Engine Oil Info

Just the facts about engine oil.

This site is not sponsored by any distributor or manufacturer of engine oil. For more than 25 years, we have been an independent source of unbiased test performance data on engine oil collected from around the world. Our goal is to provide you with the facts and let you form your own educated opinions.

Over the next month you will see a transformation of this website as we update our look and ways in which you can quickly access key information about engine oil. Your suggestions and feedback are always welcome!

What would you like to know?

Choosing an Oil	Engine Oil Functions	Engine Oil Glossary	Engine Oil Reports
Choosing a good engine oil is, by far, the least expensive insurance you can buy for your vehicle. Our goal is to help you make educated decisions. Learn more...	Oil performs many functions within the engine. In addition to its primary task as a lubricant by controlling wear and oxidation, the oil also serves the engine by cooling, cleaning, sealing, and inhibiting corrosion. Learn more...	Some oil properties are more important to the life of your engine than others. Our Engine Oil Reports focus on nine critical properties. Learn more...	See how your oil compares with others of the same grade and service class in the market today. Browse our databases of engine oils collected in the past four years and select from hundreds of oils in our eReports Store to create your customized Engine Oil Reports.

We've just launched another website: www.InstituteofMaterials.com; home of the IOM Engine Oil Data Store. The new site is geared to those interested in highly technical data on engine oil performance in industry-standard testing. 2009 test data is available in various report formats on both websites.

Our Engine Oil Reports are based on thousands of commercial oil samples acquired across the globe. Since 1984, IOM has been publishing test results on oil samples it collects randomly throughout North America, Europe, and Asia. Each year, IOM tests hundreds of samples of major and minor brands of oil to evaluate whether the samples perform according to the specifications set by the American Petroleum Institute (API), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and the International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) for their grade and service ratings.

IOM publishes test results on various engine oils. A product's rating refers only to the particular brand and formulation specified, not to other brands or formulations sold by the same company. Results of any given test are not to be construed as an endorsement of one product or criticism of another. Our reports are for purposes of comparison and application by knowledgeable individuals, given consideration to the specific application desired. Engine oil ratings and IOM reports may not be used in advertising or for any other commercial purpose. All bulletin, publications, and websites of the Institute of Materials, Inc. which are furnished to the industry and to the public are copyrighted and may not be reprinted or copied in any way without express written permission of the Institute of Materials, Inc.