EXXONMOBIL REPLACING QUESTIONABLE OIL: An AOPA member last week alerted
the association after he noticed metallic sediment at the bottom of a
bottle of Exxon Aviation Elite 20W-50 oil. AOPA claims that ExxonMobil
in August discovered that some 1,100 cases of the oil distributed in
early summer (lot number 002933K4132050 and Fill Code P020430B) had been
contaminated with fine metal particles from a wearing pump used in the
manufacturing process. At that time, the company alerted its
distributors and offered to replace unsold oil. According to AOPA,
ExxonMobil says the sediment is harmless even if ingested by your
engine, but settles during shipment, adhering to the bottom of the
bottles even when the oil is poured out. AOPA and ExxonMobil both
indicated that they would run independent tests of the questionable oil.
Exxon Elite RE-CALL
Moderators: GAHorn, Karl Towle, Bruce Fenstermacher