Two recent incidents have drawn attention to oil product quality
In the first instance, a small batch of imported lubricants from Kazakhstan were found to be not in line with national standards. The products carried an SL/CF 5W40 quality rating but, when tested in a local facility, they failed to meet the National GB11121-2006 engine oil standard.
Up to -35?, lubricants meeting the standard should pump at no more than 60,000m per pascal-second, compared to 69,600mpa.s in the substandard batch. Low-temperature viscosity is important for both driver safety and vehicle maintenance.
Although the quantity and value of the shipment seized at the Qingdao Port was modest (960 units, with a total weight and value of 3.41 tons and $9696, respectively the incident highlights the need for rigorous testing of both imported and domestically produced lubes.
Meanwhile, diesel fuel being distributed at a PetroChina filling station in Harbin was found to have more than 40 times the national limit for water content. Researchers from the local Industrial and Commercial Bureau used an oil-water separator and found that moisture content in a sample taken from the station reached 0.2%, compared to the national maximum of 0.005%.
Investigators responded to complaints from motorists who had to carry out expensive repairs after filling up at the station. One driver, surnamed Gao, spent 1,900 yuan ($366) filling his tank, only to have his car breakdown just 130km later. Mechanics found four to five kilos of water in Gao's car, which then cost him a further 25,800 yuan ($4,200) to fix.
The incidents come hot on the heels of a report from Guizhou province last month where 16 locally produced products were found to be below the required standard.
As car ownership continues to rocket, and government standards become more stringent, producers will have to ensure their products fully meet regulatory requirements.