 IOM
performs continuous, independent monitoring of the physical,
chemical, and performance characteristics of engine oils purchased
from the retail market throughout the world. Oils are collected
on the basis of market trends, market share, population of
geographic locations, and consumer interest. Once purchased,
samples of the oils are blind-coded without reference to brand
name or manufacturer and sent to a carefully monitored laboratory
specializing in lubricant testing. Each oil sample is put
through the IOM Test Matrix--over
30 industry-standard and customized tests. The results are
published and sold in the form of copyrighted reports and
spreadsheets.
The quality of oils has improved markedly since our beginnings.
However, occasional errors in choices of components for engine
oil formulations continue to bring engine oils to the market
that have the potential to slowly or, in some cases rapidly,
cause engine problems.
The IOM database is the only source that reveals acceptable
or unacceptable properties of marketed engine oils, particularly
concerning the changes of base stocks and other components
that are often made during the marketed life of an engine
oil. Data from the IOM database has been used in several dozen
published technical papers and presentations by world experts
over the 25 years of IOM’s history. |
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An early 80s study by one of the OEMs to the Society of
Automotive Engineers (SAE) showed that of over a hundred oils
obtained from the retail market, about a fifth would not meet
the specifications then required and a few of these would
actually cause engine damage. A confidential oil collection
and analysis activity was subsequently started by the SAE
with periodic summary publication of the test results and
private warnings to manufacturers of substandard engine oils.
As a result of these early finding, the IOM Engine Oil Database
project was encouraged and developed by experts in the field
of engine lubrication. It was thought that collecting oils
from the market and publicly publishing results of the important
bench tests would help to improve quality engine lubricants
in the marketplace.
In 1984, IOM collected and tested 110 oils from throughout
North America as a pilot program. The test results were published
by IOM in early 1985. IOM began collecting oils in Asia and
Europe in 1992. Australia was added to the Asia-Pacific collection
in 2001. Today, test data is available on over 11,700 through
the 2008 test year. IOM not only stores the data on all the
engine oil collected, but we have retained samples of each
oil collected since 1984 in the world’s largest collection
of independently obtained engine oil.
IOM now routinely collects and test 650 oils per year --300
in Asia-Pacific, 250 in North America, and 100 in Europe.
Our test matrix, products and services have developed over
the years with changes in the lubricant industry. |
