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PQIA SUPPORTERS


The Petroleum Quality Institute of America serves buyers and consumers of lubricants through the generous support of: 

 

 Afton Chemical
 
Chemlube International 

 

 
CHS Inc.

Chevron Products

CITGO

Eni USA R&M Co. Inc. 

Gulf Lubricants

 
Lubricating Specialties Company
 
Lubrizol

Phillips 66

Pinnacle Oil

Safety-Kleen


 Universal Lubricants
 
 

Lubricant Distributor Supporters

 

Circle Lubricants

Leahy-Wolf

Keller-Heartt Oil

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 Please contact PQIA at the link below if you too would like to support PQIA's efforts to help assure the quality of lubricants in the marketplace. 

 


PQIA ADVISORY BOARD
The Petroleum Quality Institute of America's Advisory Board comprises a distinguished group of professionals with prominence in a broad range of fields in the lubricants business.

 

The role of the Advisory Board is to provide PQIA's management with guidance, advice, recommendations and counsel in how to best pursue PQIA's purpose and mission.



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PQIA NEWS - October 29, 2013
PQIA's mission is to serve the consumers of lubricants by testing and reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace. 
  

If You See it, Report it!

In the past two months, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) issued Stop-Removal Orders for Bullseye and City Star Brand motor oils.  In addition to the short fills identified by the MDARD, PQIA has found the quality of these products is so bad that use in modern cars would actually cause damage to engines and transmissions.   

 

PQIA applauds Michigan for taking this aggressive legal action to protect its citizens by ordering these harmful oils off retail shelves.  But orders and enforcement are two different matters, and Michigan can use your help.

 

There are hundreds of retail outlets in Michigan that could potentially carry these damaging oils, and randomly sending MDARD inspectors out to all of these sites is a challenging process.Hopefully those outlets that heard about the Stop-Removal Orders will stop selling these oils, but many don't know, and some might not even care.  This is where industry participants and the consuming public can step up and help make a difference.   

   

If you are an oil distributor or a consumer you can join the effort by keeping your eyes open, and when you see Bullseye or City Star on the shelves, say something.   

 

The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has made it clear to PQIA that it will promptly send inspectors to all locations where these brands of oil are spotted.  Please join with us and call the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development at 1-800-292-3939 to report your sightings.  Then drop PQIA a line as well so we can track the progress of this worthy effort.

 

But What About the Other States?
                                                
  

Whereas Michigan had enough evidence to order Bullseye and City Star off the Shelves... what more do other states need to do the same?

 

As PQIA has been reporting for several years now, there are numerous brands of automotive oils on retail shelves across the USA that are of such poor quality that they can actually cause damage to modern engines and transmissions.  PQIA's surveillance has found over a dozen brands of such oils lurking on retail shelves in many states, including Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, and Florida.  In fact, the Petroleum Quality Institute of America made a tour through Michigan, Ohio, and Pennsylvania last week and observed a number of convenience stores selling Bullseye motor oil, a brand Michigan has ordered off the shelves.   

 

  

And this is just the tip of the iceberg.  In many cases the oils are sold in independent gas station convenience stores operating under the banner of major oil company fuel brands, potentially leading consumers to associate the oil brands with the reputable brand of the fuel.  In addition, the products also appear to be targeted in lower income areas where they are sold to unsuspecting consumers for a small discount over major brands.

 

Several states have instituted programs to randomly sample and test oils sold within their state to assure quality, most notably Michigan, North Carolina, California, and Missouri.  In addition to packaged oils on retail shelves, state inspectors also sample and test bulk oil tanks at distributors and fast lube outlets.  When off-grade oils are found, these states take action.

 

PQIA applauds the efforts of these states, but we must ask - whereas  Michigan has collected enough evidence to order a brand off the shelves, what more do other states need to order those same brands off the shelves in their state?

 

Think about it, while Bullseye has been order off the shelves in North Carolina and Michigan, PQIA continues to find this brand on the shelves in Ohio, Illinois, Pennsylvania, and New York. In addition, we are told it is available in other states as well. 

 

Oil quality is a serious issue.  The automobile is essential to every working citizen and is usually the second most expensive possession they own after their house.  And every car depends on quality oils to operate.  Some of the oils that PQIA tested are so bad that they will destroy an engine in short order, and there is often no way for innocent consumer to know which oils are good or bad by just reading the labels.  Consumers need help from their elected leaders to find and remove the damaging oils from shelves and tanks, and state governments have an obligation to provide this basic protection.

 

The four states mentioned above have substantial data on the oil brands they have tested, and are willing to share details on their programs and experiences with other states.  PQIA is also willing to help by providing test result interpretations and claim assessments.  All that is needed for the other 46 states is for them to step up to the plate and fight back against the unscrupulous marketers that are preying on their citizens.

 

Let's hear from you - contact us at 732-910-0017and let's get working together now.

 

 

Report Quality Concerns

Report Concerns About Lubricant Quality to PQIA.  Information provided is Treated as Confidential and Callers can remain anonymous. Or email PQIA at:  [email protected] 

 

 

Help support PQIA's efforts to assure the quality and integrity of lubricants in the market.

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America'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. 

We
can't do it alone.  

 

In order to sustain or efforts and impact - we need your support!

    

To find out how you can help support PQIA's efforts, contact us at 732-910-0017

 or by email at [email protected].

 

 

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