Stewie
02-17-2012, 07:22 AM
Interesting article. A bit long but well worth it.
Motorists should be wary of mislabeled or inferior motor oil
By STEVE EVERLY
The Kansas City Star
The motor-oil industry has some advice for motorists: Be careful.
The routine oil change has become fertile ground for deception and consumer fraud. In a tough economy, sales of cheaper oil have risen, and the industry says more of that oil is substandard, which over time can cause excessive engine wear and even engine failure.
The industry estimates that 10 to 20 percent of motor oil has some problem — from overall poor quality to being outdated, misbranded or used for the wrong purpose. And the problems crop up for so-called bulk oil, pumped from tanker trucks to many quick-lube shops and larger auto repair centers, and for oil sold in quart cans to do-it-yourselfers and some smaller mechanic shops.
In response, the American Petroleum Institute trade group and regulators in Missouri and several other states are making plans to increase licensing and testing, and to improve labeling and tracking of motor oil throughout its supply chain.
More than half the motor oil in the country is sold in quick-lube shops, which mainly do oil changes, radiator flushes and filter replacements, rather than more extensive auto repair. Most of them are freestanding, though some are attached to repair shops or auto dealerships.
The industry says that the great majority take steps to ensure they’re using good-quality oil. Still, the businesses that rely on bulk oil exist in a regulatory void that makes it difficult to determine whether the shops themselves are passing off substandard oil or whether they are unwittingly buying bad oil from suppliers.
Hundreds of companies make, blend and distribute bulk oil, and they haven’t had to comply with labeling rules drawn up decades ago when most oil was sold in quarts and other packaged containers.
That can leave buyers of bulk oil unsure about brand and grade. Oil can fall below specifications needed to protect engines. Or oils with different viscosities or thicknesses can be mixed together, which can cause problems because engines are designed to perform best with particular grades and viscosities.
Celeste Powers, executive director of the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association, said bulk oil was the “weak link” in the quality chain, and her group “believes that misrepresentation of bulk motor oils occurs every day — both intentionally and unintentionally.”
Her group represents 290 small lubricant companies and randomly tests the oil its members produce. But last year, in a letter supporting better testing and monitoring, she wrote that current efforts hadn’t been enough to stop a “significant” percentage of inferior motor oil from being sold.
North Carolina, the one state to routinely test bulk oil, said 10 percent of its initial samples flunked tests — a rate that improved dramatically after word got out that the state was keeping watch. And the American Petroleum Institute says it has tested enough bulk oil to know that some does not meet specifications.
Shell Oil, which owns Pennzoil and Quaker State motor oil, last year told state weights-and-measures officials it was taking aggressive action that “will remain out of consumer view” against lube shops that falsely claim to use the company’s products. The most flagrant offenders were being sued, Shell said, with 10 lawsuits successfully concluded and another 10 being filed. More than 50 investigations were launched across the country.
Shell says it loses an estimated 8 million gallons of Pennzoil and Quaker State brand sales a year to those who “masquerade” by advertising those brands but actually sell something else.
Oil sold by the quart to do-it-yourselfers has its problems, too. Oil meant only for engines built before 1930, for example, can end up on a store shelf next to oil formulated for current models.
Missouri regulators have found used oil being sold as new. And the American Petroleum Institute recently sued two Michigan companies alleging they sold oil that claimed to meet the trade group’s standards but failed tests and could damage engines.
“You can’t assume that everything is fine,” said Tom Glenn, president of the Petroleum Quality Institute of America, which tests motor oil. “I can only guess that we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.”
Later this year, the American Petroleum Institute, which licenses motor oil to meet specified standards, will unveil a voluntary program to license oil-change businesses, distributors and others in the supply chain.
To get that seal of approval they will have to meet requirements such as allowing oil testing and keeping a “chain of custody” paper trail so problems with bulk oil can be traced. There will be more tests to ensure that the promised brand is what’s being sold, something possible since many brands are injecting unique chemical markers or additives.
The institute also will work with several states to boost their inspections.
Missouri, which does spot checks of packaged oil, is stepping up its scrutiny this month and expanding into inspections of bulk oil. Ron Hayes, head of the state’s weights and measures division, said the industry supported the consumer-protection initiative.
Kansas doesn’t inspect motor oil, and an official with its weights and measures department said there were no plans to do so.
The National Conference on Weights and Measures, which establishes regulations to be adopted by the states, also could help out. When it meets in July it’s expected to pass a rule to require shops using bulk oil to disclose brand, manufacturer, specifications and other details on the invoices they give customers.
The Automotive Oil Change Association said many shops already voluntarily provided detailed receipts.
Jiffy Lube, which is owned by Shell through its Quaker State and Pennzoil subsidiary, participated in a previous effort to license oil-change businesses.
Heartland Automotive Services, the country’s largest Jiffy Lube franchisee, including those in the Kansas City area, said it already disclosed the oil’s brand and grade on customer receipts and had taken measures to ensure its suppliers provided the right products. The company supports any additional measures being considered, a spokesman said, and hopes the rest of the industry will follow.
“We will absolutely support anything that helps consumers get the oil change they should,” said Rob Rajkowski, chief marketing officer for Heartland Automotive.
As engine designs get more efficient and sophisticated, they require the latest classifications of motor oil.
“Really high-quality oil is needed, and it’s going to be even more true in the future,” Matt Snider, an oil lubrication engineer for General Motors, said in an interview.
GM has started licensing its own specification, called “dexos,” to motor-oil companies.
Most auto and engine makers work with the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Automotive Engineers and other associations to come up with the specifications that various grades of motor oil must meet to get the institute’s certification and to stay up to date with current engines.
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America, which gets some support from the oil industry but uses independent laboratories, began testing packaged motor oil three years ago and is planning to expand into bulk oil.
Glenn, a 32-year veteran of the lube industry, said he knew some problems would be found when testing started, but he had been surprised how many of the difficulties had been serious. He routinely issues consumer alerts about brands that should be avoided.
The group’s tests find major brands such as Castrol and Pennzoil routinely meet the standards, as do many private or store brands, but some lesser known brands fail the tests.
One brand claiming to be a “superior all weather motor oil” had a thinner viscosity than claimed, lacked sufficient detergent additives to help keep engines clean, and contained contaminants, indicating it was at least partly used oil. Another brand had some coolant mixed into it. And two others met no recognized specifications for oil quality.
Glenn, in a trip last fall from Pennsylvania to Illinois, bought 12 quarts of oil from convenience stores, and seven had issues.
“It’s clear something has to be done,” Glenn said.
Kevin Ferrick, manager of the American Petroleum Institute’s oil licensing and certification program, said it would help to expand the labeling rules to bulk oil, and to license installers, distributors and others in the supply chain.
Ferrick had his own experience at a quick-lube shop that voluntarily disclosed information on the receipt, including the oil’s brand and type. It turned out the shop had used a different oil from what Ferrick requested.
But he noticed that on his receipt, and the shop replaced it.
“Our belief is, consumers have a right to know,” he said. “You want to be very careful.”
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/16/3434332/motorists-should-be-wary-of-mislabeled.html#storylink=cpy
Motorists should be wary of mislabeled or inferior motor oil
By STEVE EVERLY
The Kansas City Star
The motor-oil industry has some advice for motorists: Be careful.
The routine oil change has become fertile ground for deception and consumer fraud. In a tough economy, sales of cheaper oil have risen, and the industry says more of that oil is substandard, which over time can cause excessive engine wear and even engine failure.
The industry estimates that 10 to 20 percent of motor oil has some problem — from overall poor quality to being outdated, misbranded or used for the wrong purpose. And the problems crop up for so-called bulk oil, pumped from tanker trucks to many quick-lube shops and larger auto repair centers, and for oil sold in quart cans to do-it-yourselfers and some smaller mechanic shops.
In response, the American Petroleum Institute trade group and regulators in Missouri and several other states are making plans to increase licensing and testing, and to improve labeling and tracking of motor oil throughout its supply chain.
More than half the motor oil in the country is sold in quick-lube shops, which mainly do oil changes, radiator flushes and filter replacements, rather than more extensive auto repair. Most of them are freestanding, though some are attached to repair shops or auto dealerships.
The industry says that the great majority take steps to ensure they’re using good-quality oil. Still, the businesses that rely on bulk oil exist in a regulatory void that makes it difficult to determine whether the shops themselves are passing off substandard oil or whether they are unwittingly buying bad oil from suppliers.
Hundreds of companies make, blend and distribute bulk oil, and they haven’t had to comply with labeling rules drawn up decades ago when most oil was sold in quarts and other packaged containers.
That can leave buyers of bulk oil unsure about brand and grade. Oil can fall below specifications needed to protect engines. Or oils with different viscosities or thicknesses can be mixed together, which can cause problems because engines are designed to perform best with particular grades and viscosities.
Celeste Powers, executive director of the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association, said bulk oil was the “weak link” in the quality chain, and her group “believes that misrepresentation of bulk motor oils occurs every day — both intentionally and unintentionally.”
Her group represents 290 small lubricant companies and randomly tests the oil its members produce. But last year, in a letter supporting better testing and monitoring, she wrote that current efforts hadn’t been enough to stop a “significant” percentage of inferior motor oil from being sold.
North Carolina, the one state to routinely test bulk oil, said 10 percent of its initial samples flunked tests — a rate that improved dramatically after word got out that the state was keeping watch. And the American Petroleum Institute says it has tested enough bulk oil to know that some does not meet specifications.
Shell Oil, which owns Pennzoil and Quaker State motor oil, last year told state weights-and-measures officials it was taking aggressive action that “will remain out of consumer view” against lube shops that falsely claim to use the company’s products. The most flagrant offenders were being sued, Shell said, with 10 lawsuits successfully concluded and another 10 being filed. More than 50 investigations were launched across the country.
Shell says it loses an estimated 8 million gallons of Pennzoil and Quaker State brand sales a year to those who “masquerade” by advertising those brands but actually sell something else.
Oil sold by the quart to do-it-yourselfers has its problems, too. Oil meant only for engines built before 1930, for example, can end up on a store shelf next to oil formulated for current models.
Missouri regulators have found used oil being sold as new. And the American Petroleum Institute recently sued two Michigan companies alleging they sold oil that claimed to meet the trade group’s standards but failed tests and could damage engines.
“You can’t assume that everything is fine,” said Tom Glenn, president of the Petroleum Quality Institute of America, which tests motor oil. “I can only guess that we’ve only seen the tip of the iceberg.”
Later this year, the American Petroleum Institute, which licenses motor oil to meet specified standards, will unveil a voluntary program to license oil-change businesses, distributors and others in the supply chain.
To get that seal of approval they will have to meet requirements such as allowing oil testing and keeping a “chain of custody” paper trail so problems with bulk oil can be traced. There will be more tests to ensure that the promised brand is what’s being sold, something possible since many brands are injecting unique chemical markers or additives.
The institute also will work with several states to boost their inspections.
Missouri, which does spot checks of packaged oil, is stepping up its scrutiny this month and expanding into inspections of bulk oil. Ron Hayes, head of the state’s weights and measures division, said the industry supported the consumer-protection initiative.
Kansas doesn’t inspect motor oil, and an official with its weights and measures department said there were no plans to do so.
The National Conference on Weights and Measures, which establishes regulations to be adopted by the states, also could help out. When it meets in July it’s expected to pass a rule to require shops using bulk oil to disclose brand, manufacturer, specifications and other details on the invoices they give customers.
The Automotive Oil Change Association said many shops already voluntarily provided detailed receipts.
Jiffy Lube, which is owned by Shell through its Quaker State and Pennzoil subsidiary, participated in a previous effort to license oil-change businesses.
Heartland Automotive Services, the country’s largest Jiffy Lube franchisee, including those in the Kansas City area, said it already disclosed the oil’s brand and grade on customer receipts and had taken measures to ensure its suppliers provided the right products. The company supports any additional measures being considered, a spokesman said, and hopes the rest of the industry will follow.
“We will absolutely support anything that helps consumers get the oil change they should,” said Rob Rajkowski, chief marketing officer for Heartland Automotive.
As engine designs get more efficient and sophisticated, they require the latest classifications of motor oil.
“Really high-quality oil is needed, and it’s going to be even more true in the future,” Matt Snider, an oil lubrication engineer for General Motors, said in an interview.
GM has started licensing its own specification, called “dexos,” to motor-oil companies.
Most auto and engine makers work with the American Petroleum Institute, the Society of Automotive Engineers and other associations to come up with the specifications that various grades of motor oil must meet to get the institute’s certification and to stay up to date with current engines.
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America, which gets some support from the oil industry but uses independent laboratories, began testing packaged motor oil three years ago and is planning to expand into bulk oil.
Glenn, a 32-year veteran of the lube industry, said he knew some problems would be found when testing started, but he had been surprised how many of the difficulties had been serious. He routinely issues consumer alerts about brands that should be avoided.
The group’s tests find major brands such as Castrol and Pennzoil routinely meet the standards, as do many private or store brands, but some lesser known brands fail the tests.
One brand claiming to be a “superior all weather motor oil” had a thinner viscosity than claimed, lacked sufficient detergent additives to help keep engines clean, and contained contaminants, indicating it was at least partly used oil. Another brand had some coolant mixed into it. And two others met no recognized specifications for oil quality.
Glenn, in a trip last fall from Pennsylvania to Illinois, bought 12 quarts of oil from convenience stores, and seven had issues.
“It’s clear something has to be done,” Glenn said.
Kevin Ferrick, manager of the American Petroleum Institute’s oil licensing and certification program, said it would help to expand the labeling rules to bulk oil, and to license installers, distributors and others in the supply chain.
Ferrick had his own experience at a quick-lube shop that voluntarily disclosed information on the receipt, including the oil’s brand and type. It turned out the shop had used a different oil from what Ferrick requested.
But he noticed that on his receipt, and the shop replaced it.
“Our belief is, consumers have a right to know,” he said. “You want to be very careful.”
Read more here: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/02/16/3434332/motorists-should-be-wary-of-mislabeled.html#storylink=cpy