weight rated oil and in the summer with the thickness of a 30 weight rated oil. For many decades we had just a few specifi c rated oils, mainly 5W30, 10W30, 20W50. Lately, with engine tolerances getting tighter and emission standards being raised, we’ve seen the advent of oils as radical as 0W60. Next year they’ll be bringing out 000W120, which will pour out like water when sitting overnight on the surface of Pluto and glug out like maple syrup when orbiting the sun for a week. (I guess they’re still trying to sell a quart of oil to NASA at $4 trillion. “Hey I just gotta sell them one bottle and I can retire like granddad”, said Ned Clampett.) Compositions were fi rst rated, and for decades later, by the API


(American Petroleum Institute). Every once in awhile the people there get together to have one of their swanky weeklong soirees. Now, being scientists, they do mad scientisty things like put lamp shades on their heads (still a gut buster with that crowd), and decide to establish new oil standards for cars and RVs (wow! Riveting stuff of legends in the cutting edge hydrocarbon fi eld). T e current standard is SN - good for cars from 2011. T e last standard was SM established in 2004. T e one before was SL, for vehicles from 2001. So, if that can you’re holding says something like SD, it’s good for pre-1971 vehicles. In other words, nearly pure oil and not much else. Yup, you defi nitely get what you pay for. But don’t get fooled by just the API ratings, there are others out there


now. T e newest ILSAC (International Standardization and Approval Committee) ratings are GF5 for 2010 vehicles and older. T ese are those scientists that weren’t invited to the API annual conventions and you’d think these folks with the wow-knock-their-socks-off name should pretty well have the market sewn up on oil ratings. Nope, here’s where it started to get crazy. Along comes the ACEA (European Automotive Manufacturers Association). Yeah? How does that make ACEA? I asked as well. T e Europeans, still upset about the whole


synthetic beer/bratwurst thing, and the Americans absconding with their scientists, decided to establish their own ratings. T en VW came along establishing their own ratings for their


vehicles. T e current benchmark is 504.00 for gasoline and 507.00 for diesels. Yes, they are really mad about the beer/bratwurst issue, don’t fi nd lampshade jokes very funny and are trying to confuse the heck out of us. Mercedes-Benz then joined the fray with their own ratings MB


229.1 to MB 229.51. Way too confusing to explain in less than 4,000 words as these are Very Sophisticated Scientists, who won’t even admit to being coolly upset by the beer/bratwurst issue. Last time I tried to talk about the hilarity of the lampshade stunt they hung up on me. And I’m not even going to mention JASO (Japanese Automotive Operating Standards Agency) or the other automobile companies joining the bandwagon en-masse. (PS no funny jokes about these guys at JASO, they know Karate!) So if you own an RV, or towing any other vehicles with your RV, it


would be wise to check with a certifi ed shop to make sure the oil they use is meeting the various spec’s required by your vehicle. If you’re unsure, check your owner’s manual (that’s if you’ve still got it and not, like me, used it for toilet paper when stuck in the back country for four weeks). As for the supermarket oil, that’s a steal at $2.99 for a 20-litre pail? When you consider the cost of your average engine job - between $4,000 and $8,000 - that works out to about $20-$40 dollars for that cheap basically crude oil in a can. Not a bargain aſt er all. For more information give us a call at Gerry’s Automotive (yes,


I know, cheap unsolicited plug here) 604-826-0519 for quotes on engine rates, towing and oil spec’s. Next article: Transmission fl uids. And if oil had your head


spinning, this will give you vertigo! So, until next time, (and as Jed would say) y’all come back now, y’hear? F


GERRY’S AUTOMOTIVE Ltd. RV Service & Repairs at 6480 Riverside St., Abbotsford, BC V4X 1T9 604-826-0519 or 1-888-826-0519 • frank@gerrysauto.com • www.gerrysauto.com


Services We Provide: ❖ Full service repairs and maintenance ❖ Provincial Inspections ❖ Commercial Inspections ❖ Propane Inspections ❖ AirCare and Propane AirCare Certified ❖ Air Conditioning Service ❖ Computerized Four-Wheel Alignment ❖ Dealer scheduled maintenance service program available


❖ Loaner car available ($25 per day) ❖ RV Storage ($75 per month) ❖ Computerized Scanning and Diagnosing ❖ Custom Engine Re-building ❖ Financing available on approved credit ❖ Authorized Extended Warranty Agents for PHH, Lubrico, Global, Old Republic, Coast to Coast


If you have just purchased, or are thinking of purchasing an RV - your new home away from home, the next questions will be: “Where do I get it serviced? Who do I trust?”


Gerry’s Automotive has over 30 years of experience in the automotive service industry. We are members of the Better Business Bureau (AAA rating) and we are BCAA certified.


With our 10-bay shop, we are big enough to handle your RV service needs, and our continued success is backed by our personal rapport and attention to details.


While we don’t handle interior coach work, we do have a mobile RV specialist who can.


COFFEE/TEA IS ALWAYS ON. . . DROP BY!


Sept+Oct 2012, RECEIVE A 10%DISCOUNT (Up to $100) WITH THIS AD! RVT 149 • SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2012 27


RVT 149 enlarged.indd 27 8/22/12 9:08:03 AM


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