The American Petroleum Institute (API) has launched its licensing efforts for motor oil distributors and oil change locations as part of its expanded Motor Oil Matters (MOM) campaign. Created to bring together everyone involved in the bulk motor oil chain of custody including motor oil marketers, distributors, oil change locations and consumers, MOM is designed to ensure that drivers get the right motor oil for their cars and trucks – every time.
API has been licensing motor oils meeting API performance standards and sampling and testing them in the marketplace for many years, but monitoring the quality of motor oils sold in bulk has been a challenge. API developed MOM to complement API’s current oil quality monitoring program and to provide greater assurance that the industry markets, delivers, and installs high-quality motor oils. This will be accomplished by maintaining a secure chain-of-custody for bulk motor oil from the marketer all the way to the vehicle.
Earlier this year, API published the industry’s first standard for establishing motor oil chain of custody, outlining basic procedures to ensure that distributors are able to confidently identify the oil that they deliver to oil change locations and these locations in turn are able to identify the oil they pour into customers’ vehicles. Every customer of a Motor Oil Matters licensed location will receive a written receipt with the brand name, viscosity, and performance level of the oil installed in his or her car.
API will certify motor oil distributors and oil change locations, identifying them as businesses committed to delivering quality oils. These distributors and locations will be able to market and advertise themselves as distributors and oil change locations that have successfully implemented API’s new chain of custody standard, therefore identifying themselves as trusted service providers.
As a consumer advocate, MOM will help reaffirm the confidence and trust the motoring public places in oil change locations. As an educator, ongoing efforts will be made to enlighten consumers about the benefits of using quality motor oils through online, social media and industry events. MOM will also identify MOM-licensed distributors and oil change locations. At the same time, API has expanded its monitoring system to better evaluate bulk oils.
Motor Oil distributors and oil change locations can join Motor Oil Matters and become a part of this new symbol of quality and accountability in the industry and reap the benefits of becoming a symbol that oil change locations and consumers will trust. Visit www.motoroilmatters.org to join Motor Oil Matters and to find information on the benefits of using quality motor oil.