Petroleum Quality Institute of America

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is an independent resource for information and insights on the quality and performance of lubricants in the marketplace.  Our mission is to serve the consumer of lubricants by reporting on the quality and integrity of lubricants in the marketplace.

 

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Sheetz Inc. Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil API SM ILSAC GF-4

 

 

 

 

 

 

Purchased in: Sheetz Store in Martinsburg, WV.

                    Second sample (see footnote "f")  purchased at Sheetz store in Joppa, MD.

Dates of purchase: Martinsburg sample purchased on 6-10-2010

                           Joppa sample purchased on July 22, 2010

 

Advisory: The sample(s) tested do not meet the NOACK Volatility requirements of an API SM ILSAC GF-4 5W-30 Engine Oil. Click here for more on Volatility.

 

PETROLEUM QUALITY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA

TEST PROGRAM
PHYSICAL TESTS Standard/ranges-b Average-e

Sheetz

 5W-30
 TBN, mg KOH/g, (ASTM D2896) 7.4 to 9.0 8.0 6.7
 Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt, (ASTM D445) 9.3 to 12.5 10.39 11.28
 Viscosity @ 40ºC, cSt, ASTM D445 55.0 to 82.0 60.48 70.55
 Viscosity Index (ASTM D2270) 156 to 167 163 154
 Viscosity @ -30ºC mPa s (cP) (ASTM D5293) 6,600 Max 5,793 5,100
 Volatility, mass % loss, 1 hr, @ 250ºC (ASTM D5800) 15 Max 13.5 17.1-f
ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS-c      
Additives
    Nitrogen μg/g (ASTM D-5762) 720 to 1,000 860 680
    Calcium  1,648 to 2,301 2,043 1,909
    Magnesium, ppm  6 to 43 11 7
    Phosphorus,  ppm 600 to 800 772 786
    Zinc, ppm  789 to 887 851 866
    Molybdenum,  ppm  <1 to 226 93 9
    Barium, ppm  <1 <1 <1
Additive and/or other
    Boron,  ppm  <1 to 246 84 <1
    Silicon,  ppm-d  4 to 8 5 4
    Potassium, ppm  <1  <1 <1
    Manganese, ppm  <1 to 8 1 <1
    Titanium, ppm  <1 <1 <1
    Sulfur, ppm  5,000 max 3,021 3,351
    Copper, ppm  <1  <1 <1
    Sodium, ppm  <1 to 467 82 <1
    Vanadium, ppm  <1 <1 <1
Contaminants
    Silver, ppm  <1 <1 <1
    Aluminum, ppm  <1 to 2 <1 <1
    Chromium, ppm  <1 <1 <1
    Iron, ppm  <1 to 1 1 1
    Nickel, ppm  <1 <1 <1
    Lead, ppm  <1 to 1 <1 1
    Antimony, ppm  <1 <1 <1
    Tin, ppm  4 to 5 5 6

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.
f- A recheck of the sample was conducted and the results of the recheck came back at 17.3%. In addition, a second sample of the product was purchased at a Sheetz store in different location on July 22, 2010. The result of the NOACK test for the second sample is 17.6%, again out of specification for the product as labeled.

 

  
Sheetz Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil
The American Petroleum Institute sets forth a number of laboratory and engine tests required to meet an API SM performance specification. Although laboratory tests alone cannot be used to establish if an engine oil meets API SM, they can be used to determine if it doesn't.

What follows is a comparison of the test results for Sheetz Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil as compared to the API SM ILSAC GF-4 requirements.

The API limits for each test are shown by the yellow bars. The test result for Sheetz Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil are illustrated by the horizontal line.

 
Viscometrics

The viscometrics of Sheetz Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil meets the required targets for a 5W-30 API SM (SAE J300 specification).

 
   
Volatility Phosphorus
The volatility of Sheetz Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil does not meet the parameters required for an API SM ILSAC GF-4 designation.

Click here for more on Volatility.

 The phosphorus content in Sheetz Premium 5W-30 Motor Oil meets the requirements for an API SM ILSAC GF-4 designation.

 

  
   
 

  
FRONT AND BACK LABELS FROM PRODUCT TESTED
 

 

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