Examind by PQIA
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR DETAILS
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| Consumer Alert | Consumer Alert | Consumer Alert | Consumer Alert |
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| DON’T BUY |
Separating the Good from the Bad in Motor Oils.
To start, take a look at the test results for the TruStar and Super XXX motor oils above. These products do not meet their labeled specifications. Moreover, the Super XXX has visible debris in the oil, DON’T BUY IT!
Next, read the section of your owner’s manual that speaks to the type of motor oil required for your vehicle. In most cases it will specify the use of an oil meeting an API Service and ILSAC classification (e.g. API SN. ILSAC GF-5). Importantly, it will also state the viscosity of the motor oil required for your car (e.g. 5W-30, 0W-20). Look for these specifications when buying motor oils or having your oil changed at an oil change facility.
Don’t be fooled into thinking more is better on the label of the motor oil you buy. Sure it’s easy to quickly look at a label and assume that because it states familiar car and truck manufacturer names that it must be good and right for your car, but it very well may not.
As an example, take a look at the back labels of XCEL XHD Turbo recently examined by PQIA (click images above). The label on this product states “RECOMMENDED FOR ALL GASOLINE AND DIESEL ENGINES OF UNITED STATES, JAPANESE, AND EUROPEAN MANUFACTURERS INCLUDING: Mack, Cummins, Man, MTY, Renault, Toyota, Volkswagon [sic], Nissan, Honda, Mitsubishi, Volvo, Mercedes Benz, Navistar, Detroit Diesel, IHC, Iveco, DAF, Scania, Fiat, PSA Specifications, when specifying API SG/CF-4.”
Whereas this may sound impressive, consider that API SG and CF-4 are obsolete specifications and are not specified by engine manufacturers for modern engines. According to the API, SG oils are not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automotive engines built after 1993. API CF-4 oils are not suitable for use in most diesel-engines built after 1994. Moreover, where it might read like a litany of endorsements, the label on this product fails to give adequate warning to consumers about its limited use.
So read the labels. Make sure the oil you buy is right for your car.
Under the Nose of Our Lawmakers
By Thomas F. Glenn, President, PQIA
August 12, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) recently purchased samples of passenger car motor oils in Washington D.C. To our disappointment, a significant number of the motor oils we observed and purchased on shelves at convenience stores in D.C. meet only API SA and SB Service Classifications. API SA is not suitable for use in gasoline engines built after 1930 and API SB is not suitable for use in gasoline engines built after 1951. These are obsolete specifications and oils that may cause harm in modern engines.
So one has to ask,why are obsolete motor oils that can cause harm to nearly all cars currently on the road, sold in stores right under the nose of our lawmakers in Washington, D.C.?
The First Round of Motor Oils Purchased in Washington D.C. (and there are more to come) These Products Only Meet Obsolete Specifications and May Cause Harm to Modern Engines
Click Bottles Below for Details
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Are these obsolete motor oils in the market to service the collection of old cars housed in the Smithsonian? You can be sure they are not. Could it be that it takes decades for some of these convenience stores PQIA visited to turn inventory? That’s highly unlikely in the 22nd-most populous city in the United States.
Instead, maybe they are on the shelves to take advantage of consumer ignorance about our industry’s cryptic codes that define motor oil performance. Maybe some sell obsolete oils understand that most consumers have no idea what API SA, SB, or S (whatever) means. And because of that, consumers will take comfort in seeing words on front labels that they believe denote quality.
To understand how this can happen, take a look at the front labels on the bottles of “XCEL” motor oils PQIA purchased in D.C. (see links above). The label on the front of the XCEL bottles state “Protects like no other” and below that, in 36 point font (and that’s hard to miss), it reads “PREMIUM.” And adding to the adornment on the front label, it shows a race car flag with the word “SPECIAL” overprint on the flag. Say no more, that’s language most consumers understand, especially the part about “Protects like no other.” Take it and go!
But not so fast… if a consumer takes the time to read the back label, it says the XCEL oil is “Recommended for older cars where a minimum amount of additive is required.” And just below that, the label reads, “API Service SA.”
So what’s that about, and who are they fooling? Certainly they are not looking to fool anyone in our industry that has a clue about standards and specifications.
Unfortunately, however, they may fool reasonable consumers who, rightfully so, don’t connect the statement “for older cars” to mean a 1929 Model T or a 1950 Ford Country Squire. Instead, they may think it means their car; a 2001 Camry, Honda Civic, Ford Expedition, or some other car they drive that is out of warranty. And unless they have a decoder ring or an industry Guru to tell them what API SA means, let’s be real, most consumers might buy obsolete oil because they have no clue who API is, let alone what API SA, SB and on up to SN means.
And there is more.
Adding to PQIA’s concern about some of the motor oils we purchased in D.C. being obsolete, there are other issues of concern. One is that the “Black Knight” brand found in D.C. has, in various viscosity grades, been ordered off the shelves by state authorities in Alabama, Georgia, Missouri, and New Jersey. See link.
So at the end of the day, after PQIA’s tour through D.C.,although it’s good to see some states are taking action to protect consumers from harmful motor oils, it’s disappointing to see that the law makers in the U.S. Capital have yet to take action to protect consumers from obsolete, potentially engine damaging motor oils sold just below their noses on Capital Hill.
Stay tuned, there is more to come on PQIA’s Tour Of the Hill!
PQIA Takes a Look at Four More Diesel Engine Oil Samples
July 24, 2015
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR TEST RESULTS
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Prime Lube Joins to Support PQIA’s Efforts to Help Assure the Quality and Integrity of Lubricants in the Market
July 21, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce that Prime Lube has joined PQIA’s growing list of lubricant manufacturers, marketers, additive suppliers, and other supporters working to help assure the quality and integrity of motor oils, transmission fluids, and antifreeze/coolants in the market.
Prime Lube, headquartered in Carteret, NJ, markets Chevron, ExxonMobil, Castrol and its own API-certified Prime Plus line, for a wide range of automotive, heavy-duty and industrial lubricants. Founded in 1987, Prime Lube began with two trucks and has grown to become a premier lubricant distributor in the Northeast United States. CLICK FOR MORE.
Results in on Five Diesel Engine Oils
July 17, 2015
PQIA takes a look at five more diesel engine oils and finds no issues with the samples tested.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR DETAILS
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| Rural King Diesel Engine Oil | Ace Super Duty | Blain’s Diesel Engine Oil | Love’s | Marathon Heavy Duty Motor Oil |
Results in on Four More Brands of Passenger Car Motor Oil
July 2, 2015
PQIA takes a look at four more brands of SAE 5W-30 passenger car motor oil and finds no issues with the products tested.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR RECENT ROUND OF TEST RESULTS
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| Essential Everyday SAE 5W-30 | RK SAE 5W-30 | SynGard SAE 5W-30 | SuperTech Conventional SAE 5W-30 |
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America Announces Petro-Canada Lubricants as a New Supporter
June 26, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce that Petro-Canada Lubricants, a Suncor business, has joined to support PQIA’s efforts in assuring the quality and integrity of lubricants in the market.
Petro-Canada Lubricants manufactures and markets over 350 premium quality lubricants, specialty fluids and greases to meet the needs of many of the world’s leading companies in virtually every industry in more than 70 countries around the globe. The company is also one of the world’s largest producers of pharmaceutical white oils.
Are You Buying Obsolete Motor Oil? Read the Back Label!
June 23, 2015
Whereas PQIA found no issues with the most recent round of products tested (see below),one product (Pro Force), raised eyebrows. That’s because it was rated API SF. This is an Obsolete Specification, and according to the API is “not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automotive engines built after 1988. May not provide adequate protection against build-up of engine sludge.”
But there it was, many bottles of this SF motor oil, meeting only an obsolete specification, sitting on the store shelves shoulder-to-shoulder with current technology motor oils. And the only way a consumer would know the difference is to carefully read down the back label.
Pro Force is not the only brand of SF oil being marketed in the USA. In fact PQIA has encountered several other brands of obsolete SF motor oils being sold across the country. One has to wonder why an oil company would market motor oil that is not considered suitable by the API for use in cars built in the last 27 years. Are there that many vintage cars on the road? And if so, why use an obsolete motor oil when today’s API SN motor oils are backward compatible.
So when purchasing motor oil, be sure to read the back label to confirm that both the viscosity grade and API Service Classification meet the requirements stated in the owner’s manual of your car.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR RECENT ROUND OF TEST RESULTS
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| STP | Motorcraft | Casey’s | Quaker State | Zecol MAX | Pro Force Note |
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) expands its Efforts to Protect Consumers by including antifreeze/coolants in its Testing and Reporting Program.
June 4, 2015
KOST USA Inc. signs on as a charter supporter of PQIA’s coolant/antifreeze program and joins PQIA’s technical sub-committee on antifreeze/coolants.
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce that it is expanding its lubricant testing program to include automotive coolants/antifreeze. KOST USA, a leading supplier of antifreeze in the US market has signed on as a charter supporter of the program and will join the PQIA technical subcommittee on antifreeze/coolants.
The president of PQIA, Thomas F. Glenn, says “Antifreeze/coolant is critical for protecting engines. It’s not just about preventing catastrophic engine failure from blocks cracking in the subfreezing temperatures during the winters that are often seen in Prospect Creek Camp, Alaska; Rogers Pass, Montana; or virtually any other state in the country. Antifreeze/coolants also help to prevent overheating and reduce engine wear from pitting and cavitation, corrosion, and metal-to-metal wear that can occur when the geometry of an engine changes due to overheating.”
According to research by PQIA, KOST USA is one of seven leading suppliers of antifreeze/coolants in the US market. Whereas KOST is not the largest supplier of antifreeze, Glenn says, “PQIA is encouraged to see KOST USA step out and ahead to help assure the quality and integrity of the antifreeze/coolants in the marketplace.”
About KOST USA
KOST USA is the largest family owned manufacturer, supplier and marketer of antifreeze and functional fluids in the United States. Founded in 1985, we are headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. We build both our customers and our own brands through high performance products and superior service, primarily in the automotive & heavy duty aftermarket, as well as in the Oil & Gas sector. www.kostusa.com.
PPC Lubricants Joins to Support PQIA’s Efforts to Help Assure the Quality and Integrity of Lubricants in the Market
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une 2, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce that PPC Lubricants has joined PQIA’s growing list of lubricant manufacturers, marketers, additive suppliers, and other supporters working to help assure the quality and integrity of motor oils, transmission fluids, and other lubricants in the market.
A Look At Mono-grades
May 29, 2015
Although mono-grade motor oils (i.e. SAE 30, 40), also known as straight grades, represent less than 5% of the motor oil consumed in the US, PQIA receives a notable number of inquiries about them. For this reason, we decided to take a look these grades.
Read the Labels!
May 20, 2015
PQIA recently purchased motor oils at a Jacksons Food Store in Sparks, Nevada. The product is marketed under the “Jacksons” brand name. The labels on the bottles and the products in them raised concerns.
The first reason for concern is that the labels do not claim compliance with any API, OEM, or any other industry standards or specifications, and they display no certification marks. This makes it impossible for consumers to know if this is the right oil for their car. Without proper labeling, a consumer has no idea if a quart of Jacksons oil is formulated for use in a Model A built in the 1920’s or for cars currently on the road.
CLICK FOR MORE
–Buyer Beware – Bad Oils are still on the shelves
– Mandatory 10k Oil Drain
Will CA Lead the way with 10K, or is This a Requirement for Another Day?
May 11, 2015
All too often we hear that what happens in California is a harbinger of what’s to come in the rest of the USA. Whether that’s true or not, it’s now time to take notice of California Senate Bill (SB 778), introduced by California State Senator Allen on February 27, 2015
If it becomes law, as currently written, this bill will require all passenger car motor oil sold in California to be certified by the oil manufacturer to achieve a minimum useful life of 10,000 miles when used in accordance with the automobile manufacturer’s recommendations, and to meet current automotive industry standards. That’s close to doubling oil change intervals. Violation of these provisions would be a crime on and after January 1, 2018. Click for more
Tell Them What You Sell Them
CLICK PICTURE FOR NEW12 NJ STORY
News12 New Jersey – Kane in Your Corner takes a Look at Oil Changes and the Results are Eye Opening
April 22, 2015
Walt Kane from News12 New Jersey television aired several ground breaking stories in 2014 about the quality of packaged motor oils on retail shelves in New Jersey (one segment is up for an Emmy!). These stories certainly got the attention of consumers and state officials. In fact, action was taken by the State of NJ following Kane’s investigation to protect consumers in the state from potentially engine damaging motor oils (see products banned from sale in NJ).
But Kane didn’t stop there.
Thomas Glenn, President of PQIA Discussing the Issues with Walt Kane, News12 New Jersey
While the efforts of News12 NJ and the State of NJ made significant strides to protect consumers from harmful motor oils on retail shelves, Kane in Your Corner (KIYC) stayed in the corner of NJ consumers when it decided to dig deeper by taking a look at motor oils installed in vehicles at fast lubes, repair shops and others that change oil for a fee. In doing so, KIYC had its oil changed at seven locations in New Jersey. Samples of the oil used in the change were sent to an independent laboratory and KIYC turned to PQIA for an assessment of the results. The findings of the KIYC investigation are eye opening.
Click for more
Schuette, Clover Adams Announce Investigation of 10 Michigan Businesses Related to Faulty Anti-Freeze Distribution
March 18, 2015
Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette and Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) Director Jamie Clover Adams announced the state is investigating Royal Packaging and nine of its distributors who may be continuing to sell two brands of defective anti-freeze/coolant contrary to MDARD’s orders issued last September.
“Consumer Protection is in the DNA of the Department of Attorney General. If vehicle owners are being sold products that may cause them to suffer costly repairs, we will compel them to produce documentation showing exactly where these brands have been distributed,” said Schuette. “I would like to thank MDARD and Director Clover Adams for their initial investigation on behalf of the People of the State of Michigan.” CLICK FOR MORE
A Look at Four More Diesel Engine Oils
March 11, 2015
PQIA takes a look at four more diesel engine oils. Although the label on one brand is a challenge to read, they all 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 BELOW FOR DETAILS
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Click below for a side-by-side of test results for diesel engine oil brands recently examined by PQIA.
News12 New Jersey Honored with New York Emmy® Award Nomination for Story on “Bad Motor Oils”
February 17, 2015
The New York Chapter of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences honored News12 New Jersey with 10 New York Emmy® Award nominations. One is for the excellent investigative reporting by News12’s Walt Kane (Kane in Your Corner) on “Bad Motor Oils Exposed.” News12 was the first station in the country to tackle this important issue.
With the assistance of the Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA), Walt Kane shined a bright light on the serious issue of Bad Motor Oils sold in the state of NJ, some so bad they can cause serious harm to engines. And according to Thomas F. Glenn, president of PQIA, the story goes well beyond the state of NJ. “We have found, and unfortunately continue to find, motor oils with serious deficiencies on the shelves in many other states. With that, we appreciate the excellent work News12’s Walt Kane did to raise awareness about these issues,” says Glenn.
According to Glenn, “Kane’s story not only got the eyes and ears of News12 viewers, but it also got the attention of the NJ Department of Consumer Affairs.” Following the News12 story, the state of NJ conducted a comprehensive investigation of its own to assess the quality of motor oils sold in the state. From this, the State of NJ banned the sale of 19 motor brands. PQIA applauds the action taken by NJ Department of Consumer Affairs to protect its consumers from harmful motor oils.
The 2015 Emmy® Awards will be presented on Saturday, May 2, 2015 at The Marriott Marquee Times Square in New York City.
Five Samples Tested… Whereas all look fine, read the labels to be sure the product is right for you car.
February 17, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America examined five brands of motor oils recently purchased on retail shelves. Although PQIA found no issues with these brands, one product, (Custom PLUS) underscores the importance of reading the labels to assure the motor oil you buy is right for the model year of your car. In the case of CustomPLUS, it is a product recommended for API Service Category SJ which is intended for use in vehicles built prior to 2002. So take the time to read the labels on the bottles before you buy.
Click bottles below for the test data
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Bullseye Automotive Products Inc. Fined $700k for Violating State’s Weights and Measures Act
February 9, 2015
The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) today announced Bullseye Automotive Products Inc. of Illinois has been fined $711,415 in a default judgment issued by the Honorable Clinton Canady III in Ingham County 30th Circuit Court. Click more.
PQIA Issues Consumer Alerts on two brands. One brand is new to the Chicago market, the other is an ongoing concern still on the shelves in multiple states.
January 27, 2015
Buyers Beware… PQIA has found a previously unseen brand of motor oil on the retail shelves in Illinois that may cause harm to engines. The brand is XPRESS LUBE PRO. Tests conducted on samples of this brand in 5W-30 and 10W-30 viscosity grades do NOT meet the SAE J300 specifications for the viscosity grades listed on the labels. In addition, the organometallic additive levels in the samples indicate the products are NOT suitable for use in virtually all automobile engines currently on the road. Further, the metal analysis results for the samples tested indicate the products may be contaminated with used oil. Use of these products in modern automobile engines will likely cause harm the engines.
CLICK BOTTLES BELOW FOR DETAILS
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| XPRESS LUBE PRO 5W-30 | XPRESS LUBE PRO 10W-30 | Everclear 10-40 |
As for Everclear, this is not the first time, or the only state, where PQIA has found issues with Everclear products. In fact, this is the seventh time PQIA has issued Consumer Alerts on lubricants marketed under the Everclear brand. Previous Alerts include: November 25, 2014, May 2014, Oct 2013, Nov 2012, July 2011, and March 2011
PQIA has reached out to the State of Ohio, Department of Consumer Affairs, on several occasions, (the state where the product is manufactured) to look into this product. To our disappointment (and continuing concern for consumers), rather than stepping up to protect consumers in Ohio and other states from these, and other potentially harmful lubricants, officials in Ohio say they are too resource constrained to address this issue.
Results in on Four More Diesel Engine Oils
January 16, 2015
In addition to the six brands PQIA reported on last week, we are pleased to report that the brands shown below also checked out fine… More diesel engine oil brands to follow.
Test Result in on First Group Diesel Engine Oils… Looks good.
January 7, 2015
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America recently hit the road to shop for, and take a close look at some of the diesel engine oils currently in the market. We are pleased to report that the brands shown below checked out fine… More diesel engine oil brands to follow.
Click bottles below for details.
