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Valu Merchandisers, Co.

Company and Product Information

Corporate Office:
Valu Merchandisers, Co.
5000 Kansas Ave
Kansas City, KS 66106-1135

Website(s): www.awginc.com

Valu Merchandisers, Co. is a subsidiary of Associated Wholesale Grocer, Inc.

Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) Established in 1926, is an 88-year old retailer-owned grocery cooperative, headquartered in Kansas City, KS with annual sales of $8.38 billion. AWG’s existing full-line distribution centers are located in Kansas City, KS; Springfield, MO; Oklahoma City, OK; Southhaven, MS; Goodlettsville, TN; Fort Worth, TX; and Pearl River, LA. The VMC facilities are located in Ft. Scott, KS, and Memphis, TN. AWG currently has over 600 member-owners and services over 3,000 retail outlets in 31 states.

PETROLEUM QUALITY INSTITUTE OF AMERICA TEST PROGRAM

The Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) is an independent resource for information and insights on the quality of lubricants in the marketplace. Our mission is to serve the consumer of lubricants by randomly sampling and independently testing lubricants taken from the field. Test results are posted along with the brand names on the PQIA website. This webpage provides an analysis on the brand detailed below.

The following are the test results for the sample examined.

Best Choice Synthetic Blend
SAE 10W-30 Motor Oil

Product: Best Choice
Viscosity Grade: SAE 10W-30
Labeling: API SN/ILSAC GF-5

Distributed By: Valu Merchandisers, Co., Kansas City, MO

Purchased at: Guymon, OK

Date of purchase: 4/13/2016

 

Website(s): www.awginc.com

Test Results and Assessment:

The results of the tests conducted on this sample meet the SAE J300 specifications for the SAE Viscosity Grade listed on the product label, and are consistent with the listed API Service Categories.

bottle icon Physical Properties pass
Elemental Analysis pass
Labeling warning

Note: Although laboratory tests alone cannot be used to establish if engine oil meets an API Service Category, they can be used to determine if it doesn't.

PHYSICAL TESTS (click for test details) - a Standard Best Choice
TBN, mg KOH/g (ASTM D2896) 7.41
Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 9.3 to <12.5 10.16
Viscosity @40ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 64.56
Viscosity Index (ASTM D2270) 144
Viscosity @-25ºC mPa s (cP) (ASTM D5293) 7,000 Max 4,424
Volatility, mass % loss, 1 hr, @ 250ºC (ASTM D5800) 15 Max -c 13.5
ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS (click for test details) - a, b
Additives
Calcium 2,009
Magnesium 11
Phosphorus, ppm 600 to 800 670
Zinc, ppm 744
Molybdenum,  ppm 137
Barium, ppm <1
Boron, ppm 94
Silicon, ppm 4
Potassium, ppm <5
Manganese, ppm <1
Titanium, ppm <1
Copper, ppm <1
Sodium, ppm <5
Vanadium, ppm <1
Contaminants
Silver, ppm <1
Aluminum, ppm 2
Chromium, ppm <1
Iron, ppm <1
Nickel, ppm <1
Lead, ppm <1
Antimony, ppm <1
Tin, ppm <1
  1. Standards, shown in yellow are established by API, SAE and others.
  2. Test Method for metal analysis is ASTM D5185.
  3. This specification is expressed to two significant figures, therefore results up to 15.5 are considered on specification.