Within the past two weeks, ExxonMobil, Valvoline, ConocoPhillips, CITGO, Petro-Canada, Smitty's, Cam2, Chemlube, and ALS all announced finished lubricant prices increases, typically in the range of 28 to 40 cents per gallon, or anywhere from 6% to 10%. These announcements follow those of Shell, BP/Castrol and Chevron announced in the previous edition of the I&C Lube News.

In 2004, the U.S. Congress created a tax credit to encourage manufacturers to produce biodiesel fuel. The credit helps biodiesel prices stay in line with petroleum diesel fuel, but, now, that credit has ended. Without the tax credit, biodiesel manufacturers can't keep costs in line with petroleum diesel fuel. The House passed an extension of the tax credit before the end of last year, but the Senate has yet to act. Prices haven't changed much in a month, but producers say they won't be able to compete if they don't get some help.

The latest developments in lubricating greases have shown some amazing results. Greases combining polymer technology with a functional bismuth soap, have resulted in a calculated relubrication interval of 24 (twenty four) times longer than for conventional lithium EP greases. In addition, the coefficient of friction is about 50% below the levels of existing benchmark low friction technologies.

The Synthetic API GL-4 & GL-5 Gear Lubricants Chart is the third of a 21-chart series of the Fifth Edition of our Synthetic Lubricant Cross Reference Chart Series. This 21-set series consists of over 7,750 (fully) synthetic lubricants marketed by over 500 worldwide lube manufacturing & marketing companies and equipment OEMs.