Milestone Firsts
Evan Zabawski | TLT From the Editor February 2014
In the end, does it matter?
WHEN ASKED FOR MY OPINION ON CHOOSING PASSENGER CAR ENGINE OIL, I recommend a 0W with current API certification. Often the discussion turns to brand preference, citing claims of various firsts. I maintain that claims of first rarely translate to quality, and thankfully API is introducing its Motor Oil Matters (MOM) licensing program to clearly identify quality oils.
To place any value on a first, one must understand the context of the claim. In 1972, AMZOIL (now AMSOIL) claimed to be the first API certified synthetic engine oil and that product was diester-based. However, API, ASTM and SAE only published these new certifications in June 1970, with API SE applying to the 1972 model year. Mobil claims to be the first to market synthetic engine oil in 1974, and that product was polyalphaolefin (PAO)- based. Neither first refers to the same type of synthetic basestock, so they cannot be fairly compared, but such competition is inherent in the race to develop better engine oil.
Socony (Standard Oil Co. of New York) Mobil researchers Hamilton et al., are credited with inventing PAO on May 18, 1949, and they filed a patent for the process on July 28 of the same year, but it wasn’t awarded until Oct. 25, 1960. Oddly, this was after Mobil’s patent for synthetic lubricant (which served as the basis for their formulations) was awarded on May 17, 1960, even though it was filed more than eight years later on Sept. 13, 1957.
Matuszak et al., of Esso Research and Engineering, filed a patent for synthetic lubricant composition of primarily diester-based lubricants on March 21, 1956, which was awarded June 2, 1959. (Apparently diesters are quicker to get approved than PAOs.) This served as part of the basis for Socony’s Oberright et al., to file a patent for the high-temperature jet lubricant that produced Mobil Jet II, a major influence in the original formulation of AMZOIL.
National Carbon Co. (a unit of Union Carbide and Carbon Corp.), makers of Prestone antifreeze, marketed “Prestone” motor oil in 1945, stating it was “a chemically created motor oil—not a drop of petroleum in it!” and that product was polyalkylene glycol (PAG)- based. Though this product performed very well, it was ultimately a commercial failure due to the hydrophilic nature of PAGs, leading to rusting of oil film-coated parts. In 1929 Standard Oil Co. of Indiana attempted to commercialize synthetic oil, but low demand due to high prices led to failure.
It would seem that being first can sometimes be a kiss of death, whether due to unforeseen side effects or lack of demand. Other firsts often help shape industry, and as they become the norm the originator can lose prominence. Case in point, the Kendall Refining Co. (now part of ConocoPhillips) established several firsts beginning in 1928 with Kendall Motor Oil—the first oil designated for winter use. Later Kendall created the first prepackaged, factory-sealed, one-quart oil can and the first 2,000 mile motor oil in the era of 500-1,000 mile oil changes (hence their iconic two-fingered logo).
To me, it does not matter who was first, nor will I get embroiled in arguing which product is the best. Most users can make their own decisions when properly informed, however as API states on its Website,
www.motoroilmatters.org, “there are an unscrupulous few at all levels of the process that are just out to make a quick buck and leave everyone else holding the bag.”
“To combat this problem, MOM was established to license the good guys—oil manufacturers, distributors and oil change locations who have demonstrated to us that they meet the highest API chain-of-custody standard—meaning the proper, quality motor oil for your vehicle is actually what they are putting into your car.”
So let’s leave the marketing departments to continue trying to one-up each other with mostly meaningless first statements and rely on the governing bodies that created the very standards and certifications to uphold them.
Evan Zabawski, CLS, is a reliability specialist in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. You can reach him at evan.zabawski@gmail.com.