The Auto Channel
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
The Largest Independent Automotive Research Resource
Official Website of the New Car Buyer

2005 Geneva Motor Show: ExxonMobil Launches Emission System Protection Engine Oil

GENEVA MOTOR SHOW, GENEVA, Switzerland, March 1 -- ExxonMobil today announces the launch of its new Emission System Protection (ESP) motor oil Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 as it goes on sale in Europe.

The new engine oil has been expertly engineered to help prolong the life of emission reduction systems whilst maintaining the previous high performance benefits of Mobil 1. Its launch is the latest milestone in the Mobil 1 history of technological innovation.

New Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30, whilst developed for diesel engines is also suitable for gasoline cars. It therefore helps protect and prolong the life of both diesel particulate filters (DPFs) and catalytic converters (CATs) for gasoline engines.

Current engine oil technology is not designed to limit the amount of oil-derived ash in the exhaust, which could block the DPF and inhibit its ability to capture particulate material.

Technology Benefits

The new technology also offers a number of features aimed at delivering environmental benefits.

Low levels of chlorine help enhance the environmental friendliness of the oil in its used state. Moreover, the technology has been developed to help deliver performance and protection in conjunction with improved fuel economy. It will allow the oil to perform at extreme high and low temperatures and protect against engine wear and sludge.

It conforms to the new 'ACEA C3' category of Low Emission products recently introduced by the European Automobile Manufacturers Association (ACEA), as well as the existing ACEA A3, B3 and B4 categories.

OEM Approvals

The new ESP technology has received OEM approvals from some of the world's leading car manufacturers such as Mercedes Benz (MB), BMW and Volkswagen (VW) Group.

Mercedes Benz has approved Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 to MB 229.31 specification and can be used for all current passenger car diesel engines. The product is backwards compatible, in line with service fill recommendations, offering dealers and motorists alike a streamlined choice of engine lubricant.

BMW approved Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 according to their newest LL-04 specification. This specification covers the former LL-98 and LL-01 specs and Mobil 1 ESP Formula 5W-30 is therefore suitable for today's gasoline and diesel engine including DPF technology and is also backwards compatible, in line with service fill recommendations, offering dealers and motorists alike a streamlined choice of engine lubricant.

And most recently ExxonMobil announced the VW Group has approved its new Mobil 1 ESP formula 5 W-30 engine oil for VW 504.00 and 507.00 specifications.

ExxonMobil has its own in-house Research & Development division, which conducts product development and testing. Since 2002, its research engineers have worked closely with a number of car manufacturers on developing the ESP technology.

Background to 'Low Ash' and ESP technology

In recent years car manufacturers have worked to develop a new generation of DPFs aimed at performing over the lifetime of the vehicle.

This new generation, dubbed 'lifetime fit', will allow diesel car manufacturers to meet new European exhaust emission legislation aimed at limiting the amount of particulate matter and nitrous oxides (NOx) emitted from diesel passenger vehicles.

Andrew Woolf, European automotive marketing manager of ExxonMobil said: "Today's announcement represents another milestone in Mobil 1's journey of technological innovation. For more than 30 years ExxonMobil has been a technological leader in the development of synthetic engine oil through Mobil 1. I know of no other oil manufacturer in the world that has as many OEM approvals as ExxonMobil.

The ESP technology innovation we unveil today continues the tradition of Mobil 1 providing motorists with the very best in engine lubrication and advanced performance."