Home

Product Tested

front label

Click above for larger image

back label

Click above for larger image

Thorntons Inc.

Company and Product Information

Corporate Office:
Thorntons Inc.
Louisville, KY 40223

Website(s): www.thorntonsinc.com

Founded by James H. Thornton in 1971, the company has been recognized as one of the top independent convenience store chains in the nation. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, Thorntons® currently operates 190 stores that provide fresh foods, high quality beverages and fuel in six states: Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Florida. Thorntons®’ mission is not only to provide top of the line food and beverages, but makes giving back a top priority in every market.

Thorntons Automatic Transmission Fluid
Premium Multi-Purpose

Product: Thorntons
Labeled: Premium Multi-Purpose ATF

Distributed By: Thorntons Inc., Louisville, KY
Manufactured By: Pinnacle Oil, Inc., Indianapolis, IN

Purchased at: Louisville, KY

Date of purchase: 5/10/2018

 

Website(s): www.thorntonsinc.com

Test Results and Assessment:

ADVISORY: Although the front label on the product tested states it is “Premium Multi-Purpose” ATF, and the back label states it is "Formulated for both domestic and foreign vehicles," there are no Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) specifications for automatic transmission fluid shown on the label, nor is there any language on the labels that speaks to applications where it should not be used. Consequently, a consumer is unable to determine if this ATF is suitable for use in their vehicle. Whereas the test results on this sample are consistent with that seen for DEXRON®-III and MERCON®, it does not meet the viscometric requirements for Chrysler® ATF+4, DEXRON®-VI, Ford MERCON® V or SP, and others.

Note: See PQIA’s Quick Reference guide for ATF viscosity specifications and note that some are mutually exclusive.

bottle icon Physical Properties pass
Elemental Analysis pass
Labeling warning
Flash Point of a DEXRON III/MERCON Fluid in °C (ASTM D92)

The results of the Flash Point test conducted on this sample meet the requirements of Dexron III/Mercon.
FusionCharts XT will load here!
Viscosity @ 100°C, cSt (ASTM D445)

The results of the Kinematic Viscosity @ 100ºC test conducted on this sample meet the requirements of Dexron III/Mercon.
FusionCharts XT will load here!
Brookfield Viscosity @-40°C mPa s (cP)

The results of the Brookfield viscosity test conducted on this sample meet the requirements of Dexron III/Mercon.
FusionCharts XT will load here!

Note1: Although laboratory tests alone cannot be used to establish if engine oil meets an API Service Category, they can be used to determine if it doesn't. Note2: The specifications for flash point and viscosity @ 100°C include only minimum values; the maximum values shown in the “standard” area of the chart are truncated for illustrative purposes.

PHYSICAL TESTS (click for test details) - a Standard Thorntons
Flash Point in ºC (ASTM D92) 170/177 Min-c 223
Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt (ASTM D445) 6.8 Min 7.2
Viscosity @40ºC, cSt (ASTM D445)   35.9
Viscosity Index (ASTM D2270) 169
Brookfield Viscosity @-40ºC mPa s (cP) 20,000 Max-d 16,040
ELEMENTAL ANALYSIS (click for test details) - a, b
Additives
Calcium, ppm 13
Magnesium, ppm 1
Phosphorus, ppm   142
Zinc, ppm 4
Molybdenum,  ppm <1
Barium, ppm <1
Boron, ppm 50
Silicon, ppm 3
Potassium, ppm 2
Manganese, ppm <1
Titanium, ppm <1
Copper, ppm <1
Sodium, ppm <1
Vanadium, ppm <1
Contaminants
Silver, ppm <1
Aluminum, ppm <1
Chromium, ppm <1
Iron, ppm <1
Nickel, ppm <1
Lead, ppm <1
Antimony, ppm <1
Tin, ppm <1
  1. Standards, shown in yellow are established by API, SAE and others.
  2. Test Method for metal analysis is ASTM D5185.
  3. DEXRON® III, 170°C minimum, MERCON®, 177°C minimum.
  4. DEXRON® III and MERCON® is 20,000 mPa s (cP) Max.