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WAL-MART SETTLES
CONSUMER PROTECTION
CASE FOR $357,800.00 |
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Shasta County
District Attorney
Jerry Benito
announced that his
office joined with
the District
Attorneys of
Monterey, Napa,
Solano and Sonoma
Counties to settle a
consumer protection
case filed against
Wal-Mart, the makers
of "Wal-Mart
SuperTech Gear Oil",
and their
manufacturer,
Warren Distribution.
The initial
investigation arose
out of inspections
of Wal-Mart
SuperTech Gear Oil
by Shasta County
Weights and
Measures, Petroleum
Division officials.
Investigators found
that the gear oil
did not meet the
advertised viscosity
levels, in violation
of California law.
The investigation
broadened, and the
prosecutors joined
forces to undertake
statewide legal
action to eradicate
the problem.
Wal-Mart's SuperTech
gear oil is made by
Warren Distribution,
a Nebraska
corporation.
Wal-Mart and Warren
cooperated with
prosecutors during
the investigation
and agreed to
undertake additional
testing procedures
in order to comply
with the law. Under
the terms of the
settlement, without
admitting any
wrongdoing,
Wal-Mart, Inc.,
agreed to pay
$257,800.00 in civil
penalties,
$75,000.00 to
reimburse the costs
of the investigation
and prosecution, and
$25,000.00 in
restitution for a
total settlement of
$357,800.00.
Approximately 5000
bottles of the
non-compliant oil
was sold in
California. Gear oil
is primarily used in
heavy machinery and
large trucks. It is
unknown if any
engines were damaged
by the bad oil, but
it is likely that,
given California's
overall mild climate
compared with the
rest of the United
States, no actual
damage was done to
any Californian's
machinery, as any
damage would likely
occur only in
extreme hot or cold
temperatures.
The Shasta County
Department of
Weights and Measures
routinely monitors
local businesses and
investigates
products to ensure
compliance with
state law. The
District Attorney's
Office brings
actions such as this
to ensure that local
and national
businesses comply
with their
responsibilities
under the law.
The counties and
cities involved will
equally split the
civil penalties paid
by Wal-Mart and
Warren. This means
that Shasta County
will receive
approximately
$65,514.00. The
Department of
Weights and Measures
will be reimbursed
for all of the costs
of their
investigation.
In Shasta County,
the case was
investigated by
Shasta County
Department of
Weights and Measures
and prosecuted by
Deputy District
Attorney Erin M.
Dervin of the
Consumer Protection
Unit of the District
Attorney's Office.
The Consumer
Protection Unit
exists to help
consumers with
problems they may
have with services
provided by local
businesses or
individuals.
For more information
about the
prosecution, contact
District Attorney
Jerry Benito or
Deputy District
Attorney Erin M.
Dervin at 245-6310
and for information
about the
investigation
contact Shasta
County Agricultural
Commissioner/Sealer
of Weights &
Measures Mary
Pfeiffer at
224-4949.
Editor's Note:
At this point only
those counties
mentioned above in
California have
reported this
quality issue and it
is unknown to what
extend this
off-grade product
may have been
distributed to other
Wal-Mart's
throughout the
United States.
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Shell Offers
Revitalized
Hydraulic Fluid |
|
Shell Tellus Oil STX
Helps to Maximize
Performance in
Mobile and
Stationary Hydraulic
Applications
Shell Lubricants has
launched a
multigrade hydraulic
fluid designed for
operators demanding
a lubricant free of
heavy metals that
will perform in
extreme conditions:
Shell Tellus Oil STX.
Shell Tellus Oil
STX is a zinc-free,
ashless hydraulic
fluid with high
shear stability,
formulated with
Group II base oils
with additive
technology. The
fluid's wide
temperature range
and 160 viscosity
index allows
operators to reduce
the number of
hydraulic grades,
with one oil being
able to operate in a
wide range of
environments. Fast
start-up can also be
achieved through the
fluid's excellent
low temperature
performance, while
improved equipment
protection and
retention of fluid
viscosity properties
during operation can
also be expected.
"A truly great
hydraulic fluid is
one that offers a
wide temperature
range as well as
other key
performance
features, such as
high shear stability
and versatility,"
said Dennis Woodley,
Shell Hydraulics
Product Application
Specialist. "Only by
choosing a product
that performs well
in even the most
extreme conditions
will you be able to
help reduce downtime
and maximize
productivity."
Shell Tellus Oil
STX fluid can be
used for a wide
range of
applications for
mining, farming,
construction or
marine industries.
The product joins
the Shell Tellus
range of hydraulic
oils, which have
been designed to
provide long fluid
life and low
temperature
fluidity.
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ExxonMobil's
Lubrication Expert
Receives NLGI's
Highest Honor |
|
John P. Doner, a
30-year company
employee of
ExxonMobil, recently
earned the National
Lubricating Grease
Institute's (NLGI)
prestigious 'Award
for Achievement'.
Recognized as the
NLGI's highest
honour, the 'Award
for Achievement' is
reserved for
individuals who have
made exceptional
contributions to the
long-term growth and
development of the
institute and the
field of lubricating
grease technology.
As an Advanced
Research Associate
with ExxonMobil
Research &
Engineering in
Paulsboro, NJ, Doner
holds nearly 20
patents related to
grease manufacturing
and composition.
Throughout his
career he has both
participated in and
overseen the
development and
formulation of many
high-performance,
Mobil-branded
greases that are
today used in nearly
every type of
commercial and
industrial business,
including aerospace,
aviation,
automotive,
commercial vehicle,
industrial, marine,
mining and
motorsports.
"Through our
extensive commitment
to research and
development,
ExxonMobil has
always been at the
forefront of
lubricant and grease
technology,
delivering products
that help our
customers across a
wide range of
industries meet
their most demanding
challenges and
maximize their
productivity," said,
Hugh Helferty,
products research
and technology
manager, ExxonMobil
Research and
Engineering.
"Throughout his
career, John Doner
has played an
integral role in
expanding
ExxonMobil's
leadership in the
field of grease
lubrication. We are
proud to celebrate
his well-deserved
distinction of
earning the NLGI's
'Award for
Achievement'."
A prolific
technical writer and
longtime NLGI
Fellow, Doner has
authored and
presented numerous
grease technical
papers to the
Society of
Automotive Engineers
(SAE) and Society Of
Tribologists and
Lubricating
Engineers (STLE).
A past recipient
of numerous NLGI
awards for technical
literature and
education
contributions,
Doner's achievements
include co-authoring
the NLGI test for
"Certified
Lubricating Grease
Specialist," serving
as past chairperson
of the NLGI
Technical
Committees, and
writing the "Ask the
Expert" section of
the monthly journal
"NLGI Spokesman"
which is distributed
to more than 2,500
NLGI members.
Doner, who first
gained experience
working with
lubricating greases
as a U.S. Army
civilian employee
prior to joining
ExxonMobil, said,
"As a longtime NLGI
member, it is a
great honour and
privilege to receive
the organization's
'Award for
Achievement'."
"And, while I
never reached my
childhood dream of
becoming an
astronaut," Doner
said, "I am proud to
say that the
high-performance
Mobil-branded
synthetic greases I
have helped to
develop are today
used in a wide range
of applications,
including airplanes
and vehicles used
for space
exploration."
"So, in that
small way, I guess
I've had a chance to
make my impact in
the sky."
|
|
North American
Lubricants Steps Out
with Another Price
Decrease |
North American
Lubricants, Co. (NAL)
became the first
national lubricant
brand to announce a
second round of
price decreases
since lubricant
prices peaked last
November. Due to the
continued decline in
raw material costs,
NAL announced a
price reduction on
all orders placed on
or after January 12,
2009. Specific
details of the
decrease were
communicated to its
branded lubricant
distributors and
national accounts,
but was said to
include an
additional roll-back
of prices up to 8%.
"Kick-starting
the New Year with a
fresh decrease will
accelerate the
tremendous growth
our corporation was
fortunate enough to
enjoy in 2008, "NAL
President Shane
Terry says "Our
latest price move
further demonstrates
our commitment to
give our branded
distributors and
national accounts a
competitive edge,
while maintaining
the utmost
dedication to
premium product
quality and customer
support." Terry
continues, "By
stepping out with a
new national
decrease, we expect
other national
brands to follow our
lead and pass on
much needed economic
relief to the
market."
2009 promises to
be full of
innovative
developments for the
NAL brand. Terry
concludes, "This is
the first of many
exciting moves our
company will make
this year. We plan
on setting a new
industry standard
for proactive
marketing
strategies, designed
to enhance the
economic performance
of our important
customers throughout
the nation. Stay
tuned for additional
announcements in the
months to come."
Through their 44
state distribution
network, NAL offers
Puratech Supreme
Motor Oil, Puratech
Syn-Blend Motor Oil,
Puratech Hi-Mile
Motor Oil, Puratech
PureSYN Motor Oil
(now available in
quarts), Puratech
Multi-Vehicle ATF
and PureGreen
Lubricants (an
earth-friendly
product line) in
their profit
boosting line-up.
|
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API's Response to
Valvoline's Claim
Regarding Mobil 1 |
|
A significant number
of readers contacted
JobbersWorld with
regards to several
stories we ran
starting on December
11, 2008 about
Valvoline's claim
that "Mobil 1 5W-30
does not meet
minimum API SM or
ILSAC GF-4
specification
because of its
inferior performance
in the Sequence IVA
wear test." See
Link below
Most who contacted
JobbersWorld were in
disbelief (and
questioned) that it
could be true. They
said Valvoline was
simply trying to
gain attention and
some marketing
mileage by taking on
a Giant. Others
said, there is no
way Valvoline would
be "crazy enough" to
take on a Giant if
they didn't have all
their "t's" crossed
and "i's" dotted
with test data. And
then there were
those who asked.
"what does the
American Petroleum
Institutute (API)
have to say about it
since Valvoline's
claim specifically
points to Mobil 1
not meeting API
specifications?"
In an effort to
address this issue,
JobbersWorld
contacted API. We
asked them three
questions. First, is
the API aware of
Valvoline's claim
that Mobil 1 does
not meet API SM
specification?
Second, does the API
have any date to
support Valvoline's
claim, or
ExxonMobil's
position that Mobil
1 5W-30 meets API SM
GF-4? And finally,
what is the API's
position regarding
its testing protocol
to assure that Mobil
1, or any other
lubricant for that
matter, meets API
performance
specifications?
What follows is
API's response:
1. Yes, API is aware
of Valvoline's
claim.
2. API would not
compare one licensed
brand against
another. However,
ExxonMobil has
certified to API
that its 5W-30 Mobil
1 product meets
ILSAC GF-4 and API
SM requirements.
3. API has been
testing
off-the-shelf engine
oils carrying the
API Starburst and
Donut under its
Aftermarket Audit
Program (AMAP) since
1994 and in 1999
began testing
API-licensed product
dispensed from tanks
and drums at
quick-lube
facilities, service
stations, auto
dealerships, and
truck maintenance
facilities. Since
1994, API has tested
approximately 7,000
API-licensed oils
from around the
world.
API went on to say,
"Under AMAP,
API-licensed engine
oils are purchased
in the marketplace
and bench-tested to
determine their
physical and
chemical properties.
The results are
compared to licensee
formulations on file
at API. Conforming
oils show bench-test
results that are
consistent with the
formulations and
meet program
requirements. All
samples undergo
elemental analysis,
viscosity at 100°C,
and
high-temperature/high-shear
testing. They may
also be tested for
cold cranking,
pumpability,
volatility, foaming,
filterability, rust
and corrosion
inhibition, and
shear stability.
Product packages are
checked to make sure
they correctly
display the API
Marks and carry
product trace codes.
A number of
bench-tested oils
undergo actual
industry sequence
engine testing for
oxidation, deposits,
sludge, varnish, and
wear."
JobbersWorld would
like to thank the
API for its response
and point out that
the API has a solid
reputation as the
the leading
association assuring
the quality of motor
oils in the
marketplace. At the
same time, the API's
response still
leaves the industry
with one big
question, that
being... is
Valvoline's claim
that "Mobil 1 5W-30
does not meet
minimum API SM or
ILSAC GF-4
specification
because of its
inferior performance
in the Sequence IVA
wear test" true? In
addition, what
actions (if any) is
the API taking in
response to
Valvoline's
accusation?
|
|
Contact Us With Your
News |
JobbersWorld is all
about issues
impacting lubricant
distributors. You
are our primary
audience and you are
the ones we need to
hear from. What's on
your mind? What
issues would you
like to see us
tackle? And what
news would you like
others to know
about?
- News
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acquisitions
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- Classified
We reach out to
nearly 10,000
participants in the
lubricant
distribution supply
chain once or twice
a week (depending on
what's NEWS) and we
tell it like it is.
Please contact us
via e-mail at
tom_glenn@jobbersworld.com,
or direct at
732-494-0405.
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Copyright
© 2008 Petroleum Trends International,
Inc. All rights reserved |
