Reptile
Bastard
If Wal Mart's Super Tech decided to market an oil in the "Castrol Syntec" variety, then it would have to meet the same formulation in order to market it as that typical brand and to put the trademark name on it.
Going by what you're saying in that last statement, then all ATF is the same as well. Which we all know not to be true.
I understand what you're saying here, and I think we're getting our wires crossed. But if you come out and say that it's a certain brand without actually using that formula, and then try to sell it as said brand, then you're going to be stepping on toes.
It is a standard, but it must meet or exceed that certain standard for the product. In this case, General Motors owns the right to call it DEXRON IV, and they can subsidize the contractor of whomever makes that formula under their own product name with that formula name and the "®"
No formulas are going to be exact, and they will vary slightly on the MSDS, but you are still essentially getting the same fluid.
Also, ASE has no bearing on what standards are to be met on motor oil. The API (American Petroleum Institute) is who sets the standards for all oil manufactured in the United States.
