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

 

 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's mission is to serve the consumers of lubricants by testing and reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace.  

PQIA's First Round of Coolant/Antifreeze Testing Shows Reason for Concern
October 8, 2015

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America has been hard at work over the past few months developing a coolant/antifreeze program. In part, this pilot program was put in place to address the many questions and concerns PQIA receives about not only the motor oils in the market, but also the antifreeze on retail shelves.

So here it is.  The first group of antifreeze/coolants examined by PQIA and it's disappointing to find that two of the six samples have issues. 

In one case, the product (Ultra Guard) does not meet any known industry coolant standards. In addition, laboratory test results show the product protects only down to 10.9°F. It is important to note that nearly all states in the US have experienced temperatures below 0°F. As such, caution is advised if considering use of this product to protect engines from freeze up damage.

Furthermore, the percentage of antifreeze, and the pH of the product are low, and the degradation acids (glycolate and formate), chlorides and sulfates are very high. The levels detected are indicative of used and/or poorly recycled antifreeze. Further, although, technically, the product tested contains bitterant at 6 parts per million (ppm), this level is below the 30 ppm minimum required by the state of Maryland, where the product was purchase, and several other states requiring bitterant.

The second sample tested with issues was Polar Zone. Test results show this product has a freeze point of -6.9°F. Label also claims methanol as a component. Methanol is not an approved component in any engine coolant by any active industry standards. The use of methanol in Antifreeze/Coolant may present a safety hazard if used in an internal combustion engine. The product does not contain bitterant.


Click bottles below for test results and PQIA's assessments. 








CONSUMER ALERT
CONSUMER ALERT




Let PQIA Know

Report Concerns About Lubricant Quality to PQIA.  Information provided is Treated as Confidential and Callers can remain anonymous. Or email PQIA at:  tips@pqia.org 

 

 

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 tglenn@pqia.org.

 
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