Motul has no synthetic base: Research<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Motul lubricants, which are widely sold in
\nIndonesia, have no synthetic base and are purely mineral
\nlubricants, research conducted by a foreign company has found.<\/p>\n
"A specific lubricant brand, Motul, sold in Indonesia was
\nmarketed under the designation synthetic and sometimes
\ntechnosynthese lubricants when in reality they are mineral based
\nlubricants," said G. Spontini, who conducted the research in a
\nstatement made available to The Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
Asked to clarify this issue, Pertamina's spokesman Didi
\nSunarwinadi said "we are waiting for a detailed report on the
\nlubricant issue from the department of production and processing
\nof Pertamina. But I think such a claim is usually made by people
\ninvolved in business competition," he said.<\/p>\n
He promised his company would duly explain the issue.<\/p>\n
Spontini, who also works with a foreign lubricant company,
\nsaid a survey he conducted in Jakarta, Bandung, Semarang,
\nSurakarta and Surabaya found that the French oil brand, Motul,
\nincluding 2100 SAE 15W50, 3100 SAE 15W50, 4100 SAE 15W50, 6100
\nSAE 15W50, Traffic X SAE 15W40, and Dexron II D or III E were
\nsold through various dealers and distributors. They were branded
\nas synthetic or technosynthese.<\/p>\n
"By misinforming about the real quality (mineral instead of
\nsynthetic) of its lubricants, the French company Motul is able to
\noffer highly competitive prices to the Indonesian trading house,
\nCV Melati, which imports the lubricants," he said.<\/p>\n
Spontini said that as a result the Motul brand had an unfair
\ncompetitive advantage in the Indonesian market and had enjoyed it
\nsince 1989.<\/p>\n
"Moreover, the Indonesian consumers are being misled into
\nbelieving that they are purchasing a high quality oil when in
\nfact they are only buying a mineral lubricant," he said.<\/p>\n
According to the regulations of the state-owned oil company
\nPertamina, mineral lubricants which are 70 percent or more
\nmineral based must be imported solely through Pertamina, while
\nsynthetic lubricants which are less than 70 percent hydrocarbon
\nand complying with a harmonized system may be imported directly
\nby an Indonesian company.<\/p>\n
Pertamina also stipulates that foreign lubricants imported
\nmust first have passed the modified Concawe test carried out by
\nSGS which then informs PT Surveyor Indonesia of the conformity of
\nthe synthetic lubricants.<\/p>\n
The source said Motul could not have passed the Concawe
\nmodified test.<\/p>\n
"Due to strict Indonesian import regulations concerning the
\nimportation of automotive oil and, in particular synthetic
\nlubricants, it was difficult at first to understand how this
\nbrand, Motul, could have penetrated the Indonesian market.
\nHowever, further research in Europe revealed it was comparatively
\neasy for Motul to deceive customs either in Europe or elsewhere,"
\nhe said. He did not explain why.<\/p>\n
He said research in Germany, Belgium, Spain and France found
\nMotul had already had problems, particularly with Mobil Oil AG in
\nGermany, about its lubricants' quality.<\/p>\n
The company also claimed there was no synthetic base in the
\nMotul Lubricants. (bnt)<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/motul-has-no-synthetic-base-research-1447893297",
"image": ""
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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