XOM/Mobil1 in serious legal trouble?

[vinuneuro]

This isn't a "this oil is better than that sucky oil thread".

XOM is in some serious trouble if the API says this is true. Only because Ashland (parent of Valvoline) is accusing them of not meeting API SM certification, which nullifies all the OEMs' certification based on which M1 oils are used as factory fill. And hence voiding a lot of customers' powertrain warranties.

You can be a judge of whether or not this is a coincidence, but right after Ashland came out with this, M1 oils started disappearing from store shelves; to the point that JiffyLube's had to get what oil they could find from autoparts stores and Walmart. M1 oils are only now starting to return. XOM said their base oil production plant was damaged because of hurricane Ike.

On another note, used oil analysis' of a lot of peoples' oil samples have been showing unusually high Iron content for sometime, that no one has been able to explain.

These are some serious allegations being brought forth by Ashland. I can't help but think that they would put themselves in a situation with so much potential for litigious risk unless they were very sure. Inside tip-off perhaps?

To put into perspective how big of a giant Ashland is messing with compared to itself:

Exxon Mobil's revenue for 2007 was 404.552 Billion
Exxon Mobil's NET income for 2007 was 40.610 Billion

Ashland's revenue for 2006 was 7.233 Billion
Ashland's NET income for 2006 was 170 Million

Make of all this what you will.

The subject is being extensively discussed at bobistheoilguy.com
_________

http://www.jobbersworld.com/December%2011,%202008.htm

...
According to the letter, Valvoline says the company conducted a number of tests and commissioned an independent laboratory to evaluate the performance of SynPower and Mobil 1 in the Sequence IVA wear test. Marketers were told the tests were run on a 5W-30 since it's the top selling grade.
Now for the interesting part...
According to a letter Valvoline marketers received, the result from Valvoline's testing indicate:

• Valvoline SynPower's 5W-30 wear performance is at least four times better than Mobil 1 5W-30
• 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

The letter reportedly goes on to say that Valvoline notified ExxonMobil of the failed test results in September and that the company take appropriate action regarding their claim that Mobil 1 meets ILSAC GF-4 and API SM specifications, or provide substantiation that they in fact meet these specifications.
As of today, Valvoline told JobbersWorld, ExxonMobil has been silent.

[motordavid]

Interesting, V...I hadn't seen that arm wrestle.

So...when my 6 1/2 yr old Vette and 7 1/4 yr old
X engines blow, I can get in line for a XOM bailout
or free rebuild?! ...
BR,mD

[AzNMpower32]

Very interesting read, it'd be worth it to see how it pans out.

NOT to turn this into another oil thread, but if it really is as bad as Valvoline claims, I get to lack at all my friends who wonder why I don't use Mobil 1. I stick with Castrol because I have an endos-- er I mean I prefer their products.

[motordavid]

I have used M1 in the Vette for its 6 1/2 yr life...and, many P Cars come
with M1 in it/& rec'd.

I've used it in the X, too...along with Castrol, and other synths.

I am of the mind that for daily driving, almost any name brand synth is
very good stuff and light years ahead of the oils I used back in the '60s
and '70s, and even '80s. Very interesting arm wrestle initiated by Valvoline.

I too, am not trying to initiate another oil thread, ...

[AzNMpower32]

Originally Posted by motordavid

I am of the mind that for daily driving, almost any name brand synth is
very good stuff and light years ahead of the oils I used back in the '60s
and '70s, and even '80s. Very interesting arm wrestle initiated by Valvoline.

I too, am not trying to initiate another oil thread, ...

Very true. Most lubricants thesedays are sufficient and we've never heard of "Mobil 1 caused my motor to fail prematurely!!!".

Lawsuits are a way to earn money in America. . Thats why I can't activate Convenience Close or disable the key chime on my X3

[E61Silver]

Didn't they recently reformulate M1 and come out with a extend life version.

Wonder if they reduced the basic M1; my mechanic claims that the basic M1 now looks really black at oil change?

[vinuneuro]

Originally Posted by x54.4blue

Didn't they recently reformulate M1 and come out with a extend life version.

Wonder if they reduced the basic M1; my mechanic claims that the basic M1 now looks really black at oil change?

Why they came out with the extended version is anyone's guess considering the regular the M1 Tri-Syn used to produce great UOA's. Many people have speculated that the current Extended version might be what the original M1 Tri-Syn used to be.

Either way, the current regular M1 regular Syn formualtion is what is under scrutiny.

[JCL]

Thanks for posting, Vin. Hadn't seen this story.

I have never used M1, but have used a lot of Castrol. I am with MD and others; I think any of the name brand synthetics are so far and away better than what most of used for the past 30 years or so, that any of them will do.

Having said that, not meeting a basic API test is a pretty big deal. Interesting to see how it turns out.