ILMA Compoundings April 2017 - 26

WARNING: THIS PRODUCT IS
NOT RECOMMENDED FOR USE
IN GASOLINE-FUELED PASSENGER
CAR ENGINES. IT IS INTENDED
FOR USE IN RECREATIONAL (SUCH
AS ATV) OR WORKING EQUIPMENT
(SUCH AS GARDEN EQUIPMENT)
APPLICATIONS.

The proposal also covers the issue of
obsolete oil use in antique cars. ILMA
is requesting the language expressly
prohibit the marketing of obsolete
service categories, except for antique
cars requiring nondetergent motor
oils. When these products are made

available, they must contain clear
warnings and be placed in an area separate from engine oils meeting current
performance categories.
Hayes said that NCWM's Laws and
Regulations Committee found the
proposal to be fully developed and
that at this time no opposition has
been expressed. Barring any controversial issue arising in the coming
months, ILMA hopes to see the proposal voted on by July 2018.
"This rule is the first step in phasing
out the obsolete oils. I expect some
states will move to ban these harmful
products that consumers could unknowingly use in their vehicles. Phaseout language can also be suggested
during the regional groups and during
the annual meeting," Hayes said.

Argument for Topping Off Oil and
Dangers of Non-Tested Oils
Go on just about any online forum
where car enthusiasts are discussing
the California ban or the Dollar General lawsuit, and you will find many
people arguing against the need for a
ban and for Dollar General's side of
the argument. One might call it the
"what's the harm?" argument.
What is the harm in putting an
SF-category oil in a car built before
1988? What is the harm in "topping
off" with an SF-category oil in a car
that is burning oil at a rapid pace?
One could say it is a well-meaning
argument that supports the economically disadvantaged consumer -
well-meaning, but still damaging.
Greg Julian, president of Advanced
Lubrication Specialties and chairman
of ILMA's Ethics Committee, understands these arguments but has a real
concern about disreputable motor oil
producers. Most of the obsolete oils in
the marketplace are not API-licensed
motor oils, so API cannot provide enforcement. That allows unscrupulous
manufacturers to put oils that do not

APRIL 2017

| COMPOUNDINGS | ILMA.ORG

even meet the older specifications in
a container and label it, meaning that
SF-labeled oil might not even meet the
SF standards.
ILMA believes that while owners
"topping off" their older, high-mileage automobile might be saving a
dollar here and there on obsolete oil
in the short term, they are making a
costly mistake that will damage their
car's engine.
Julian explains that their engine
needs the technology designed into
high-mileage motor oils that contain
seal swell additives and other components that prevent a lot of that oil
leaking from the engine. They also
contain excellent detergency and lubrication that help prolong engine life.
Julian is even more worried about
older oils being represented as new
oil. "When you put these older oils
in newer cars you're going to cause
tremendous damage to the engines because they have much tighter tolerances - they're smaller engines, they run
hotter, there's timing issues - that, if
you put an oil not made to the latest
standards, causes more damage."
The most recent engine oil standards
are considered backward-compatible.
Engine manufacturers want to prevent
misapplication, but if both the newest
and oldest engine oils were available
on store shelves, it would be up to the
consumer to figure out which is right
for a particular automobile. However, many in the industry fear that
consumers are not going to read or
understand the label.

API Standards and Testing
Procedures
API has set engine oil standards
for the last 70 years to ensure that
consumers can easily find oils that
meet the performance levels recommended by automakers and diesel
engine manufacturers. API standards

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ILMA Compoundings April 2017

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