By Jim Fitch
Machinery Lubrication Magazine
They are labeled and stored by humans. When it comes to humans, there is one inalterable constant – we make mistakes. Sometimes this is due to lack of vigilance. Sometimes it’s lack of knowledge. It might even be because of indifference.
Case in point: in 2001, the American Petroleum Institute (API) audited 562 motor oils that were licensed to bear the API marks – approximately one-third of its licensees (83 percent originating from the United States). The tests were performed to determine compliance with API performance standards. This is what the audit reported:
- 4 percent of the motor oils were classified as having significant deviations (one out of every 25 oils tested). Many had the wrong concentration of additives while others failed to meet low-temperature specifications.
- 16 percent were classified as having marginal deviations (one out of every six oils tested).