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Originally Posted by JFP in PA
In my world, it is good that this is troubling, as there are companies, and RP has demonstrated this for one, that make claims that their products cannot back up, and they subsequently have to withdraw or modify. Another way to put it is that they “got caught”.
Standards exist for a reason; if they are not upheld, you have no idea what you are buying. In the state where I live, some gas stations voluntarily participate in a state run program where a “mystery shopper” buys gas and tests everything from correct delivery volume to octane ratings. The testing body publishes their findings, which include the non participating stations as well. Last quarter, the results indicated that of the 6,000 stations sampled, 3500 (some participating, some not) where out of compliance. Most common issue: Short volume delivery (getting less than one gallon when the pump says one, a neat trick when gas was $4 a gallon), and octane levels well below indicated pump values. Interestingly, one station was actually selling 93 octane out of all of its pumps, regardless of price. In any case, my question would be that if you knew these standards existed, where would you buy your gas…………..?
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Apples to oranges. The AECA does not do random retail sampling. If it did then maybe your arguement would be valid.
Standards do exist for a reason and there are just as many political and nationalist reasons for the AECA to exist as there are scientific ones. Especially when one considers the capitalist base of their existence and the fact that their standards are not independently created, but rather are mostly a compilation of other existing standards - just look at all their footnotes.
But, while in some empirical world some ultimate truth
may exist, the fact is that all these other oil companies are selling their products and the world's recycle centers are not bulging with an exorbitant number of blown engines attributable to a single oil brand or sector which does not have a particular rating.
There are so many contributing factors to most engine failures that oil, if changed properly, is usually the least of them. Only when oil service intervals are ignored does oil seem to be a significant factor. Driving style, delayed maintenance and such are often much greater factors.
You seem to have a predisposition to worrying about and distrusting Big Brother. On the other hand, you seem to be buying right into their marketing rhetoric.
