Anyone tracking all the talk about Group III base oil shortages?

[zx10guy]

Just wondering if any of you all are tracking all the talk about Group III base oil shortages.

 

[sinistriel@]

Yes its a real thing. Our bulk supplier just had a price increase by 30% on all of our synthetics and has run out of a lot of bottled product. We buy it by the 55 gallon drum and that currently is less effected. GM and Ford are running out of ULV for the 10 speeds which is going to be an issue.

 

[zx10guy]

Yes its a real thing. Our bulk supplier just had a price increase by 30% on all of our synthetics and has run out of a lot of bottled product. We buy it by the 55 gallon drum and that currently is less effected. GM and Ford are running out of ULV for the 10 speeds which is going to be an issue.

Thanks for the first hand accounting on this. Are there specific grades more affected than others?

 

[sinistriel@]

Thanks for the first hand accounting on this. Are there specific grades more affected than others?

Mostly 0W- oils and atfs as it requires a higher quality base stock to meet 0W. For a variety of reasons I hope the situation resolves quicly.

 

[zx10guy]

Mostly 0W- oils and atfs as it requires a higher quality base stock to meet 0W. For a variety of reasons I hope the situation resolves quicly.

That's what I'm seeing too. Most prominent is Toyota issuing a TSB on how much to mix 0W-8 and 0W-16 oils with thicker grades to still meet compliance.

I stopped by Costco today and was expecting no 0W-anything. They had a bunch of Mobil 1 0W-20. I picked up two cases. The other oils that Costco had were under their Kirkland brand. They had plenty of stock of 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30, and 15W-40.