Join Our Mailing List



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

---------------------------
 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.



Join Our Mailing List
PQIA NEWS - January 16, 2014
PQIA's mission is to serve the consumers of lubricants by testing and reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace.

Ashland Responds to PQIA's Advisory on Valvoline NextGen Conventional 5W-20 Motor Oil
 
CLICK TO SEE LETTER
On January 8, 2014, PQIA issued an Advisory on a sample of Valvoline NextGen Conventional 5W-20 motor oil. The reason for the Advisory is that the sample tested failed the Noack Volatility requirements for an API SN/ILSAC GF-5. 

  

Thom Smith, Vice President Lubricant Technology Ashland Consumer Markets, sent PQIA a letter on January 10th outlining Ashland's position on the analysis of the Valvoline NextGen 5W-20 sample and the Noack Volatility test. The letter was accompanied by an email noting that Mr. Smith would call PQIA to discuss their position. Mr. Smith contacted PQIA on Jan 15 to review the letter and its position.  A copy of Ashland's letter on this subject can be seen by clicking letter above.     

 

The essence of Ashland's position is expressed in Thom Smith's statement:  
 

 "As you are aware, the ASTM D5800 test results can vary significantly from one piece of test equipment to the next. We have experienced variances between calibrated units in excess of the published reproducibility when testing commercial formulations. We believe that this may explain the extreme difference in test results that we are seeing.  

 

Valvoline has long been concerned that the ASTM D5800 test for volatility is prone to variation that may not appear when calibrating or when testing the oils included in the ASTM round robins and would actually prefer that alternative volatility tests be considered by the industry for future specifications. Given that D5800 is the industry standard today and the differences between our D5800 results we may want to jointly approach the ASTM Volatility Group requesting that they
take another look at the published D5800 repeatability and reproducibility values.

 

Whereas PQIA respects Ashland's position with regards to this issue, PQIA's approach is to use the industry standards when we perform an analysis. The industry standard for Noack Volatility is ASTM D-5800, Procedure B.

 

 

The Spotlight on 5W-20s continues 
January 8, 2014 

 

 

 

   
  

 

So here it is, PQIA's second round of testing on 5W-20 motor oils. PQIA issues an Advisory on one as it does not meet the volatility requirements for an API SN/ILSAC GF-5.   

 

   

 

 

Click on the bottles below for brand details or consolidated for a side-by-side view of the test data.   

   

           
Advisory   

  

 

 

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.  

      

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

 or by email at [email protected].

 

Join Our Mailing List