Liberty Gold Plus SMO 5W-30 Motor Oil (no API designation)
Pinnacle Brands, Chicago, IL
Note: Pinnacle Brands is not affiliated or associated with Pinnacle Oil in Indianapolis, IN.
Test Results on this sample indicate the
product can cause damage to a passenger car engines.
Purchased in: Wickliffe Shell, Austintown, OH
Date of purchase: January 6, 2011
CONSUMER ALERT: The label on this product states it is a 5W-30 motor oil that “provides excellent protection against engine wear, sludge and rust,” and "superior cold weather starting."
In fact, PQIA's test results show this product clearly is not a 5W-30, and does not meet any recognized specifications for a motor oil. The viscosity for this oil is nearly 70% below where it should be for a 5W-30, and the level of additives is less than a quarter of that required by original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) to protect automobiles currently on the road. In addition, the volatility of this product is five times the maximum allowed by current industry specifications. Further, the product tested contains 99 parts per million of silicon. Silicon is typically associated with abrasive material that can be harmful to an engine. The sample tested shows an oil that should not be used in an automobile engine as it could cause engine damage.
PETROLEUM QUALITY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA TEST PROGRAM |
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| PHYSICAL TESTS | Standard/ranges-b | Average-e |
Liberty Gold 5W-30 |
| TBN, mg KOH/g, (ASTM D2896) | 7.4 to 9.0 | 8.0 | 0.8 |
| Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt, (ASTM D445) | 9.3 to 12.5 | 10.39 | 3.11 |
| Viscosity @ 40ºC, cSt, ASTM D445 | 55.0 to 82.0 | 60.48 | 13.14 |
| Viscosity Index (ASTM D2270) | 156 to 167 | 163 | 93 |
| Viscosity @ -30ºC mPa s (cP) (ASTM D5293) | 6,600 Max | 5,793 | 1,090 |
| Volatility, mass % loss, 1 hr, @ 250ºC (ASTM D5800) | 15 Max | 13.5 | 78.8 |
| ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS-c | |||
| Additives | |||
| Nitrogen μg/g (ASTM D-5762) | 720 to 1,000 | 860 | 110 |
| Calcium | 1,648 to 2,301 | 2,043 | 256 |
| Magnesium, ppm | 6 to 43 | 11 | 5 |
| Phosphorus, ppm | 600 to 800 | 772 | 144 |
| Zinc, ppm | 789 to 887 | 851 | 155 |
| Molybdenum, ppm | <1 to 226 | 93 | 0 |
| Barium, ppm | <1 | <1 | 3 |
| Boron, ppm | <1 to 246 | 84 | 5 |
| Silicon, ppm-d | 4 to 8 | 5 | 99 |
| Potassium, ppm | <1 | <1 | 4 |
| Manganese, ppm | <1 to 8 | 1 | 0 |
| Titanium, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Sulfur, ppm | 5,000 max | 3,021 | 1,156 |
| Copper, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Sodium, ppm | <1 to 467 | 82 | 0 |
| Vanadium, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Contaminants | |||
| Silver, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Aluminum, ppm | <1 to 2 | <1 | 3 |
| Chromium, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Iron, ppm | <1 to 1 | 1 | 5 |
| Nickel, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Lead, ppm | <1 to 1 | <1 | 0 |
| Antimony, ppm | <1 | <1 | 0 |
| Tin, ppm | 4 to 5 | 5 | 1 |
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a- Click here for product label. b- Standards, shown in orange, are established by API, SAE and others. Ranges, shown in teal, represent the high and low data for the majors shown. c-Test Method for metal analysis is ASTM ASTM D5185. d- Although silicon is used as an antifoam additive in lubricants, concentrations above 7ppm have been linked to contamination from abrasive material, e- Average of the 10 major brands tested. Click here for brands tested.
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