| Two Tier Oil Specification for North America? |
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AMSOIL INC., unique among domestic oil companies, supports a two-tier oil specification system, with top-tier oils carrying superior performance credentials to those of second-tier oils. A two-tier system rewards oil companies for product quality improvements, allows oil change centers and other retailers to cost justify top-quality oils and broadens consumer choice. Such a system is unpopular with oil companies, but finds support from car manufacturers. According to Lubes’N' Greases (July 1998), General Motors staff engineer Bob Olree "noted that, as a member of an SAE task force exploring the need for a new engine oil category early in 1997, he brought up the issue of a two-tier performance system for oil, ‘even though it would cause us some major problems in our owner’s manuals. However, the oil companies rejected the idea of a higher quality tier right away. They blew it out of the water immediately. I was shocked.’ "The Toyota Tech Center’s power-train manager, John Shipinski, agreed. ‘I chaired the GF-3 ‘needs’ task force and suggested that we look for a method to legitimize claims of superior oil performance, but the oil companies folded their tents on that one, too. When offered the chance to get paid for better performance, they declined.’ " Wagner Associates fleet manager John M. Wagner expressed his support of a two-tier system in Hart’s Lubricants World . "I have a strong background in automotive engine oils and consider myself to be more knowledgeable on this subject than the average consumer. If I am unable to obtain enough information about engine oils to make an objective and intelligent determination about the performance level of a specific product, what is the average consumer going to do? "The two-tier API system is very easy for the consumer to understand. The consumer does not need to evaluate bench tests, dynamometer tests. field testing and statistical data. The only decision the consumer needs to make is whether he or she wants to purchase the upper tier or lower tier oil. "I am willing to pay a premium price for premium-performance engine oils that will increase engine life with extended oil drain intervals." In fact, a tiered oil performance specification system has been well-accepted by European motorists. Those who want economy oils may purchase them. Those who prefer quality oils can get what they want. Why should North American motorists have a less accommodating system? Because the major oil companies fear a two-tier system will force them to spend money upgrading their products and that they will not be compensated for the expense. They would also lose the means of turning low quality by-products of fuel production into profitable motor oils. That’s what makes the AMSOIL position unique: it is based on product quality and consumer satisfaction. |
| Copyright © Amsoil 1998 |
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