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

PQIA Certified

The PQIA Motor Oil Certification Program is a voluntary program structured to help assure lubricant manufacturers and distributors meet good manufacturing standards. Click for Certified Motor Oil Suppliers

PQIA Supporters

Additive Manufacturers

Lubricant Manufacturers

Chemlube International

Chevron

CITGO

ENEOS /JX Nippon Oil & Energy USA

Lubrication Engineers

MOTUL USA

Petro-Canada Lubricants

Phillips 66

Pinnacle Oil

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

December 12, 2019

Consumer Alert!

Due to the high viscosity, absence of additives vital to protecting an engine from deposits and wear, high phosphorus content, and labeling violations, PQIA has issued a Consumer Alert on Super Green Smokeless Motor Oil. Use of this product in virtually all automobile engines will likely cause harm to the engine.

The results of the tests conducted on this sample shows a viscosity of 41.5 cSt @ 100°C and 244 cSt @ 40°C. The viscosity @ 100°C is nearly 60% higher than the highest motor oil viscosity grade limit as defined by SAE J300. A Cold Crank Viscosity at -25°C (test temperature for a 10W-30) could not be determined. Based on these test results, use of this product could cause pumpability issues at startup in cold temperatures. In addition, the high viscosity could compromise fuel economy and the flow of lubricant to vital engine parts.

In addition to issues with the product’s viscosity, the phosphorus content at 2,123 part per million (ppm) is significantly over the 800 ppm maximum allowed for motor oils used in modern engines. Use of a product with high phosphorus content can poison a vehicle’s catalytic converter and result in unacceptable tailpipe emissions.

Adding to concerns about the phosphorus is the absence of any meaningful levels of calcium and/or magnesium, and zinc. This, together with the low total base number (TBN) indicates the product does not contain vital additives needed to protect engine from damage due to deposits and wear.

A Consumer Alert is issued on this product for labeling issues as well. Whereas the four bottles in the case purchased have a front label, there is no back label. The front label for this product identifies it as a “Smokeless Motor Oil”, but does not display any SAE Viscosity Grade, API Service Category, OEM specifications, or any other performance specifications. Without this information, a consumer cannot determine if the oil meets the requirements for their engine. Further, without this information, the label on the product does not comply with Regulation for the Method of Sale of Commodities specified in National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Handbook 130. >>CLICK FOR MORE

Most Recent Samples Examined by PQIA

December 12, 2019

The following assessments include one SAE 5W-20 and two SAE 5W-30 motor oils examined by PQIA.

In the News

December 2, 2019

Reliance Fluid Technologies (RFT) Achieves PQIA Motor Oil Supplier Certification

November 15, 2019

The following assessments include one SAE 5W-20 and three SAE 5W-30 motor oils examined by PQIA.

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

Sample Assessments

October 30, 2019

High Mileage Motor Oils

High Mileage motor oils are typically formulated for use in vehicles with more than 75,000 miles. They contain additives that help reduce oil leaks and burn off by swelling o-rings and gaskets. In addition, some include additional detergent/dispersant or other additives to remove sludge from engines or provide other improved wear or oxidation performance. As with other motor oils, high mileage oils can be conventional, synthetic blends, and synthetic with corresponding use of different base oil types.

Suggested reading for more on High Mileage Motor Oils is a piece written by David Lee Ph.D. Chevron Lubricants: “Vehicles are lasting longer…there’s an oil for that”

The following assessments include three more high mileage motor oils examined by PQIA and two conventional SAE 5W-30s. More high mileage motor oil assessments are coming soon...

High Mileage

Conventional

Other High Mileage Motor Oils Recently Tested by PQIA

October 9, 2019

ENEOS / JX Nippon Oil & Energy USA Inc Joins as PQIA Supporter

October 2, 2019

METUCHEN, NJ – The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is pleased to announce JX Nippon Oil & Energy USA – the producers of ENEOS Motor Oil – has joined PQIA’s growing list of supporters that are working to help assure the quality and integrity of engine oils, transmission fluids, and other lubricants in the market. More>>

Responding to Consumers

September 5, 2019

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.

Samples Recently Examined

September 5, 2019

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.

Attorney General James Secures $1.2 Million From Dollar Store Chains For Selling Expired Products

August 27, 2019

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>>

Smitty's Supply and Tractor Supply Agree to $1.7 Million Settlement in "SuperTrac 303" Class Action

August 12, 2019

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>>

Mark Griffin Keynote Speaker at Lubricant Conference: "Bridging the Gap"

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>>>

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 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>>

Tractor Hydraulic Fluid – NCWM Approves Amendments to HB130

July 22, 2019

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.

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.

Click bottles for details

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.

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.