The Chrysler Group on Monday announced that it will begin licensing its trademarked automatic transmission fluid specification, ATF+4, for commercial and retail sales. The program, scheduled to launch Sept. 1, opens the door for lube blenders and marketers to supply a product that until now was available only through Chrysler dealerships. Chrysler officials said they took the step out of recognition that many customers were using unlicensed, imitation fluids from outlets other than dealerships. ...

The National Rifle Association has asked members to boycott ConocoPhillips products, including gasoline and lubricants,in response to the energy companys support of efforts to restrict the presence of guns at workplaces. The powerful lobby organization vowed to make an example of ConocoPhillips after the company filed a federal lawsuit to block a new Oklahoma law that prohibits employers from firing workers who left guns in cars in company parking lots. The Oklahoma legislature passed the law af...

At first glance, the latest report on U.S. lubricant sales volumes from the National Petrochemical and Refiners Association looks discouraging: a 2.9 percent decline in the first quarter of 2005, compared to the same period of 2004. The good news is that demand would have increased slightly if not for a sharp drop in numbers for process oils. Moreover, the apparent decline in process oils may have more to do with data collection than with market trends. The associations latest Quarterly Index of...

Canadian chemical supplier Chemtrade Logistics Income Fund this month acquired Peak Chemical LLC, one of two North American suppliers of a key component of popular antiwear additive and corrosion inhibitor ZDDP, and Peak Sulfur Inc., a supplier of regenerated sulfuric acid to the oil refining industry. The purchase price was U.S. $166.75 million, of which $21.75 million was for Peak Chemical and $145 million for Peak Sulfur. Peak Chemical, headquartered in Lenexa, Kans., produces phosphorus pent...