Motul is one of the world’s best-known engine oil manufacturers. And for a good reason. This company’s dedication to innovation and quality is bar none in the industry. Yet, many are wondering is Motul OEM or not? Answering this question is difficult considering that we’re talking about lubricants, and not physical car parts.
In this article, we’ll cover Motul’s history, this company’s main product lines, their values, and Motul’s presence in motorsport. Hopefully, all of this will give you a better understanding of what this brand offers, how it’s positioned in the market, and whether its products are a good match for your car!
The Motul Timeline
Motul has more than 150 years of history. The company was founded in 1853 in New York, however, at the time, it was called the Swan & Finch Company. Back then, they were making whale oil for the most part. However, they soon shifted most of their focus to lubricants. It wasn’t until 1920 that Swan & Finch started exporting their products to the worldwide market under three different brands — Aerul, Textul, and Motul.
Soon thereafter, Motul was bought by the Zaugg family who then moved the entire operation to France in 1932. The move wasn’t the only change. The Zauggs dissolved the Swan & Finch Company, rebranding the whole enterprise under the Motul banner.
Over the years, the company has paved the way for the industry by developing new technologies that were simply ahead of everyone else. Some of the milestones include the world’s first multigrade motor oil which was presented to the market in 1953, the first semisynthetic motor oil that was developed in 1966, as well as the first fully-synthetic motor oil that was developed in 1971.
Overall, the history of Motul is paved with landmark achievements that had a massive impact on the rest of the industry. Today, this brand is heavily engaged in motorsports where they are constantly testing new formulas and perfecting their product. The lessons learned on the track are used by Motul engineers to improve the mainstay of this company’s offer — their commercial grade lubricants.
Motul’s Connection to Motorsports
The Motul fully-synthetic engine oils are used in a variety of racing vehicles, mostly in car and motorcycle racing. The brand is working closely with BMW Motorsports division, as they support various BMW teams with quality oil. Furthermore, NISMO, the Nissan performance division, also uses Motul lubricants as OE.
Aside from these massive partnerships, the Motul brand is also present in motorsport competitions such as MotoGP, Trial, Enduro, Endurance, Superbike, Supercross, Rallycross, World Rally Championship, FIA GT, Le Mans, Paris-Dakar, and many more.
Is Motul OEM or Aftermarket?
Motul is known for its strict quality control and unbelievable attention to the little details. The products coming from Motul exceed OEM requirements and are recommended by some of the world’s most famous performance car manufacturers.
That being said, Motul isn’t exactly an OEM for any given brand. Instead, they have gained OEM certifications from a number of major car manufacturers out there. To gain an OEM certification and an official OEM approval, Motul had to meet a range of very specific requirements set by the car manufacturer. Then, they had to send a sample of the oil to the said manufacturer for further testing. Only when all the requirements were met did Motul receive their certification.
Being an OEM approved oil manufacturer means that brands such as BMW, Mercedes-Benz and others, fully trust the oil and find it to be 100% compatible with their engines. So, while Motul isn’t an OEM in the usual sense of the word, they are about as close to OEM as you can get.
Which Brands is Motul OEM For?
Brands that recommend Motul products as OEM include, and are not limited to, BMW, Jaguar, Mercedes-Benz, Porsche, and many others.
Aside from a number of car manufacturers, there are many other brands using Motul products that are manufacturing light commercial vehicles, powersport vehicles, trucks, agricultural equipment, construction equipment, boats, and more.
Motul’s Product Range
Motul is best known for its wide range of engine oils. Their 8100 series of fully synthetic lubricants has set a number of standards in the industry. Then there’s the Motul 300V which is a top tier racing oil that is rarely matched on track. Aside from engine lubricants, Motul also produces class leading brake fluids such as the RBF 600 and RBF 660. The two formulas offer high boiling wet and dry boiling points, thus allowing you to push your car harder and take full advantage of advanced braking systems such as Brembo or others.
This company’s transmission fluids, greases, hydraulic fluids, as well as a range of maintenance and care products also deserve a mention.
The interesting thing about Motul’s product line is it includes specialized lubricants designed for classic cars. There are engine oils that support vehicles from the 1990s, 1980s, 1970s, and even vehicles made before the 1950s.
Is Motul Worth Using in Your Car?
With products covering modern vehicles, but also vehicles made more than 70 years ago, this brand offers a variety of products that are compatible with almost every car on the market. After answering the question is Motul OEM, it’s clear that some of the world’s most reputable car manufacturers trust this brand and use their products in their highest-performing vehicles.
If you want to provide your car with proven motor oil that will protect it and help it work at an optimal level, Motul is the way to go. You can choose between many options, however, whichever you choose, you’ll treat your car with the highest-quality maintenance product.
Motul adheres to the highest automotive and OEM standards, mostly exceeding manufacturer expectations when it comes to the engine, transmission, and braking fluids used in both automotive and industrial applications. This should be more than enough to trust this brand and use its high-quality products in your car.