LubeSolution » News

Excess Lube Leads to Toyota Recall

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:09:34 +0000

Risk of excessive lubricant short circuiting driver’s side electric window master switch control modules has prompted two Toyota joint ventures in China to recall more than 688,000 vehicles manufactured between 2006 and 2008.

Toyota Motor Corp. in announcements Monday said it is recalling 688,314 cars in China because of the possibility of the switch control modules short circuiting and in rare cases melting due to excessive lubricant applied during manufacturing. Some online translations of the Chinese recall notices indicate the lubricant was a type of grease.

Guangzhou Toyota Automobile, a joint venture between Toyota and China’s Guangzhou Auto, will recall 384,736 Camries produced from May 15, 2006, to Dec. 31, 2008; and 22,767 Yarvises produced from May 15, 2008 to Dec. 31, 2008.

Tianjin FAW Toyota Automobile, a joint venture between Toyota and China’s FWA Group, said it will recall 35,523 Vioses produced from Feb. 18, 2008, to December 25, 2008; and 254,288 Corollas produced from May 17, 2007, to Dec. 25, 2008.
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Untangle the Synthetic Lube Puzzle

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 16:04:20 +0000

To solve the world’s thorniest lubrication problems, formulators often turn to the tailor-made chemistries of unconventional base stocks. Known by acronyms such as PAO, PIB, PAG and others, these are the backbone molecules for most synthetic lubricants. The new 2009 Nonconventional Base Stocks Guide from Lubes’n'Greases magazine provides a unique perspective of these fluids and their suppliers.

This annually updated guide identifies 185 plants worldwide that make seven major types of unconventional base stocks, with their locations plotted on a colorful map. The poster-format guide, which measures 22 by 33 inches, shows capacities in metric tons per year for most plants, and the owners for all. Product types include polyalphaolefins, polyisobutene, polyakylene glycols, esters, silicone fluids, phosphate esters and Group III base oils.

Continue…

Finished Lube Prices Climb

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:59:40 +0000

Several major oil companies and independents have informed U.S. customers of increases in finished lubricant price increases over the last few weeks, citing rising base oil, additive and packaging costs as key factors.

An official with a distributor said the price hikes likely stem from a combination of those key factors, along with tightness on the heavy grades. “Some of them also used transportation increases as a reason,” this source told Lube Report. “Fuel surcharges are up, and the freight rates – rail and truck rates – are also up. Railroads use crude directly as a relationship, and the trucks use diesel fuel postings.”

“I’d say base oil is probably driving 99 percent of the cost increase,” an official with another distributor told Lube Report. “When we see base oils being flagged up and we see direct market pricing escalating, clearly we’re primed for another price increase. I don’t think the market is very surprised. So reception in the market has been reasonably OK.”

Shell told customers it would raise prices on finished lubes by up to 8 percent effective Feb. 22. “This adjustment is due to increasing costs of raw materials used in the production and delivery of our products,” the company said in its on Jan. 13 letter, also noting that in certain instances, prices for specific products may change by different amounts.

Citing “the recent rise in raw material costs,” which impact the manufacturing and transportation of its lubricants and greases, Chevron in a Jan. 19 letter informed customers it would increase prices on all lubricating oils, gear lubes and greases by an average of 6 to 10 percent effective March 1. In some cases, the letter noted, certain prices may change more or less than the general increase.

BP Lubricants in a Jan. 21 letter told customers it will raise prices by up to 8 percent effective March 8 on all passenger car commercial, industrial and ancillary products, including synthetics, in all package types.

ConocoPhillips said it would raise prices for finished lubricant products 6 to 9 percent effective March 1, depending on product-specific factors. “This increase is driven by recent increases in base oil, additives and packaging costs that have occurred despite our best efforts to limit their impact on our product manufacturing,” ConocoPhillips stated in its Jan. 27 letter.

Noting “escalations in base oil, additive and packaging material costs” over the past several months, Citgo informed customers Jan. 29 it will raise prices 8 to 10 percent on list and customer specific prices effective with shipments occurring on and after March 1. The change applies to Citgo, Mystik and private label brands, the company stated in its letter, and it will include bulk and all package styles.

ExxonMobil outlined to customers plans to raise prices up to 8 percent on ExxonMobil branded and unbranded lubricants and greases effective March 15. Different price treatment may apply to selected products, the company stated in its Feb. 1 letter.

According to an industry source, Petro-Canada last month informed customers of an 8 percent increase in finished lube prices for all package sizes effective Feb. 24.

Smitty’s Supply told customers Jan. 21 it would raise prices by 40 cents per gallon on bulk lubricants effective Feb. 8, by 40 cents per gallon on packaged lubricants effective Feb. 22, by 30 cents per gallon on brake fluids effective Feb. 22 and by 5 cents per pound on greases effective Feb. 22.

Cam2 International on Jan. 22 told customers it will increase prices by 38 cents per gallon on bulk lubricants, 28 cents per gallon on synthetic lubricants, 40 cents per gallon on packaged lubricants, 30 cents on packed synthetic lubricants and 5 cents per pound on greases. The changes are effective for bulk with orders placed after Feb. 7, and for package effective with orders placed after Feb. 21, according to the letter.

Citing “continued increases in base oils and another round of additive increases,” Chemlube International on Jan. 22 informed customers it would raise prices 38 cents per gallon on all its bulk lubricants effective Feb. 8.

An industry source said Advanced Lubrication Specialties last month informed customers it would increase lubricant prices by 38 cents per gallon effective Feb. 15.

“That’s posted prices – non-posted prices are still all over the place, from company to company,” said an official with another distributor, commenting on the overall latest round of increases.

Lubrizol’s 4Q Earnings Sparkle

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:47:28 +0000

By George Gill

Lubrizol’s additives segment posted record operating income of $191.4 million for the quarter ending Dec. 31, up 105 percent from $93.3 million in the year-earlier quarter.

For the full year, the additives segment’s operating income reached $787.8 million, up 81.3 percent from $434.5 million total for 2008.

In the fourth quarter, the Lubrizol Additives segment reported $838.8 million in revenue, 6.3 percent higher than in the year earlier period. For the full year 2009, the additives segment’s revenues reached $3.3 billion, down 7.3 percent from the total revenue for 2008.

“Additives continued to sustain the strong performance they established earlier in the year,” said Lubrizol CEO James Hambrick.

Lubrizol overall announced $134.2 million in net income for 2009’s fourth quarter on revenues of $1.2 billion, or $1.92 per diluted share. That compared to a $281 million loss on revenues of $1.1 billion, or a loss of $4.16 per diluted share, in 2008’s fourth quarter.

“The strong performance of both operating segments enabled us to post the third best quarterly results in our history,” Hambrick said. “And with their strong finish to the year, both segments delivered record operating income in 2009.” Advanced Materials is the company’s other operating segment.

On Jan. 19, Lubrizol said it was moving ahead with a 10-year, $1 billion plan to upgrade operations and increase global additive capacity. The plan includes $200 million for a new wholly-owned plant in southern China, scheduled to break ground later this year.

Imperial to Shift Sarnia to Fuels

admin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 15:45:00 +0000

By George Gill

Imperial Oil last week said it will stop base oil production at its Sarnia, Ontario refinery next year to focus on fuels. The plant has 2,800 barrels per day of API Group I and 3,800 b/d of Group II base oil capacity.

“Following a strategic review, Imperial has decided to discontinue the manufacturing of lubricant base stock at its Sarnia refinery site,” Imperial Oil spokesman John Harding told Lube Report. “The transition is expected to occur by mid 2011.” The plant produces base oil, process oils and wax.

“We’re making this move to improve the long term profitability of Sarnia’s operations, and to allow Imperial to take advantage of growing opportunities related to the manufacture and sale of fuel products,” Harding explained. “An example would be ultra low sulfur diesel in the North American market.”

He noted the site has a blending and packaging plant that will continue to operate. “We will continue to supply from Sarnia finished lubricants as we do today, using high quality base stock from other sources.”

The plans will affect about two dozen employees, he said, and the company will redeploy them within the Sarnia site.

The refinery, which was commissioned in 1897, processes about 124,000 barrels per day of crude oil, according to Harding. ExxonMobil holds 70 percent of Imperial Oil’s shares.

The news comes on the heels of similar recent announcements by Shell and Caltex. Shell in early January outlined plans to convert its 130,000 barrels per day Montreal East refinery to a terminal. The refinery includes a base oil plant with 2,700 barrels per day Group I capacity. Caltex Australia in December said it will close its base oil refinery at Kurnell in Sydney at a date to be announced later. The 3,300 barrels per day API Group I plant is the last one in Australia.

Stephen Ames, principal of SBA Consulting, Pepper Point, Ohio, said Imperial Oil’s announcement wasn’t unexpected.

“Sarnia has been a constrained base oil operation for the past 3 years,” Ames continued. “In 2006, Imperial Oil changed to a sweeter crude slate so as to comply with the then new low sulphur limits for North American diesel. In doing so, they reduced base oil production and are believed to have been operating the base oil plant at roughly 70 percent of capacity ever since.”

He noted that Imperial’s announcement states, “The decision is being made in response to market conditions which are supporting more value to a full-time fuels manufacturing operation in Sarnia.” This is similar to one of the reasons cited by Caltex in their announced plans to close the Kurnell, Australia base oil plant, Ames noted.

“Having to run a paraffinic lube crude often detracts from yields and octane levels of the refinery’s gasoline production, especially if there is no offsetting distillate hydrocracking capability,” he continued. “Both Sarnia and Kurnell fit that description.”

N.Y. Times: His Trade Secret? Or a Company’s Property?

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:46:31 +0000

FOR nine years, John Juriga lived with a lie. The General Motors Corporation, his employer, had been battling an important trade-secret case, and Mr. Juriga, an engineer, had been hailed as a hero for finding a crucial memo that was a linchpin of the company’s defense. But, just weeks before the case was to go to trial last spring in Superior Court in Waterbury, Mr. Juriga broke down and admitted he had faked the evidence.

Mr. Juriga’s forgery is just one of many extraordinary twists in a bizarre business dispute that has been simmering in Connecticut since 1989. At issue: Did General Motors steal a breakthrough design in automotive cooling technology for its Corvette from Jack Evans, an inventor from Sharon, and then attempt, as Mr. Evans claimed, to drive him out of business so he wouldn’t have the will or the means to fight back? G.M. denied the charge, but Mr. Evans insisted he has been robbed of a valuable trade secret.

”G.M. stole from me,” he said, ”and I’ll never stop fighting until I get back what was mine.”

Despite the forgery, G.M. won its case in Superior Court in August. Judge Robert McWeeny ruled in favor of the company, saying that Mr. Evans effectively gave away his rights to his trade secret years ago when he demonstrated the system to G.M.

Mr. Evans, who was seeking $612 million in damages, filed an appeal in November. A well-heeled group of 163 investors, among them several members of the du Pont family, is helping to fund the litigation and will get a cut if Mr. Evans wins. Fish & Richardson, one of the nation’s largest law firms specializing in intellectual property, is willing to gamble on the case. The firm, which has represented Mr. Evans since 1999, said it would continue the legal fight on a partial contingency basis.

This dispute is costing both sides millions. Mr. Evans estimated his legal bills are $3.5 million. G.M. won’t disclose how much the case has cost the company, but, to handle its defense, it retained a hard-driving and high-priced litigator, John T. Hickey Jr., of Kirkland & Ellis. Legal experts estimated the company’s legal bill could be as high as $6 million.

Evans Cooling Systems’ Podcast Examines Benefits of Waterless Cooling Technology for Rotax Engines

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 07:43:44 +0000

SUFFIELD, CT, Nov 18, 2009 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) —-Evans Cooling Systems, patent holder and manufacturer of the only commercial waterless engine coolants, has produced a podcast focused on the benefits of waterless cooling technology for Rotax engines, which are popular in small aircraft and in UAVs.

A recent FAA revised Special Airworthiness Bulletin (SAIB) recommended that waterless coolants be used in certain Bombardier-Rotax engines. The podcast addresses the potential issues of conventional ethylene-glycol/water coolant use in Rotax 912 and 914 series engines if the engine coolant exit temperatures exceed 120 degreesC. Dangers include possible coolant losses, engine overheating, knocking, engine damage or in-flight shutdown.

The podcast details the advantages of using waterless coolant in these engines, including the higher boiling point of Evans waterless coolants — above 180 degreesC at atmospheric pressure. This provides a wide separation between its boiling point and the operating temperature of the system, avoiding the danger of overheating and possible engine shutdown.

Evans Cooling Technology Podcast Series focuses on the latest trends and developments in engine cooling. This podcast can be downloaded at http://www.evanscooling.com/media-gallery/. For more information on Evans waterless coolants, visit the Evans website at www.evanscooling.com, or call +1.860.668.1114.

About Evans Cooling Systems, Inc.

Evans Cooling Systems, Inc., with headquarters and R&D facilities in Sharon, Conn., has focused on engine cooling and related areas for over 35 years. The company has a distribution center, as well as a team of high performance engine cooling experts based in Pottstown, Penn., a heavy duty diesel sales and marketing office in Suffield, Conn., as well as facilities in China. Evans is committed to maintaining a cleaner, safer environment, and continually seeks to improve product and process choices for many heavy duty diesel, high performance and mainstream engine applications. Evans waterless engine cooling technology is used today by numerous fleets, with trials in process at major carriers worldwide. www.evanscooling.com, +1.860.668.1114.

Warranties and the Magnuson-Moss Act

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 05:22:18 +0000

If you are interested in using AMSOIL motor oil, but concerned that using a synthetic oil or extending your oil drain interval will void his warranty, you have no need for concern. Congress in 1975 enacted the federal Magnuson-Moss Act to regulate written consumer product warranties. An examination of the law reveals warranties remain intact when AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants are used.

The law was meant to give consumers detailed information about warranty coverage before they buy.

Congress charged the Federal Trade Commission with creation of the specifics of the law.

The FTC set down three rules under the Act: the Disclosure Rule, the Pre-Sale Availability Rule and the Dispute Resolution Rule.

Those rules require warrantors to title their written warranty as either full or limited, provide a single, clear and easy-to-read document that spells out certain information about coverage and ensure that warranties are available where the products are sold so that consumers can read them before buying.

In passing the Act, Congress meant to give consumers access to warranty information, let consumers comparison shop for warranties, encourage warranty competition and promote timely and complete performance of warranty obligations.

While the Magnuson-Moss Act does not require manufacturers to provide a written warranty, it provides specific rules when one is provided. Among those provisions, FTC regulations state: (c) No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumers using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name; except that the prohibition of this subsection may be waived by the Commission if (1) the warrantor satisfies the Commission that the warranted product will function properly only if the article or service so identified is used in connection with the warranted product, and (2) the Commission finds that such a waiver is in the public interest. (15 U.S.C.2302(C))

That means your warranty stands when you use AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants.

Vehicle manufacturers recommend lubricants according to their viscosity grade and service classification. Any oil, whether its conventional petroleum motor oil or synthetic, meeting the correct viscosity grade, 5W-30 for example, and the current API and ILSAC North American service classifications may be used without affecting warranty coverage. AMSOIL motor oils are recommended for use in applications requiring these specifications.

Furthermore, the practice of extending oil drain intervals does not void warranties. Original equipment manufacturers pay or deny warranty claims based on the findings of failure analysis. To affect the vehicle warranty, the lubricant must be directly responsible for the failure. If the oil didn’t cause the problem the warranty cannot be voided, regardless of brand or length of time in use.

Synthetic motor oil was introduced to the automotive public in 1972 by AMSOIL, INC., with the world’s first API rated synthetic motor oil specially formulated for long service and superior performance and protection to that of conventional oils.

Nearly 30 years ago, AMSOIL synthetics represented a vision of the future and technology ahead of their time. Since then, every major engine oil manufacturer has introduced synthetic oils of their own. To be sure, many original equipment manufacturers would like you to believe you can only use their products. However, it’s a violation of the consumer protections set forth in the Magnuson-Moss Act, unless they’re willing to provide you those products free of charge.

AMSOIL offers a warranty that covers the cost of repair or replacement of a proven mechanically sound engine damaged as a result of using AMSOIL synthetic motor oil. However, it has never happened. Thirty years of experience proves AMSOIL can be installed in any vehicle with complete confidence.

AMSOIL further backs its products with action when a Dealer or customer reports being told their warranty is voided if they use synthetics.

If you have heard from any member of a business that the use of AMSOIL Motor Oil or the practice of extending drain intervals will void warranties, send AMSOIL all the details including the name of the business, business owner or manager and the individual making the claims, in a signed and dated letter. Send the letter to the Technical Services Department at corporate headquarters and an AMSOIL representative will send them a letter explaining the facts.

Access to the complete Magnuson-Moss Act is available on the Internet by key words Magnuson-Moss Act or Federal Trade Commission.

Free Ebook: 437 Little Known Gas Saving Secrets

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 04:03:32 +0000

It’s a fantastic reference guide on saving gas – courtousy of 5 Star Shine:

437 Little Known Gas Saving Secrets - Right-Click, Save As

Excerpt:

Maintaining Your Vehicle:
              It is important that you maintain your vehicle and have a
           good understanding of how your vehicle operates. The more
           you can understand about how your car operates and how to
           properly maintain it, the more successful you will become at
           saving money on your gas. You don’t have to be a mechanic or
           even do any work to your vehicle, but you do have to learn
           enough about your automobile to keep it properly maintained
           and fuel efficient.

Oil Changes:
           Keep your oil changed as often as your owner’s manual
       recommends. If you’re not sure how often to have it changed, look
       at your car manufacturer’s website online. I recommend typing
       your vehicle’s year, make and model into www.Google.com . The
       vehicle’s engine runs much smoother and cleaner with new oil
       installed when recommended. We suggest getting to know a
       mechanic and building a business relationship with them so you
       ask them for more information about your vehicle maintenance
       when necessary. Try visiting the following website to locate a
       mechanic near you: www.TrustMyMechanic.com. You can also
       try to get a referral from a friend who has a trustworthy mechanic.
       Don’t be afraid to get a second opinion when your car needs parts
       or repair work to be done.

The Correct Motor Oil Grade:
           Make sure you are using the correct type of motor oil. The
       grades of oil are measured in viscosity, which tells how much the
       oil can resist flow. Check to see if the 10W-30 you’ve been using
       is the correct oil you should be using. Look in your owner’s
       manual, ask your dealer, or search www.Answers.Yahoo.com to
       find out the correct kind of oil you need for your vehicle. You can
       also try: www.Autos.Yahoo.com or visit your automobile
       manufacturer’s main website by searching the vehicles make in
       www.Google.com. You’re in line to gain up to 2% in increased
       gas mileage by using the correct oil. It might not sound like a lot,
       but 2% x 50 fill-ups is a free tank of gas!

Synthetic Oils:
           We like and recommend the synthetic oils as they can work just
       as good for twice as long as regular motor oils. Please ask a
       professional mechanic if your car supports synthetic oils or look in
       your owner’s manual. If you have misplaced your owner’s
       manual, just research your car manufacturer’s website or request a
       new owners manual wherever you may have purchased your car or
       look for a downloadable manual on www.Google.com You can
       ask for synthetic oil when you get your oil changed at an express
       oil change station or anywhere else you may choose to get the oil
       changed…your dealership, or local service station.

Upgrade your tires:
Low resistance tires, such as Michelin Energy MX 4 Plus claim
to increase gas. Keep it green! Visit Web Site for tire discounts.

Tune-ups:
           Always keep your vehicle tuned up. Cars that are in excellent
       running condition will use on average 4% less gasoline than cars
       that need a tune-up, saving you money immediately and in the long
       run. If your vehicle is severely out of shape, a tune-up can
       increase your gas mileage by 10-20%. This means fresh spark
       plugs, a regular check up and tune-up as much as every few
       months. A good running vehicle is going to be the absolute best on
       gas, your wallet and keeping it green for the future generations. To
       find the most trustworthy mechanic in your area, again try visiting:
       www.TrustMyMechanic.com and to learn more about the
       importance of tune-ups visit these sites:
       www.AAAutoServiceCenter.com and www.CarJunky.com .

Power Steering Fluid:
           Keep your power steering fluids full. By keeping your power
       steering fluid full, your vehicles will steer much better causing less
       resistance on your tires, in turn causing you to use less fuel.

Make sure your cooling system thermostat is not stuck:
           A cooling system thermostat stuck in the open position, causing
       the engine to run too cool, can reduce engine efficiency by another
       7%.

Tires Alignment:
           Always pay attention to the vehicles alignment. A wheel
       alignment consists of adjusting the angles of the wheels so they are
       perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other in order to
       give you the smoothest and most fuel efficient ride. The best way
       that you can notice if your car is ready for an alignment is if you
       are driving on a level road and the vehicle pulls to one side of the
       road when your hands are not on the wheel. If you are
       experiencing a pulling sensation, it is time to get the alignment
       checked because you are also putting unnecessary wear on your
       tires. To get a short internet course and more detailed information
       on wheel alignment try visiting the “Family Car” website at:
       http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm. This site also offers
       “The Family Car Learning Center” section with detailed photos,
       diagrams, answers, and great vehicle maintenance information
       about almost every vehicle made. www.FamilyCar.com .

Tire Pressure:
           This is a very important suggestion! When choosing the
       optimum air pressure for your tires the figure imprinted on the tire
       wall is the most accurate. The figures printed on the sticker in the
       door frame, in the fuel filler flap, and in the manual are for comfort
       rather than fuel efficiency. Generally speaking, a slightly higher
       pressure will improve fuel mileage and handling, but too high will
       degrade traction and wear the tires rapidly. Buy a cheap tire gauge
       for about a buck or two at your local auto parts store or gas station
       and always keep it in your glove compartment. Keep your tires at
       the exact pressure that is recommended in the small lettering found
       on your car’s tire walls. Basically you just stick the tire gauge on
       the valve for a second and wait for the white stick to pop out with
       the meter on it. The meter will have numbers that measures in
       PSI’s. This stands for “pounds per square inch. Fill the tires to the
       maximum PSI for best mileage. Tires can lose air quickly, so
       check them every week. At a minimum check them once a month
       or every 1500 miles. Under-inflated tires also wear out faster,
       which also contributes to higher gas consumption. The best time
       to check your tire pressure is when it is cooler outside or sometime
       in the morning after your vehicle has been sitting for a few hours.

Tire Balancing:
           Keep your tires balanced! Ask your service station attendant,
       mechanic or car dealer to help you keep up on this. This can make
       a world of difference and it usually doesn’t cost anything to have a
       mechanic or a tire shop worker to check this out for you. Make
       sure you give your auto mechanic a buck or two for a tip if they
       happen to do this for you. The small tip you give will come back to
       a hundred times over in the long run when you need your mechanic
       to check on something in the future and he will be more likely to
       be honest with you about your vehicle’s true needs. I would ask
your mechanic to check your tire balance every few months to get
the best possible gas mileage. For a complete free guide from the
United Sates Department of Transportation and National Highway
Traffic Administration, and to learn everything about your car’s
tires and their safety, just cut and paste the following link into your
computer:
http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/tiresafety/ridesonit/brochure.html .

5 Star Shine: See Clearly. Drive Safely.

admin — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 03:44:23 +0000

Every day, your windshield is being bombarded by harsh
environmental elements such as acid rain, pollen, tree
sap, road grime, industrial fallout and a whole lot
more depending on where you live.

These elements not only attach themselves to the outside
surface of your windshield, but also become embedded deep
within it.

This is why, over time, windshields become hazy or dull
and lose their brilliance and clarity.

Glass cleaners alone can’t remove these contaminants.
(Have you ever tried removing water marks from glass using
a glass cleaner? It’s nearly impossible)

Finally, there is a quick and easy 3 step system which
not only deep cleans your windshield, but also seals and
protects it from future environmental damage.

We have a short video set up that shows step by step
how quick and easy it is for anyone to restore their
windshield’s brilliance, clarity and shine. Just click
the link below or copy and paste it into your browser
and click Go.

http://www.5starshine.com/info-diamondite-windshield-cleaner.html

For other helpful time and money saving car care products
and accessories, please be sure to visit the 5 Star Shine
Catalog at the link below.

http://www.5starshine.com/catalog.html