About MOM
When it comes to the overall performance of your vehicle's engine, Motor Oil Matters
Motor Oil Matters (MOM) is the American Petroleum Institute's (API) new program for licensing motor oil distributors and oil change locations.
MOM has one main goal: to make sure that consumers receive high-quality oil. This is accomplished by maintaining a secure chain-of-custody for motor oil from the marketer all the way to the vehicle. The MOM mark will help identify distributors and oil change locations committed to providing motor oil meeting the performance standard recommended by most vehicle and engine manufacturers.
MOM will help:
- Educate consumers and the motor oil industry
- Establish credibility within the motor oil industry
- Identify quality products
Interested in learning more about motor oil? Visit our Learn about Motor Oil page.
Not up to speed on motor oil standards? Visit our Learn about Standards page.
MOM Helps You Meet Manufacturer Recommendations
Check your owner's manual to see which viscosity grade and performance level is right for your vehicle's engine. Manufacturers often recommend oils licensed by API as these oils have been rigorously tested to ensure they meet API's engine oil standards.
The MOM mark will help identify oil change locations committed to providing motor oil meeting these standards. To find a MOM-certified oil change location near you, click here.
MOM Helps Ensure Your Engine and Emissions Systems Function at Their Best
You probably know the basics of caring for your engine, but you might not know about the potential damage that could result from using motor oil that fails to meet industry-established motor oil standards. Using motor oil that's not up to API's standards could compromise a vehicle's performance over time.
To avoid substandard oils, look for motor oil that displays the API quality marks —the API Certification Mark "Starburst," the API Certification Mark "Shield" and the API Service Symbol "Donut." All three symbols can be found on the labels of API-licensed motor oils.
MOM Helps Encourage Quality Throughout the Motor Oil Distribution Process
MOM is getting the word out on the importance of using the right oil in your engine, but it also is trying to assure oil quality from the marketer all the way down to the consumer. MOM is accomplishing this through API licensing programs for motor oil distributors and oil change locations. To become licensed, distributors and oil change locations have to demonstrate to API that they meet an API chain-of-custody standard. Licensed distributors and installers also must submit to an auditing process to ensure the motor oils they deliver and install are the right oils.
The program will hold oil distributors and oil change locations accountable if they're not up to MOM standards. Industry members and consumers are encouraged to notify API about questionable products. To report a problem, submit our online form.