Adrian Brown is away. His column will appear again in next week’s issue.

Misleading labels are one of several factors interfering with the proper use of adequately performing automatic transmission fluids, according to the results of a survey released yesterday by the Petroleum Quality Institute of America. Among the problems it cited was the frequent use of terms such as universal and multi-purpose, leading fluids to be used in transmissions for which they do not provide adequate performance. PQIA said its survey found strong sentiment that the ATF market in the Uni...

Global base oil manufacturing capacity now tips the scales at 1.11 million barrels a day, roughly 55 million metric tons a year. Yet even though the construction frenzy of the past decade seems to be ebbing, refiners still aim to stream another 90,000 b/d of fresh capacity between now and 2021. Those are among the insights to be found from perusing the 2017 Guide to Global Base Oil Refining published this month by LubesnGreases magazine. The annual guide provides a focused picture of the worlds ...

MOSCOW – Licensing for used oil collectors and legislation that restricts waste oil dumping and incineration could improve Russias rerefining industry, a consultancy found, though it remains hindered by lax law enforcement and a lack of state and private incentives. Russia collected about 600,000 metric tons of used lubricants in 2015, and most of it was used as fuel, while about 50,000 tons were processed for production of base oils, according to Parsippany, N.J.-based Kline & Co. Us...

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates – The crisis that arose this month between Qatar and several of its neighbors is fueling unease over base oil supplies from the Middle East, amid fears the row could escalate and disrupt shipments. On June 5, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Egypt and Bahrain cut diplomatic relations with Qatar, accusing the wealthy Gulf state of funding terrorism and supporting extremist Islamist groups. But it is the simultaneous severing of air, sea and land links that...

The New Jersey Assemblys consumer protection committee approved a bill last week that would require new car purchases to come with a summary of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Acts anti-tying provisions. Bill A2612 mandates that automakers – through authorized dealers – provide a statement about warranty act rights in both English and Spanish to consumers within 90 days of a new car purchase. To become law, the bill will need approval from a majority of members in both the New Jersey Gene...