May 22, 2026 | Motor oil shortage worsens; Ram's Maverick challenger coming in 2028
About this episode
Motor-oil trouble is getting worse for dealerships and service centers, with synthetic additives heavily tied to the Middle East and Korea and production disruptions expected to keep recovery slow into 2027. The hosts also cover dealer fraud-prevention tools and a New Jersey crackdown on brokered deals. On the product side, Ram is expanding its pickup lineup with a compact challenger aimed at the Maverick, while Stellantis faces plant idling and union questions. Concept reveals include the Copperhead and Wrangler Scrambler.
Arnold Gacita, president of Petra Automotive Products, talks about the growing motor oil shortage linked to the Iran war that is hitting dealerships and service centers. Ram will bring a compact pickup to challenge Ford’s Maverick in 2028. Plus, Stellantis sees opportunities for its idled Brampton plant.
Ford Maverick
"...am jumps into the compact pickup ring against the Maverick. Stellantis sees opportunities for its idled Bram..."
The Ford Maverick is a small pickup truck. It’s built to carry cargo and handle everyday driving without being as big or expensive as many trucks. It’s mentioned because other companies are trying to compete with this kind of compact truck.
The Ford Maverick is a compact pickup truck designed to be practical and relatively affordable compared with larger trucks. It’s significant in discussions because it helped popularize the “small truck” segment, and it often comes up when other automakers plan new compact pickup strategies. In this context, it’s being treated as a benchmark competitor in the compact pickup ring.
Dodge Ram
"to keep up in the auto industry. Ram is bringing a Maverick fighter to the US market s..."
Ram is a brand that mainly makes pickup trucks. The podcast is saying Ram plans to sell a compact pickup in the U.S. that’s meant to compete with the Ford Maverick. That’s why Ram is brought up in the compact pickup conversation.
Ram is the truck brand within Stellantis, and it’s known for producing full-size pickups and related commercial-focused vehicles. In this podcast context, Ram is mentioned as bringing a “Maverick fighter” to the U.S. market, meaning a compact pickup aimed at taking on the Maverick’s niche. The discussion ties Ram’s product planning to the compact-truck competition.
Rampage Ram Ram Page
"... in 2028. The compact pickup will be based on the Ram Ram page sold in South America."
The Rampage is a planned compact pickup truck expected to arrive around 2028. The podcast says it will be based on a Ram pickup that’s sold in South America. It’s being discussed because it’s intended to compete in the same small-truck category as the Maverick.
The Dodge Rampage is a nameplate being used for a planned compact pickup, with the podcast stating it’s expected in 2028. The episode also notes the compact pickup will be based on a Ram page sold in South America, indicating it will share underlying design or platform elements with that regional model. It’s discussed because it directly targets the compact pickup segment and is positioned as a Maverick competitor.
Jeep Compass
"...tis halted a retooling project and moved the Jeep Compass program to Illinois instead. Vito Beato, presiden..."
The Jeep Compass is a compact SUV, meaning it’s sized for daily driving and city use. The podcast is mentioning it because the company changed where it will be built. That can influence when vehicles are available and how production is managed.
The Jeep Compass is a compact SUV positioned for everyday driving with available four-wheel drive and a mainstream size. It’s mentioned here because Stellantis halted a retooling project and moved the Compass program to Illinois, which signals changes in production planning. That kind of manufacturing shift is often discussed because it can affect timing, supply, and future model updates.
Dodge Viper
"...is like a, I will call it like a successor to the Viper. It's a sporty coupe."
The Dodge Viper is a sports car made for very fast driving. It’s known for being powerful and performance-focused rather than practical. The podcast is using it as a reference point for a new sporty coupe idea.
The Dodge Viper is a high-performance sports car known for its raw, track-oriented character and big-engine power. It’s being referenced as a benchmark or inspiration point, with the podcast calling something a “successor to the Viper” and describing it as a sporty coupe. That’s why the Viper matters in the conversation: it sets expectations for what a new performance model should feel like.
Jeep Wrangler
"...se yesterday. They showed us something called the Wrangler Scrambler. So it's sort of almost like a mix"
The Jeep Wrangler is an off-road SUV made for rough roads and trails. It’s known for features that let you open up the cabin, like removable roof and doors on many models. The podcast is referencing a Wrangler-based concept that blends SUV and pickup-like ideas.
The Jeep Wrangler is a rugged off-road-focused SUV known for its removable roof and doors on many versions and its strong four-wheel-drive heritage. It’s discussed here because the podcast mentions a “Wrangler Scrambler,” described as a mix of styles based on the Wrangler. That makes the Wrangler the foundation for a more pickup-like or crossover-off-road concept.
Jeep Gladiator
"...of almost like a mix between the Wrangler and the Gladiator. It's based on an old model, you know,"
The Jeep Gladiator is a Jeep that has a truck bed instead of a traditional SUV cargo area. It’s designed for off-road driving, similar to the Wrangler. The podcast mentions it because it represents the “pickup” side of that Wrangler/Gladiator mix.
The Jeep Gladiator is a midsize pickup built on the Wrangler’s off-road platform and DNA, combining Jeep-style capability with a truck bed. It’s relevant in this episode because the “Wrangler Scrambler” is described as being like a blend between the Wrangler and the Gladiator. That comparison highlights how the Gladiator’s pickup format influences the concept.
badge engineer
"So that's going to be a big power surge for the Gladiator. And then they also showed us some Chrysler products. Yeah, so two of these models are going to be based on Fiat products. And they're going to basically just, you know, badge engineer them, you know, change the front ends a little bit."
Badge engineering means taking one car and selling it under a different brand. Usually the changes are mostly cosmetic, like the front styling, not a whole new design.
“Badge engineering” is when a company sells essentially the same vehicle under a different brand name, usually with only cosmetic changes like the grille or front fascia. The underlying platform and major components are largely carried over, so the cars can feel very similar to drive.
V8
"were there any EVs, any hybrid powertrains, or was everything just gas powered, V8s, Hemi's, monster engines?"
A V8 is an engine with eight cylinders. It’s commonly associated with strong power and quick acceleration.
A V8 is an engine with eight cylinders arranged in a “V” shape. In performance talk, mentioning V8s signals a focus on higher power and torque compared with smaller multi-cylinder engines.
Hemi
"or was everything just gas powered, V8s, Hemi's, monster engines?"
“Hemi” is a name for a particular type of V8 engine design used by Chrysler. It’s known for being built for performance.
“Hemi” refers to Chrysler’s hemispherical combustion-chamber engine design, known for efficient airflow and strong high-performance potential. In enthusiast contexts, “Hemi” usually implies a modernized version of that architecture used in performance V8s.
V10
"And I assume the Copperhead might get a V10 like the old school Viper, right?"
A V10 is an engine with ten cylinders in a V shape. It’s generally associated with higher power than a V8.
A V10 is an engine with ten cylinders arranged in a V configuration. Compared with a V8, a V10 can offer more total displacement and often higher power potential, which is why it comes up when discussing “old school” performance cars.
SRT variant
"but obviously with the Wrangler scrambler, they said it's going to have a SRT variant."
SRT is a performance badge that usually means the vehicle is tuned to be quicker and more aggressive than the standard version. It often comes with a stronger engine and sportier setup.
SRT is a performance sub-brand used by Stellantis for high-output versions of certain Dodge/Chrysler/Jeep models. When a model is described as having an “SRT variant,” it generally implies a more aggressive performance package—often including a larger engine and sport-tuned hardware.
777 horsepower
"The top level for that one is going to be a 777 horsepower."
Horsepower is a measure of how much power the engine makes. “777 horsepower” is an extremely high number meant to signal a very fast, performance-oriented truck.
“Horsepower” is a measure of engine output, and “777 horsepower” indicates an extremely high-performance target for the upcoming Ram “muscle truck” lineup. The specific number is used here as a headline spec to show how performance-focused these future models are being positioned.
Challenger Hellcat
"... going to be a 777 horsepower. You know, with the Hellcat engine, we had a chance to see it on a track a co..."
The Dodge Challenger is a muscle car built for fast acceleration. The podcast is talking about a very powerful version, around 777 horsepower, and that it was shown driving on a track. It’s mentioned because it’s a top-end performance example of the model.
The Dodge Challenger is a muscle car known for strong performance and a long-running lineup of high-horsepower variants. In this episode, it’s tied to a discussion of a very high-output version—described as targeting around 777 horsepower and using a Hellcat engine—seen on a track. That’s why it comes up: it represents the brand’s performance headline capability.
Middle East
"you still need a supply from the Middle East [754.3s] or from Asia in order to make some of your stuff, [757.2s] make some of your products."
They’re talking about the Middle East as a key place where oil ingredients are produced. If plants in that region stop making product, it can make motor oil harder to get worldwide.
The “Middle East” is being referenced here as a major source region for motor-oil base stocks and synthetic oil feedstocks. When production plants there shut down, it can tighten global supply and delay recovery of oil availability.
synthetic
"It's all of us, whether it's Shell or Valvalline [761.1s] or whoever, me, anything that's synthetic, [764.9s] which is a group three or group four, [767.3s] predominantly group three product is made in Korea"
Synthetic oil is a type of motor oil that’s made to be more consistent and stable than regular oil. That can help it protect your engine better, especially in extreme temperatures.
“Synthetic” motor oil is engineered from chemically modified base stocks so it can better resist breakdown than conventional oil. In practice, it’s often chosen for cold starts and high-temperature durability, but it depends on the specific base-stock type used.
group three or group four
"or whoever, me, anything that's synthetic, [764.9s] which is a group three or group four, [767.3s] predominantly group three product is made in Korea [771.7s] or the Middle East."
Motor oil is made from base oils, and “group three” and “group four” are two types of those base oils. They’re important because if there’s a shortage of these base oils, lots of different oil brands can end up affected.
“Group 3” and “Group 4” refer to base-oil categories in the API base-oil classification system. Group 3 is typically hydrocracked mineral oil, while Group 4 is usually polyalphaolefin (PAO), and both are common in modern synthetic motor oils—so shortages in these base stocks can affect many brands.
second quarter of 2027
"we look at it [795.0s] that if the problem was to be solved tomorrow, [801.5s] it would be second quarter of 2027 [803.9s] before we get this back to normal."
They’re giving a rough calendar estimate for when the oil shortage might ease. The point is that it could take a long time to fully recover.
“Second quarter of 2027” is a forecast timeline for when the motor-oil supply situation could return to normal. It frames the shortage as a supply-chain recovery problem rather than an immediate fix.
API
"I mean, API literally is issued an emergency statement. But the problem is that it just trickles down, right?"
API is a big U.S. oil-industry organization. When they issue an emergency statement, it usually means there’s a serious problem affecting how fuel and oil are made or delivered.
API stands for the American Petroleum Institute, an industry group that issues guidance and statements affecting the oil and fuel supply chain. In this context, an “emergency statement” implies industry-level coordination around disruptions.
0W-20
"So you're gonna go get an old change and they're gonna say, we don't have zero W20, can we put five W20?"
0W-20 is a type of engine oil. The “0W” part means it’s easier to start in cold weather, and the “20” part describes how thick it stays when the engine is hot.
0W-20 is a motor-oil viscosity grade. The “0W” indicates how well the oil flows in cold temperatures, and the “20” indicates its thickness at operating temperature.
5W-20
"So you're gonna go get an old change and they're gonna say, we don't have zero W20, can we put five W20?"
5W-20 is another common engine-oil type. It’s close to 0W-20, but it’s a bit thicker when it’s very cold, which can matter for cold starts.
5W-20 is another motor-oil viscosity grade, similar to 0W-20 but slightly less “cold-flow” optimized. If a shop substitutes 5W-20 for 0W-20, it can affect cold-start behavior, though both are commonly used in modern engines that specify one of these grades.
transmission fluid
"[999.4s] Your car may need transmission fluid. [1002.1s] And that fluid, all the vehicles today [1004.0s] require synthetic fluid, is not available. [1006.7s] It will eventually affect the manufacturing, right?"
Transmission fluid is the liquid that keeps the transmission’s moving parts lubricated and helps it shift gears. If it’s missing or wrong, the transmission can’t work properly.
Transmission fluid is the working lubricant and hydraulic fluid inside an automatic or continuously variable transmission. It lubricates moving parts and helps transmit power and control gear changes; without it, the transmission can’t operate correctly.
supply chain delays
"[1043.2s] Yeah, it takes a long time to get to supply chain. [1046.6s] Well, it does. [1047.4s] And it takes a long time to get to the consumer [1048.9s] and then away from the consumer, right?"
Supply chain delays mean it takes too long for parts to reach the factory and then for the finished cars to reach buyers. That’s why shortages can keep hurting production for months.
Supply chain delays describe how shortages and logistics problems slow down getting parts and materials to factories and then to customers. The episode frames it as a time-lag problem: even after a shortage starts, it takes months to fully work its way through manufacturing and delivery.
freight cost
"[1051.0s] So as the freight cost continues to go up [1054.8s] and shortages and diesel also go up,"
Freight cost is what it costs to move goods from one place to another. If it gets more expensive, it can make shortages and higher prices more likely.
Freight cost is the price of shipping goods (like parts and materials) by truck, rail, or other logistics. When freight costs rise, it increases the overall cost of getting supplies to manufacturers and can worsen shortages.
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