ExxonMobil introduced its Emission System Protection
(ESP) motor oil Mobil 1 ESP to the US market about two
years ago. It conforms to the new 'ACEA C3' category of
Low Emission products recently introduced by the
European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), as
well as the existing ACEA A3, B3 and B4 categories.
The new ESP technology has received OEM approvals from
some of the world's leading car manufacturers such as
Mercedes Benz (MB), BMW and Volkswagen (VW) Group.
But according to a number of lubricant marketers that
have contacted JobbersWorld over the past year, there is
one concerning question about this product. That is,
where can you buy it, and what alternatives are
available that meet the relatively new Mercedes 229.51
specification for 5W-40?
Based on the absence of the product in the marketplace
and ExMo's website (see link below), they say the answer
is a troubling, "you can only get 5W-40 ESP in the US at
a Mercedes-Benz Dealership and there are few
alternatives that meet spec. "
So why should this concern lubricant marketers, fast
lube operators, and others in the business? In the words
of some, maybe because "it suggests ExMo has decided to
make auto dealers the exclusive marketers of this
product." Secondly, they say, "are quick lubes now
excluded from changing oil in 2006+ Mercedes unless they
buy oil from a Mercedes dealer?" And finally, they ask,
"is is this a harbinger of things to come?"
Let us know what you think. We plan to publish comments
in the next issue of JobbersWorld Online News briefs.
