American Petroleum Institute Releases Updated Engine Oil Licensing Certification System
The American Petroleum Institute has released an update to its Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System, as announced in a recent press release.
API’s standards are developed under its American National Standards Institute accredited process, ensuring its eligibility for third-party accreditation and allowing their use by state, federal, and some international regulators.
API 1509, Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System, provides standards for how engine oil marketers certify gasoline and diesel engine oils. The newest, 23rd edition of EOLCS provides a summary of what it is, and the methods used to develop the standards.
The new edition also includes descriptions of API Marks and their uses, along with detailed licensing requirements. It also goes over aftermarket conformance and enforcement procedures that are used to ensure products claiming to meet API standards actually do.
The 23rd edition of API 1509 is available now online.
“API 1509 plays a crucial role in managing the API Engine Oil Licensing and Certification System (EOLCS), providing oil marketers with guidelines on licensing and proper display of the API Engine Oil Quality Marks for consumers,” said Bill O’Ryan, senior manager of API EOLCS/DEF. “The updated standard assures consumers that API certified engine oils are the highest quality option for their vehicles.”
Automotive Service and Tire Alliance Names Steer as Preferred Customer Relationship Management
The Automotive Service and Tire Alliance has chosen Steer, and its AutoOps online scheduling tool, as the preferred Customer Relationship Management and online scheduling tool for its customers, according to a press release.
Steer and AutoOps have operated under the Steer brand since merging together in 2024.
As part of the partnership, ASTA members are eligible for one free month of AutoOps, and a 10% discount on a subscription after that.
“With this partnership, we’re excited to offer ASTA members tools that make their day-to-day easier—whether it’s using AutoOps to book more appointments or leveraging Steer’s CRM to deliver a more personal customer experience,” said Steer CEO Parker Swift.
STARFIRE Lubricants Welcomes Industry Leaders to Executive Team
STARFIRE Lubricants announced the addition of two industry veterans to its executive team in a recent press release.
Joining as Sales Manager is Brian Hayes, who brings over 20 years of experience in territory development and management in small companies and Fortune 500 settings.
Hayes most recently served at International Petroleum and Additives Company as its as North American regional sales and marketing manager. During his 11-year career there, he helped grow IPAC’s market share and customer base.
Pat McLaughlin has led a 39-year career in the aftermarket, and now joins STARFIRE to assist with efforts to expand into retail.
In addition to holding leadership roles at Valvoline, CHS Cooperatives, and Safety Kleen, McLaughlin has trained more than 1,500 professionals in lubrication practices. He’s also worked with retailers including Target, Menards, and Farm & Fleet, and has experience managing private label designs, packaging, and formulations.
Take 5 Oil Change Expanding Into Northeast, Midwest With New Locations
Mo Khalid, Take 5 Oil Change’s executive vice president and group president of maintenance, recently outlined plans the brand has for growth this year in an interview with Chain Store Age.
Currently, Khalid said that Take 5 is already pushing ahead into the Northeast and Midwest with plans for new store openings. The brand has plans to double its number of stores in the next four years.
Since it was acquired in 2016, Take 5 has had a strong focus on growing its number of franchisees. Prior to that, the brand’s locations were corporate-owned. Khalid said that Take 5 has had little issue finding space to open new stores, and that its franchisees have had firm understandings of their respective markets.
Additionally, Khalid said store margins have been high, with the time needed to train a new oil change technician being only four weeks. These employees often end up advancing within the company as well, with over 60% of those in leadership roles coming from working in shop bays—two of the company’s current VPs started out in such roles.
Incorrect Data Records Led to Faulty Toyota Fuel Pumps Going Unaddressed
Toyota’s recent recall of vehicles for faulty fuel pumps failed to be recalled earlier due to an error in record keeping from both the automaker and part manufacturer, according to Auto Evolution.
Covered in the recall are 2018 Toyota Camrys assembled between Feb. 1, 2018, and April 6, 2018; and 2019 Lexus NX 300 and RX 350 L vehicles assembled between April 22, 2019, and Aug. 2, 2019. An estimated 858 vehicles are impacted, with 848 of them being Camrys.
The problem lies with low-pressure fuel pump assemblies supplied by Japanese company Denso, which were shown to have been produced incorrectly. Additionally, the pumps were manufactured with iffy impellers containing a material density lower than normal. It’s possible the impellers also experienced long-term exposure to production solvent drying, leading to surface cracks.
This leads to excessive fuel absorption and a deformed impeller, which may interfere with the fuel pump body and cause engine stalling.
Toyota began investigating the issue in May 2024 after receiving reports of Japanese vehicles not starting. Though the pumps should have been included in an earlier recall, they weren’t due to certain fuel tank assembly part numbers not being included as a result of incorrect production history information from Denso, which has already faced multiple recalls for faulty fuel pumps.
However, there were some identification errors on Toyota’s end as well—but fortunately, the automaker has not had any reports or claims from the U.S. related to the problem.
Owners of impacted vehicles will receive mailed notices between March 9-23, with dealers being instructed to replace the fuel pump.
Massachusetts Mother and Daughter Experience Coolant Leak in Ford EcoBoost Engines
A woman and her mother both experienced their Ford EcoBoost engines failing for the same reason—and now, they believe the problem lies with a manufacturing defect, reports WCVB Channel 5 Boston.
After Lindsay Hirschfeld first purchased her 2017 Ford Escape in 2020, her mother, Susan, went out and purchased one as well just a few months later. Not a year had passed before Susan ran into issues with the vehicle.
While driving on the highway, Susan’s engine stopped, she lost power steering, and her dashboard lit up with warning lights. She took the Escape to a local trusted auto shop, where technicians told her she wasn’t the only one to experience such an incident.
“Our mechanic encouraged us to go to Ford because he knew it was a known issue, and we should check to see if we were still under warranty,” told Susan.
She took it to a Ford dealer, where a coolant leak into an engine cylinder was discovered. The car having only 44,000 miles, it was still under warranty, allowing Susan to have the engine replaced at no cost.
Three years later, Lindsay has now encountered the same exact problem with her vehicle: a coolant leak into the cylinder. However, with Lindsay’s car now having just over 80,000 miles on it, Ford will not cover it under its five-year, 60,000-mile powertrain warranty.
As a single parent, Lindsay shared that the $9,400 engine replacement she was quoted was something she couldn’t handle. She ended up having it replaced with a used engine at a local shop, but still ended up paying $7,000 for something she and her mother believe is the auto manufacturer’s fault.
“It's a known issue, and so they should be taking responsibility for it, completely. And they just, they're just not,” said Lindsay. “'It was out of warranty.' 'It's too late.' 'I'm the second owner.' Anything but admitting it was a manufacturing defect.”
When WCVB reached out to Ford inquiring about a potential manufacturing defect in EcoBoost engines, a spokesperson responded that Lindsay was outside of warranty and had services performed at a non-Ford dealership.
EcoBoost engines are renowned among technicians for running into tricky problems. A class action lawsuit recently alleged the engines contain defective intake valves, with another lawsuit over the EcoBoost’s fuel injectors having been recently revived by a NHTSA investigation.
Gold Eagle Company Announces Executive Leadership Changes
Performance chemical manufacturer Gold Eagle Company has announced changes to its leadership with the retirement of co-owner Rich Hirsch from its board, according to a recent press release.
CEO Marc Blackman will be taking Hirsch’s place as CEO and Chairman of the board. First joining Gold Eagle in 1993 as a private brands sales manager, he transitioned to VP of sales and marketing before being named president and COO in 2001.
Since 2014, Blackman has solely held the title of CEO. During this time, he’s overseen the expansion of Gold Eagle’s brand portfolio, including its first subsidiary of Lubrication Specialties.
Additionally, Executive Vice President of Market Innovation, Matthew Banach, has also been promoted to the role of chief operating officer and chief marketing officer. Banach joined the company in 2011 as a technical sales representative, transitioning to brand creative director in 2017.
During his time as executive vice president of market innovation, Banach played a pivotal role in finalizing the acquisition of Lubrication Specialties.
“Matt is an incredible asset to Gold Eagle,” said Blackman. “For the past 14 years, Matt has been integral to our success, consistently demonstrating exceptional leadership, innovation, and commitment. I have full confidence in his ability to lead our organization with the same level of excellence and drive that has historically shaped our company’s growth. This transition allows me to focus on the long-term strategy while ensuring our day-to-day operations remain in trusted hands.”
