Adrian Brown is away.

Orbit brand motor oil and transmission fluid can cause damage to car engines and automatic transmissions, the Petroleum Quality Institute of America said, recently issuing Dont Buy alerts for both products. Metuchen, N.J.-based PQIA tests and issues reports on the quality of lubricants in the U.S. market. Lube Report was not able to reach Orbit Oil, which has a listed street address in Gary, Ind., for comment by deadline. PQIAs analysis of multiple Orbit motor oil samples obtained in Missouri an...

LONDON – Growing concerns about the engine-destroying effects of low speed pre-ignition, likely caused by droplets of oil and fuel mixed together and auto-igniting in the combustion chamber, are pushing automakers and lubricant and fuel formulators to seek solutions. Jon Pilbeam, Afton Chemicals Bracknell, Berkshire, U.K.-based senior research and development engineering specialist, described the new challenge of low speed pre-ignition and the role lube formulations play at the ICIS World ...

Indonesias state energy company, Pertamina, announced last week it will build a lubricant blending plant and a grease plant in Jakarta. The blending plant will be the companys third and largest such facility. When these projects are completed, PT Pertamina will become one of the lubricant producers with the highest blending capacity in Southeast Asia, Marketing and Commercial Director Hanung Budya told Lube Report Asia. The projects, located in capitals Tanjung Priok port area, will cost a combi...

Reducing production costs is the major driver for biolubes market growth, with legislation that mandates biolube usage a close second, two industry consultants agreed. Speaking at the ICIS World Base Oils & Lubricants Conference in London in February, Geeta Agashe, senior vice president for consultancy Kline & Co.s energy practice, described biobased lubricants as products made up of biological products or renewable agricultural materials in whole or in significant part. However, she not...

Newly formed Next Generation Energy Logistics will work with equity firm Riverstone Holdings LLC to acquire and consolidate lubricant and fuel distributors. Perot Bissell, Michael Crosby and Belinda Foxworth formed Next Generation Energy Logistics. Bissell was one of the founding investors of independent fuel and lubricants distributor Maxum Petroleum, serving as its CEO from 2006 until 2012. The company completed more than a dozen acquisitions of lubricant and fuel marketers and facilities over...