The Data Speak for Itself...
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Corporate Office:
XCEL Lubricants
Tampa, FL 33605
Website(s): www.xcellube.com
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.
Marketed by: XCEL Lubricants, Tampa, FL
XCEL is a Registered Trademark of Amalie Oil Company, Tampa, FL
Purchased at: Sarasota, FL
Date of purchase: 8/26/2016
Website(s): www.xcellube.com
The label on the product claims that this is a multigrade 10W-40 motor oil meeting an American Petroleum Institute (API) SA Service Classification. Plain and simple, this can't be. By definition, API SA motor oil cannot be a multi-viscosity grade product. API SA motor oils are "straight mineral oil." As such, they contain no additives. Multigrade motor oil requires the use of viscosity modifier additives.
In addition, this product is labeled as meeting API SA which is an obsolete Service Classification. As noted on the back label, this motor oil "Contains no additives. It is not suitable for use in most gasoline powered automotive engines built after 1930. Use in modern engines may cause unsatisfactory engine performance or equipment harm." At the same time, the back label states "This economical quality blended lubricant provides excellent and durable lubrication for automobile and truck engines to minimize oil consumption cost." This claim is inconsistent with the API SA Service Classification.
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Physical Properties |  |
| Elemental Analysis | |
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| Labeling |  |
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 | XCEL Premium |
| TBN, mg KOH/g (ASTM D2896) | 0.85 | |
| Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) | 12.5 to <16.3 | 13.3 |
| Viscosity @40ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) | 88.7 | |
| Viscosity Index (ASTM D2270) | 151 | |
| Viscosity @-25ºC mPa s (cP) (ASTM D5293) | 7,000 Max | 4,927 |
| ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS (click for test details) - a, b | ||
| Additives | ||
| Calcium | 58 | |
| Magnesium | 7 | |
| Phosphorus, ppm | 29 | |
| Zinc, ppm | 24 | |
| Molybdenum, ppm | 0 | |
| Barium, ppm | 0 | |
| Boron, ppm | 1 | |
| Silicon, ppm | 1 | |
| Potassium, ppm | 0 | |
| Manganese, ppm | 0 | |
| Titanium, ppm | 0 | |
| Copper, ppm | 0 | |
| Sodium, ppm | 3 | |
| Vanadium, ppm | 0 | |
| Contaminants | ||
| Silver, ppm | 0 | |
| Aluminum, ppm | 2 | |
| Chromium, ppm | 0 | |
| Iron, ppm | 0 | |
| Nickel, ppm | 0 | |
| Lead, ppm | 0 | |
| Antimony, ppm | 0 | |
| Tin, ppm | 0 | |
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