After a bad experience with GF-3, U.S. quick lube operators are getting more involved in the next passenger car motor oil upgrade. The Automotive Oil Change Association says its efforts have already begun to yield fruit; it recently claimed partial credit for a one-year delay in the adoption of GF-4. Looking ahead, the group says it will continue urging those developing the new motor oil specification to ensure that it protects existing cars. It also pledges a campaign to warn consumers beforeha...

Having gained shareholder approval Aug. 1, Pennzoil-Quaker State Co. moved one step closer to being purchased by Shell Oil. That placed CEO Jim Postl and other top officials one step closer to a big payday. Several of the top brass at Pennzoil-Quaker State stand to receive large departure packages when the deal goes through. Postl will receive between $22 million and $32 million, depending on the source one cites. Experts say the departure packages are relatively generous but not out of line wit...

2002 may not seem like a great year for the lubricants industry but, for much of the world, its turning out better than 2001. Thats the assessment of Fuchs Petrolub AG, which is projecting that worldwide lubedemand will grow 1.6 percent this year, to 35,690,000 metric tons. The Mannheim, Germany, lubricant manufacturer gave that estimate and projections for individual countries for a recent article published by the German newspaper Handelsblatt. Fuchs predicted some of the best growth to occur i...