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 IOM
collectors reside in the countries or regions in which they
collect. They act as "secret shoppers" purchasing
oil from various retail venues like any other consumer. A
minimum of five quarts or liters of each sample is purchased
at retail price. Important information about where the oil
was purchased, container ID numbers, and retail price are
recorded. IOM Collectors are careful that each container has
the same case/lot number to ensure that enough of the exact
blend is available for testing,
possible re-testing, and retains. IOM Collectors are trained
in how to select, pack and ship to ensure that samples arrive
undamaged and unopened.
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IOM collectors purchase hundreds of engine oil samples
each year from retail markets throughout North America, Europe,
and Asia-Pacific. Collections are planned on the basis of
market share, population, and geographical location. The IOM
Collection team tracks new products, brand competition, consumer
trends, and reviews online automotive forums and discussion
boards. Collection is an ongoing process which allows us to
respond to market changes. Samples are obtained from metropolitan
areas, small towns, and rural locations to ensure a representation
of the marketplace. Major and minor brand names are included.
Both passenger car and heavy duty engine oils are collected
in a mixture of SAE viscosity grades and API, ACEA and ILSAC
service classifications. This year, IOM added oils with JASO
motorcycle service classifications. |
Click to download searchable, sortable lists
of oils in the IOM collection.
IOM
Oil Index 2009.xls *
IOM
Oil Index 2000 to 2008.xls
IOM
Oil Index 1990 to 1999.xls
IOM
Oil Index 1984 to 1989.xls
*Test data on oils collected in
2009 is avaialble now. |
The brands listed above are just a sampling
of those collected in one year.
Beginning 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 12,000 oil samples through the 2009 collection year. IOM not only archives 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.
We now collect and test 650 oils per year --300 in Asia-Pacific, 250 in North America, and 100 in Europe. With this broad collection, chances
are the oil you're interested in has made our lists. Enter
the IOM Engine Oil Data Store now and start searching.
If you have searched through our collection in the IOM Data Store and can't find what you are looking for, click here to submit a suggestion.
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