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Episode 16: Oh My God The Banks Are Out Of Oil

Episode 16: Oh My God The Banks Are Out Of Oil

Tran Girlismo May 21, 2026 89 min
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About this episode

The episode opens with trans community safety and media dynamics, including how coverage and social pressure can feel depersonalizing and even lead to legal action. It then pivots into a “banks are out of oil” style oil-supply discussion: buying engine oil now, what base oil is, and why Group III shortages could keep low-viscosity grades under pressure through 2027. The hosts connect supply-chain fragility to pandemic-era shocks, shipping disruptions, and pricing/availability. Later, they swap to EV and sedan shopping, recalls, and ride/comfort gripes.

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Technical Too Afraid to Ask
Term

engine oil

"Engine oil for the next [525.8s] Victoria just want to throw 12 months if you need engine oil [529.4s] You think you need an oil change in the next year and a half go buy your oil fucking right now."

Engine oil is the fluid your car’s engine uses to keep moving parts from grinding against each other. It also helps keep the engine cool and protected.

Term

lighter weight oil

"God, especially if you use a lighter weight oil [541.4s] Because here's the thing right it's like and again, this is you vw pervert"

Lighter weight oil is thinner oil that flows more easily, especially when the engine is cold. The tradeoff is it has to still protect the engine when things get hot.

Term

base oil

"Was Jordan do you have a base oil is I am a listener of well [599.0s] There's your problem and engineering podcast beat beat beat with slides. So yes [604.9s] I am I am familiar with what a base oil is also."

Base oil is the main ingredient that gets refined and then mixed with other chemicals to make the final engine oil. The additives are what give engine oil its special protective behavior.

Term

viscosity

"They are it's based on saturate and sulfur content and their viscosity index ... categorized the most straightforward way"

Viscosity is basically how “thick” or “runny” a fluid is. For engine oil, thickness matters because it affects how well the oil lubricates parts, especially when the engine is hot.

Term

octane rating

"it's kind of like it's like octane rating but for like Oil ... I know what octane rating does ... it's similar"

Octane rating is about how resistant gasoline is to pinging/knocking in the engine. The hosts are using it as a comparison point for how oil properties are rated.

Term

Group III

"And so that basically your group three oils that you're going to be the ones that have the highest viscosity index ... Are the ones you're going to want to put in the car engine."

Base oils get grouped based on how they’re refined. Group III oils are generally considered better at staying consistent when things get hot, which is why they’re often recommended for engine oil.

Car

Ford Mustang

"...pashing a cinnabon. It's sort of the grill of the Mustang. Just try to you got to eat somebody You're gonna..."

The Ford Mustang is a sports car made by Ford. It’s known for a distinctive front end and a sporty look. People talk about it a lot because it’s one of the most recognizable American performance cars.

Car

Toyota Crown

"You know 4000000000 dollar gas to liquid Like crown jewel of shell refining plant and cutter $30,000 ..."

The Toyota Crown is a nicer, more premium Toyota car. It’s meant to be comfortable and higher-end compared with basic everyday models. In the podcast, it’s mentioned as a “top” or “valuable” thing, not as a detailed car review.

Car

Toyota Corolla

"...0 shahead just ramming, you know junk yard Toyota corollas into Rolls Royces all day long I don't want to ha..."

The Toyota Corolla is a small, everyday car. It’s popular because it’s usually reliable and not too expensive to keep running. That’s why it comes up when people talk about cars that can handle a lot.

Term

group three

"According to ilma, they expect the us base oil market, especially for You know group three to remain under sustained pressure until at least 2027"

“Group three” is a type of base oil—basically a specific grade of raw oil used to make engine oil. If there’s not enough of that grade, it can limit the engine oils that can be produced.

Term

0w16

"that this one crown jewel plant in cutter is how they get to put 0w16 in their new toyota because like those are what I'm seeing shortages"

0W-16 is the label on engine oil that tells you how it behaves when it’s cold and when the engine is hot. Lower numbers usually mean the oil flows more easily, which can help efficiency—but it may be harder to get during supply shortages.

Term

lightweight oils

"That's what like there's toyota service bulletins that like like lightweight oils that require intensive refinement"

Lightweight oils are thinner engine oils that reduce friction. If the supply chain can’t make enough of the specific thin oil a car needs, you can see shortages.

Term

intensive refinement

"lightweight oils that require intensive refinement Because they are so chemically advanced"

Intensive refinement means the oil has to be processed more heavily to reach the right quality. If that processing capacity is limited, certain engine oils can run short.

Term

turbo cars

"Because they are so chemically advanced which happens to be like a lot of modern turbo cars require that to function "

Turbo cars have a turbocharger that helps the engine make more power. Because they can run hotter and work harder, they may need specific types of engine oil to protect the engine.

Term

substitutes

"Uh, but a consortium of oil manufacturers are going to gm to talk about like hey [1930.4s] Can we like do substitutes and still get like uh, whatever the gm? [1934.4s] Certification is for oils"

They’re talking about swapping in different oil ingredients or sources when supply is tight. But you can’t always just replace one oil with another without meeting the same requirements.

Term

certification

"[1934.4s] Certification is for oils [1935.6s] So like I don't it is impossible to say how much of this you see immediately"

“Certification” here refers to formal approval that an oil meets required standards for performance and safety. For automakers and lubricant blenders, certification matters because it limits what can be substituted when base-oil supply changes.

Concept

oil supply chain stress

"It probably means that like things will just cost more money [1942.4s] Um, things will be harder to find you might not be able to just like things might not magically appear ... [2014.7s] She added that compounding the risk we are entering hurricane season"

They’re talking about how problems upstream—like where oil ingredients come from—can affect the engine oil you buy. That can mean shortages and higher prices.

Concept

accelerationism

"It is it is also one of those things where it's like, you know [2147.5s] Accelerationism only works if you think other people aren't real and their deaths don't matter [2152.6s] But also at a certain point your hand is just forced and you're like well shit"

Accelerationism is a belief that things should get worse faster instead of being stopped. In this conversation it’s more of a metaphor than something about driving a car.

Car

BMW F30

"Uh shout out to the guy on bimmer posts f80 specific forum [2176.1s] Who saw this shit coming literally a over a month ago? ... [2185.9s] What this guy oh, sorry that f a f 30. I I always screw up which ones are which [2194.0s] The it's the it's the like 2012 to 2015 three series."

BMW F30 is a specific generation of the BMW 3 Series. When people say “F30,” they usually mean the 2012–2015-era cars.

Car

BMW M3

"...note here Uh shout out to the guy on bimmer posts f80 specific forum Who saw this shit coming literally..."

The BMW M3 is a fast, performance-focused BMW sedan. It’s made to drive more aggressively than a regular 3 Series. People who care about cars often talk about it because it’s built for speed and handling.

Car

BMW X5 M

"Uh, oh, it's the x5 m [2312.8s] After the facelift [2314.9s] Yeah, okay, so this guy definitely works."

The BMW X5 M is a sportier, higher-performance version of the BMW X5 SUV. It’s the “M” model, which usually means it’s tuned for quicker driving and more aggressive handling.

Car

Hyundai Ioniq

"...ew car Yeah, so stella and I tried to go lease an Ioniq six because uh, we were trying to replace the cen..."

The Hyundai Ioniq is a Hyundai car that’s designed around electric or hybrid-style driving. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because someone was looking at leasing one to replace another car. The key point is that it was on their short list for a practical replacement.

Car

Kia EV6

"...c 5 If you want the sporty looking box you get an ev6, which is also the ev platform And if you would l..."

The Kia EV6 is an electric car, meaning it runs on electricity instead of gasoline. It’s styled to look sporty and modern. The podcast brings it up as an EV option if you want a more exciting-looking car.

Car

Byd Shark 6

"... of any car you can buy also like really just I a shark uh like a really striking like design and just li..."

The BYD Shark 6 is a car that’s known for a bold, unusual look. In the podcast, it’s brought up because it’s visually striking compared to more typical designs. The main point is the design and how it stands out.

Car

Hyundai Elantra

"...ike they're they're good cars My first car was in elantra and it saved my life and by that I mean when I go..."

The Hyundai Elantra is a compact car meant for everyday driving. In the podcast, the speaker says their first Elantra helped in a serious situation, implying it was safe and dependable. It’s being mentioned as a personal, real-life experience.

Car

Ioniq 6

"Yeah, so you know there's there's no there's no more [2624.1s] Brand new sixes. I mean there are still plenty of Ioniq sixes on dealer lots everywhere. So you go like okay [2630.8s] Jordan you you're explaining why you can't couldn't get a 2026, but it sounds like you know"

The Ioniq 6 is Hyundai’s electric car. Here, the big point is that a safety recall is preventing dealers from selling some cars until it’s fixed.

Term

safety recall

"There is a very under reported s1 category safety recall on all Ioniq sixes in the u.s [2672.7s] Right now because you know what might happen the fucking seat belt might just detach"

A safety recall means the company says there’s a safety problem in certain cars. Until it’s fixed, dealers may be told not to sell them.

Term

seat belt might just detach

"Right now because you know what might happen the fucking seat belt might just detach [2678.6s] Pretty normal [2680.8s] Probably that it's the fucking I think you should leave steering wheel falling off"

This refers to a potential seat-belt hardware failure where the belt could separate from its mounting point. That’s a serious safety issue because the seat belt is the primary restraint system in a crash.

Term

stop sale recall

"Uh, so they can't they have to just sit there. Yeah, they can't sell it. It is a stop sale recall. So [2704.6s] Oh my god, uh, yeah, it's um"

A stop sale recall means dealers are told not to sell certain cars. The cars can be stuck on the lot until the problem is fixed.

Car

Ford Fusion

"...f stoke. I would rather Yeah, there was that ford fusion with the the ruined shocks that I talked about be..."

The Ford Fusion is a regular, everyday car in the mid-size category. In the podcast, it’s mentioned because the suspension (specifically the shocks) had issues. Shocks help the car ride smoothly, so damaged shocks can make the ride rough.

Part

shocks

"there was that ford fusion with the the ruined shocks that I talked about being the backup That was still more comfortable than being in the back of a tesla bottle three"

Shocks are parts that help smooth out bumps and keep the ride from feeling bouncy or harsh. The host is saying even a car with bad shocks felt better than the Tesla they were comparing it to.

Car

Bmw I4

"...ng sedans? Get off we we're looking at the stupid BMW i4 which is a way more expensive lease, but it seems..."

The BMW i4 is an electric car from BMW. It’s designed to feel like a more premium sedan while using electricity instead of gasoline. The podcast mentions it mainly because it costs more to lease than some alternatives.

Term

EV

"it's i4 being the basest of all of these ev sedans. Yeah, and then immediately"

EV means electric vehicle. It’s a car that runs on electricity from a battery instead of using gasoline.

Car

2016 BMW M2

"The way bm modern bmw has been since like I would say the 2016 m2 is the cutoff for me because that car is literally perfect Again, I would I need to find out who designed the steering on that car and send them a bouquet because it's"

The 2016 BMW M2 is a small BMW sports car that’s famous for feeling connected to the road. The speaker is saying it’s the last BMW they felt really “got it” before later BMWs felt less engaging.

Car

Porsche Taycan

"I'm a little bit more forgiving of how but like that's why we wanted the Ioniq 6 right is because that is the one that is like Porsche benchmarked the tycan off of like Like the performance tycons off how the"

The Porsche Taycan is Porsche’s electric performance car. The speaker brings it up to say the Ioniq 6 is being compared to Porsche’s EV in terms of how it drives.

Car

Nissan Leaf

"And I was gonna say like you could get a leaf, but that's an suv now the leaf is an suv now"

The Nissan Leaf is one of the best-known electric cars. The speaker is basically saying that even the Leaf doesn’t feel like the kind of EV shape they want anymore.

Car

Nissan Juke

"Um the juke that's coming out is an suv now We're pessimistic about"

The Nissan Juke is a small crossover. The speaker is using it to make the point that more models are being reshaped into crossovers.

Car

Lucid Air

"If we wanted you could get a lucid air that's was next on like it's like all right It's like all right. What's the least rate on a?"

The Lucid Air is a luxury electric sedan. They’re bringing it up as an alternative because they feel like sedan choices are getting scarce.

Car

Audi Etron

"It's like all right. What's the least rate on a? Audi e-tron or whatever Because at least that I saying that we're e-tron drivers feels like that"

Audi e-tron is Audi’s name for its electric cars. The speaker is using it as one of the EV options they’re considering.

Car

Toyota Gr86

"Daily and also trying to get a fun car on the side Also, you know what was going to be the fun car a fucking gr 86 You know what takes really weird toyota? It's fucking smooth soft weight oil the fucking gr 86 like"

The Toyota GR 86 is a small sports car from Toyota. It’s meant to be fun to drive, with power sent to the rear wheels. People like it because it feels light and easy to enjoy.

Concept

E15 fuel

"I see we've made it. I've see I've see we're making e15 our forever gas now because [3476.0s] The corn lobbyists need it and also"

E15 is a type of gasoline mixed with ethanol (a plant-based alcohol). Because it’s a different fuel blend than regular gas, it can affect how efficiently your car uses fuel.

Term

miles per gallon

"But it's still just like that's not [3434.2s] Reassuring enough to say well now it's we're getting good because that's the ... [3495.6s] Yeah, it like like [3497.9s] If like ethanol based fuels end up being ... [3505.6s] For consumption because it makes cars less efficient. You get less miles per gallon"

Miles per gallon (MPG) tells you how efficiently a car uses fuel. If MPG goes down, you have to buy more gas to drive the same distance.

Term

ethanol-based fuels

"If like ethanol based fuels end up being [3502.5s] at like a wash to net worse [3505.6s] For consumption because it makes cars less efficient. You get less miles per gallon"

Some gas blends include ethanol, which can make your car go fewer miles on the same amount of fuel. That’s why people often talk about ethanol blends affecting gas mileage.

Term

cvt

"Uh, the cvt has gotten noticeably a little slower and I go. Yeah, we gotta get the fuck out of here"

CVT means a transmission that can change “gears” smoothly rather than jumping between set gears. In this segment, the speaker feels the car is getting less responsive over time, and they blame it on the CVT behavior.

Car

Dodge Charger

"...o oh the man Vin diesel and i'm like no the dodge charger. He was driving somehow grasps Of rope and uses i..."

The Dodge Charger is a car that’s built to feel powerful and sporty. It has a bold, aggressive design and comes in performance versions. People mention it a lot when they talk about fast American cars.

Car

Aston Martin Valhalla

"... basically do that and they're like to see you in valhalla. I've got the watch or whatever Like that. It's j..."

The Aston Martin Valhalla is a very expensive, high-performance sports car. It’s the kind of car people talk about as a “dream” vehicle because it’s rare and built for speed. In the podcast, it’s mentioned in an excited, aspirational way rather than as an everyday option.

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