Unsuspecting motorists trying to save a few pennies have been buying garbage in a bottle:
http://www.pqiamerica.com/citystar.htm
http://www.ncagr.gov/paffairs/release/2011/10-11motoroil.htm
Several members of ‘Bob Is The Oil Guy’ have suffered minor strokes…
Ugh! It looks like melted sugar bunnies.
If I opened a bottle of oil at that poured out I think I’d upchuck.
Do you mean to tell me that Shamsan Food Mart is not a good place to purchase motor oil?
I am shocked! Shocked, I say!
Seriously, however, it is just amazing that any company is currently attempting to sell motor oil that is only suitable for cars built before 1930. For those who like to believe that no types of regulations are necessary, and that “the free market” will sort out all problems with bad products, this is just a little more evidence that the potential for harm to people and/or their valuable possessions is all too likely without the existence of regulations.
Patience, VDC. Patience. The “free market” will sort itself out in due time. In a few years a dozen or so motorists whose engines are trashed will get a lawyer and sue the corporation that owns that brand name and the lawyer will make a few thousand while the corporation shifts its funds around and files bankruptcy on an empty account. Those dozen motorists who sued and the hundreds of others who never knew what happened to their engines will get nothing worth mentioning. And the owner of the corporation will never miss an opportunity to take advantage of the “free market.” He will have the stores and the oil re-branded before the law suit gets in front of a judge. Ain’t life great.
LOL. We haven’t had anything resembling “free” markets for a century. And contrary to common assumptions it has not a thing to do with government regulation or taxes. Corporate capitalism IS NOT consistent with free market economics. So as long as we take corporations over free markets I’ll also take the state regulation.
Mmmmm… looks like dulce de leche.
I don’t know if it’s still offered or not but several small food stores around here sells, or did sell, a reconstituted motor oil called Double Eagle.
It appeared to be used motor oil that was strained through an old window screen and may be worse than City Star. The Double Eagle oil was as thin as water and almost black in color.
I doubt if the company that bottled that concoction knew what was in it from one day to the next. Just from the photo I would be concerned that antifreeze and water were emulsified in the “oil”.
Regarding the comments about free markets and the need for regulations, I agree that some regulations and standards are needed, but this bottle of crap was clearly marked API SA. When you own a machine that you likely paid 20-30K for, perhaps you should read the damn owners manual and know what type of oil is required. If you buy oil marked API SA and trash your engine, I’m sorry, but that your fault! I realize that not everyone is a mechanical engineer, but the ignorance of most people about how a car works baffles me.
doubleclutch…You’re right in that people SHOULD be more aware of what oil they are putting in their car. I think anyone who does their own oil changes hopefully should be knowledgeable enough to know what the API ratings are…Now the Soccer Mom who’s low a quart of oil and adds this stuff probably hasn’t clue of what they are buying…and I suspect that a good 90% of the people like “Soccer Mom” haven’t a clue.
Also, wasn’t it labeled 10w-30, and didn’t meet that (or any) spec? Should never have been sold.
You’re right…But I’m still sticking to my stance. Every car I have ever had came with an owner’s manual, and in the owner’s manual there are very specific instructions as to what to look for when purchasing oil. Would “soccer mom” pay thousands of dollars for as expensive dress and toss it in washer without checking the care instructions? Cars aren’t cheap. If you’re going to own and operate expensive machinery, you should be willing to take the time to learn how to take care of it. Again, no need for an engineering degree here…Just the basics covered in the owner’s manual.
Sorry, DC, this was clearly a ripoff from the word go, mislabled junk. I don’t hold the purchaser responsible.
I don’t disagree with you. People have to be aware of what they are buying.
That however doesn’t mean that companies are allowed to deceive you. I’m not sure in this case if that was done. But I can name case after case where it was done.
The SA rating goes back to the 1950s. I think that detergent oil back then had an SC rating. I doubt that this oil is even acceptable for a lawn mower engine. My 20 year old lawnmower engine calls for a detergent oil.
You’re right on that one Mike…The contents should match what is in the bottle, which this oil did not.
I do think that the people responsible for bottling and marketing this crap should be held to account. It just frustrates me that people are so wrapped up in their cars, but really know nothing about them.
It just frustrates me that people are so wrapped up in their cars, but really know nothing about them.
Ain’t it the truth…
We are sold a bill of goods every day, thinking that we can take things at face value. It’s the pig in the poke scam on a grand scale. Television, print media and the internet are the worst culprits. The public cannot be experts on everything and we should not be required to pay experts to investigate and divulge the scams that are thrown at us daily.
VDC, this isn’t a “free market” issue. This is a fraud issue. Laws are there and should be there to prevent victims from frauds like this. Regulatory meddling in the free market is a whole different question.