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More than one out of five API-licensed engine oils was off-spec last year, according to the American Petroleum Institute’s 2001 worldwide engine oil quality audit. API collected and tested more than 600 samples of licensed engine oils, including both bulk and bottle samples. Sixteen percent were found to have “marginal” deviations, and 5 percent (30 oils) had “significant” deviations.
According to API, “significant” deviations “are so far outside compliance limits that they could potentially raise short-term or long-term engine operability concerns.”
It does say that there was a much higher incidence with SJ rated oils than with SLs.
I am sure I will periodically use the #132 as a preventative measure, but I guess it will be for what it prevents from happening (excessive wear) rather than what it overtly does. Again, while that is very important, it's nice to be able to "see" the results of it's use.
The engine is clean as a whistle inside, as it only has 53k miles on it. I was thinking the synthetic would help keep the engine wear down. It's the around-town errands car, so it only gets oil changes every 5000 miles or so. Is synthetic worth the extra money?
BTW, I have read about the intake manifold problems that have popped up on the 3100 series engine... the coolant's being replaced because it's getting a little too brown for my liking and I'd rather not end up with milky oil. But, at least it's not a 3.8L Taurus... :-)
The Corsica is my grandmother's car, it's mint right now, so I figure by the time that problem rears its ugly head, she'll have retired from driving and we can just sell the car to someone who is willing to deal with it. I'm pretty careful about maintaining vehicles (I owned a Tempo/Topaz, you have to be). I've seen the Alldata TSB list for the Corsica, it's massive. I'll cry if another vehicle's tranny solenoid goes out.
How long did you use synthetic in your Corsicas before the leak developed?
If it says on the label (Distributed by Equlion Enterprises)THIS IS THE OLD FORMULA.Good oil but not Chevron.
If the label says Chevron/Texaco then THIS IS THE NEW FORMULA. And is blended by Chevron.
While in Checker Auto Parts store I found Havoline 5W-30 oil by Equilion and Havoline 10W-30 oil by Chevron/Texaco.
Equlion has the right to use the Havoline name for only another 18 months or so,then there will be less confusion.
Bill
American and Japanese automakers have decided to delay adoption of GF-4, the next passenger car motor oil upgrade, according to the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association.
The association told members Monday that the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee decided last week that it cannot develop the standard fast enough to have GF-4 oils commercially available by the fall of 2003. The standard, prescribed to protect emissions control systems required on model year 2004 cars, figured to be the biggest engine oil upgrade since the auto and oil industries wrote the Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System in 1993.
It was widely recognized, however, that the 30-month timeline for developing GF-4 was very aggressive, with some observers expressing skepticism that ILSAC could meet it. Lesser upgrades have taken up to seven years to complete.
A spokeswoman for ILSAC’s administrative umbrella, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, refused to confirm or deny the report, which was e-mailed to members of the Independent Lubricant Manufacturers Association. ILSAC member representatives could not be reached for comment yesterday.
Jeff Leiter, legal counsel for the lubricant manufacturers association, said the delay was agreed to after a General Motors representative told an ILSAC meeting early last week that the committee’s timeline for GF-4 was not practical.
“He went into the meeting and told people that they needed a reality check,” Leiter said. “He said it was just not going to be possible to do GF-4 for the 2004 model year.” ILSAC members then held a conference call at the end of the week during which they agreed to delay the specification, he said.
ILMA officials said they did not know the specific reason for the delay and that ILSAC members plan to meet July 9 to set a new schedule and to draft a statement explaining their decision.
More than one significant obstacle for GF-4 has been identified . Perhaps the biggest challenge is the question of whether formulators can develop a motor oil that protects new emissions control devices (and meets other stated goals of improving gas mileage, offering better cold-temperature performance and lasting longer under high temperatures and high loads) while protecting engines in existing cars . Automakers have insisted that GF-4 be backward compatible. Oil and additive companies have said that may not be possible or practical .
Another challenge – development of a new test to measure oil oxidation and engine wear – was discussed at last week’s ILSAC meeting, according to Leiter. ILSAC had said it wanted to begin matrix testing of the GM-sponsored IIIG engine sequence test in August, but members are still working to identify funds and will not be able to start testing until fall or winter.
Leiter said it is difficult to say if a delay in implementation of GF-4 will benefit the lubricant industry. On the one hand, manufacturers might be relieved to have more time to prepare for such a large change. On the other, automakers have previously warned that they might abandon EOLCS and develop their own motor oil specifications if they believed the cooperative system could not meet their schedule.
By Tim Sullivan
BTW, I have been hunting down that STP oil extender and hit pay dirt today. I figured to look in discount stores where discontinued items are carried and found it. Bought all nine they had @ 99 cents each.
CSANDSTE: I went back through the posts and found posts indicating that spec sheets for Havoline (Chevron distributed) SL was same as Chevron SL
All of the popular weights at my auto parts stores list the classification as SL.
I think I will take your advice and try some of the treatment the next time my oil level drops enough. Then it's on to the Maxlife.