The New Jersey Office of Weights and Measures today issued a statewide ban on 19 motor oil products, bearing the brand names "Auto Club Motor Oil," "Black Knight Motor Oil," "Lube State Motor Oil," "MaxiGuard MG," "Orbit Motor Oil," "TruStar Motor Oil," "U.S. Economy Motor Oil," and "U.S. Spirit Motor Oil."
The banned products may no longer be sold in New Jersey. Retail establishments that continue to sell them will be subject to a civil penalty of at least $100 per package or container of the banned product - a penalty far in excess of the approximately $3 to $4 per quart bottle for which many of these products have been sold. A full listof the banned products, with photos, can be found on the State Office of Weights and Measures website.
"Many of these allegedly mislabeled motor oils are sold at cheap prices, thereby luring those consumers who can least afford the extra maintenance costs or early engine failure that may result from using the wrong type of motor oil," Acting Attorney General John J. Hoffman said. "We are rightly removing these potentially harmful products from New Jersey's marketplace, and will penalize retailers who continue to sell them."
Pursuant to a Stop-Use and Removal Order issued today by State Office of Weights and Measures Acting Superintendent Howard Pine, all New Jersey retail establishments are ordered to immediately remove the 19 banned motor oil products from their store shelves or other product displays, and stop selling or using them. Businesses that fail to comply are subject to a penalty of no less than $100 per package or container that is sold or offered for sale.
"The retailers may not have known that these products are mislabeled and potentially damaging when used with the wrong vehicles," State Office of Weights and Measures Acting Superintendent Howard Pine said. "Now that these facts are known, any retailer who fails to remove these products from store shelves will face a penalty far greater than the potential profits to be gained by selling these products."
The banned products are (click here for photos):
- Auto Club Motor Oil SAE 5W-30
- Auto Club Motor Oil SAE 10W-30
- Auto Club Motor Oil SAE 10W-40
- Auto Club Motor Oil SAE 20W-50
- Black Knight Motor Oil 5-30
- Black Knight Motor Oil 10-40
- LubeState Motor Oil SAE 10W-30
- MaxiGuard MG 10-30
- MaxiGuard MG 10-40
- MaxiGuard MG 20-50
- MaxiGuard MG SAE30
- Orbit Motor Oil 5-20
- Orbit Motor Oil 10-40
- TruStar Motor Oil 10-30
- U.S. Economy Motor Oil 5-30
- U.S. Economy Motor Oil 10-40
- U.S. Economy Motor Oil SAE 10W-40
- U.S. Spirit Motor Oil SAE 10W-30
- U.S. Spirit Motor Oil SAE 10W-40
New Jersey State Office of Weights and Measures Enforcement Supervisor John McGuire and Officers James Logothetis, Richard Pluymers, and Administrative Assistant Brigita Singh, and State Division of Consumer Affairs Investigators Michael Bruch, Vincent Buonanno, Jared O'Cone, and Raquel Williams, conducted or assisted in this investigation. Deputy Attorney General Neil Magnus, within the Division of Law, is representing the State in this action.
Acting Director Lee acknowledged the Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA), an independent organization that tests and reports on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace, for calling attention to this issue.
Consumers who believe they have been cheated or scammed by a business, or suspect any other form of consumer abuse, can file a complaint with the State Division of Consumer Affairs by visiting its website or by calling 1-800-242-5846 (toll free within New Jersey) or 973-504-6200.
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