ORLANDO — There’s a lot that goes into that oil that you’re using in today’s vehicles long before you pour it into an engine in they shop.
Five oil company leaders told those who use their oils on a daily basis just what goes into being factory-approved as well as staying ahead of oil technologies during WORLDPAC’s oil panel at its first supplier training and expo Friday in Orlando.
It’s a careful balance for oil companies to manage their offerings to meet not only what the carmakers look for, but also what the engines need to stay on the road, says Cameron Evans, director of sales and marketing for Red Line Synthetic Oil Corp. It also really revolves around factory approval.
Gary Boyd, president of Liqui-Moly USA, says in order for Mercedes-Benz to approve oil for use in its vehicle engines, the components must meet the carmaker’s stringent guidelines. He explains that codes are changing with oils because of longer oil change intervals.
“In today’s world with a 229.5 code, the oil change intervals as you all know is around the 15,000 mile mark,” he told expo attendees.
Abe Garweg, vice president of product development – CRP/Pentosin, added to that point, stating, “the technology has gone on tremendously and so have development costs from what an oil was at one point to what an oil is today to meet these (guidelines).”
Steve Matsumura, engineer Lubricants Division with Nippon Oil/ENEOS, says it also comes down to three main things when garnering factory approval: technology, global supply capability and cost. Dave Wolman, president of Motul USA, expands on that, saying the relationship between the oil company and the factory also is a key component.
That’s especially important because Wolman adds that most endorsed engine test results last only about five years.
And even before the oil can be considered as meeting these tough oil requirements, what goes into the liquid is carefully studied and planned. Evans says its starts with the base stocks. The hardest part, he suggests, is that some of this information is not well described in the industry. Technicians end up basing decisions on who is willing to talk and companies’ integrity.
“If you’re dealing with the company and you’ve determined that your customers want the best of the best and you’ve seen what these products can do for the engines, that’s when you’re dealing with the best of the best and not what you see on the shelves,” Evans says.
And these shop owners and technicians know what they’re looking for in the end. Jim Phillips, vice president of marketing for WORLDPAC, kicked off the panel discussion by telling attendees that even though the oil change is one of the most common services they perform, across the board they’re not the majority. Independent repair shops perform only 14.4 percent of oil changes in today’s aftermarket.
The majority, according to statistics Philips reported, belongs to quick lubes, 24.5 percent, and new car dealerships, 24.4 percent.
