Motor Oil Matters Interview with Mike Wyant, Manager of Technical Services, Universal Lubricants

Q and A session with MOM and Mike Wyant, Manager of Technical Services at Universal Lubricants

Who are the installers or retailers whom you distribute to?
A wide range of passenger car motor oil installers from lube centers to car dealers and heavy duty lubricant customers that include construction, aggregate, and fleet accounts.

Do you have one primary location or multiple? And where are they located?
Our company is headquartered out of Wichita, Kansas. We have 16 new oil distribution locations. They are located from South Dakota to Illinois to Texas to Colorado and in between.

How did you hear about the Motor Oil Matters program?
Through the lubricant industry as far back as before API took over the program from another major brand company.

When did you decide to sign up for MOM?
As soon as it was available for us to participate. We participated in the pilot program to assist API with the facilitation.

Why was it a priority for you guys to become MOM certified?
Since 1929 our company has maintained a level of quality and performance that allows our products to excel in the most severe applications. The MOM program is another avenue to assure our level of performance.

In terms of being MOM certified, what do you think this means for you in terms of separating yourself from other competitors?
Our company continues to strive to build superior performance products to meet or exceed industry and OEM standards. Our MOM certification is another means to raise the bar for our competitors.

How important do you think it is for customers to know what oil is really being poured into their engines?
It's extremely important. With today's technology and performance, and the demands placed upon the lubricants, it is very critical that the product being used meets the standards the engine manufacturers require.

What was it like signing up (for MOM), so if there were other's thinking about going through this process, what was the process like for you?
The program is very thorough, detailed, and structured to allow all phases of the certification process to be implemented for success. That being said, the process is no more difficult than any other quality accreditation and very well worth it.