Originally posted by Gary - KJ6Q
WEll, yeah, but...
1. Define "conforms"
2. WHO gets to decide what does or does NOT conform,
3. WHO will pay the bill for SOMEONE to make the "conform" decision.
4. What variables will be allowed, or decide whether a specific oil "conforms".
I. E. If Brand "A" decides the required "conformance" standard is too limiting in regards to some specific anti-wear compound, and deviates from that standard, can Brand "A" STILL profess that THEIR oil "conforms" to the standard?
HEH HEH HEH - pulling my stirrer outta the pot and doing a disappearing act... 
- Who defines 'conforms'?
I expect that 'confoms to the specification' means 'meets or exceeds the specifications'. Thus, if the spec called for the oil to neutralize a minimum of 3 deciliters of acid, and Brand "A" can neutralize only 90% of that (0. 9 x 3, or 2. 7 dL), then Brand "A" oil would not conform. However, if Brand "B" meets all the requirements and can neutralize one liter of acid, Brand "B" would conform, because it exceeds the specification.
If Brand "C" meets all the requirements, but triples the amount of anti-wear protection, it would conform. But if Brand "D" has less than the specified amount of anti-wear protection, it would not conform.
These are simplistic examples. The specifications are very likely quite complex, with multiple interactions between additives. Too much of one additive might lessen the effectiveness of another. That's why there are test specifications; running the tests according to their specs will yield repeatable, verifiable results.
- Who decides what does or does not conform?
The published test specifications 'decide'. The tests show that either the oil meets or exceed all the requirements, or it does not.
- Who pays for the conform decision?
We all do. It is built into the price of the oil we buy. The producer either run the tests themselves, or they pay someone else to run them, or they pay API. Whichever way, the costs are passed on to the consumer.
- What variability is allowed?
I would expect that the specs state many limits in terms of 'at least'. Fr example, at least X wear protection, neutralize at least T acid. Other limits will be expressed in terms of 'not more than'. For example, not more than S square millimeters of wear scar. Others would be specified as an acceptable range, as in at least Y but not more than Z viscosity at D degrees F.
If the standard tests show that an oil allows significantly less wear, neutralizes more acid and/or has viscosity near the high end of the range, then the tests prove the oil 'conforms' to the specification.
All oil manufacturers who want to maintain their reputations and sales will properly test their products. The Fly By Night Oil Company might produce a large batch of oil, sell it and close their doors. But they sure won't be around in a year or two when the failures start appearing. They could use all the proper API markings on their packaging, yet be nowhere to be found when the API goes after them.
On the other hand, the American Superior Internal Combustion Engine Oil Company, which has been in business for 50 years, produces a lot of engine lube, and has a large, loyal customer base, has a good incentive to continue producing oil that meets or exceed the required specifications and to continue testing their products to ensure they maintain consistent, high levels of quality.
Basically, it all boils down to ethics and honesty. An honest, ethical company will strive to produce products that meet or exceed the published specifications and will test those products to ensure product quality and consistency. The fictional American Superior Internal Combustion Engine Oil Company would be such a company. Whereas a dishonest, unethical company will throw ingredients together, deliberately mislabel and misrepresent their products, grab as much money as they can from unsuspecting consumers and try to be gone before the lawsuits begin; The Fly By Night Oil Company exemplifies this kind of business.
Almost any company that has been in business for a number of years and has a loyal customer base most likely is not skimping on product quality. But where does that leave new companies and new products? They haven't been around long enough to 'stand the test of time'. Do you take a chance on their products? Or do you give them a pass and go with the tried-n-true companies and products? In this respect, oil is no different from power-multiplying electronic boxes, super-duper turbos, fantastic clutches or indestructible transmissions.
It all still comes down to a personal decision. And such decisions *must* be based on as much factual information as is possible. My purpose with this thread is to clarify *one* particular piece of information that has often been greatly misunderstood in these fora.
Regardless of who makes the oil, who tests it, whether or not the test 'results' can be trusted, the oil we use must simply conform to the published specification(s). It can not be 'API Service Grade Certified' because that only applies to oils for gasoline engines. It does not have to bear the 'API Service Mark', because Dodge do not require that the API verify conformance to the specification(s). It simply must *conform*, and we have to trust the test results, trust the producers' reputations, and trust the choices our fellow oil consumers have made. Finally, we have to trust ourselves to make sound decisions.
Fest3er
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