Oiler

Oiler is an Autobot Micromaster from the Generation 1 continuity family.

Don't call him Captain Planet... seriously.

Oiler, leader of the Metro Squad, is an oil addict—in reverse. Determined to preserve energy at all costs, he under-fuels himself to conserve energy, and thus runs dry in precarious situations. His squadmates think this is just the result of his ceaseless efforts to protect the innocent, though Oiler does use his above-average intelligence to hide the truth from them, rationalizing away as he does. However, his actions are beginning to take a toll on his functions.

His combiner partner on the Metro Squad is Slide. In some universes, Oiler is female, but oddly enough not in the universes where Slide is also a lady.

Fiction

IDW Generation 1 continuity

Oiler and his twin sister Slide were Devisiens who joined the Autobots on Earth after the Ore-13 crisis. The twins were excited to be working alongside Optimus Prime, and like the other recently-arrived colonists they began wearing mouthplates to emulate what they percieved as a holy figure.

The new recruits got their first taste of real action when they were sent to Mexico City with Aileron in the hopes of locating a cache of recovered Cybertronian technology. They discovered that an anti-Transformer mob had set up a protest that had quickly turned into a riot. When a human protester shot Midnight Express with a weapon of Cybertronian origin, Optimus summoned reinforcements. While Soundwave, Arcee, and Jazz saved the day, the new meat watched in awe. Back aboard Autobot City, the assembled colonists continued to laud the myriad deeds of Optimus; Oiler mentioned that he would follow Optimus no matter where the Prime travelled. Their combined hero-worship managed to annoy even Aileron. To Walk Among the Chosen

After Optimus Prime made contact with the Junkions, the colonist platoon badgered a recently-returned Optimus with questions about the newcomers. Soundwave wasn't inclined to field their questions and told them to shut up. As they listened to Soundwave's tale about the skirmish on Junkion early in the Great War, Oiler was amused by his sister's belief that Optimus would have put Prowl and Shockwave, who had coordinated the war effort, in their places. A Lonely Pillar on the Plain

Oiler and the other colonists knelt as Optimus Prime returned to Earth from Cybertron, and later watched on as Optimus and Pyra Magna had a heated argument about Prime's use of the Matrix. The twins were present on the deck of Metrotitan when Optimus held a summit with several human governments... only to be interrupted when the Junkions unleashed a horde of ravenous Sharkticons. Dance Among the Shadows

Beast Wars: Uprising

During the Grand Uprising, Oiler was a squad commander in the 74th Division under Erector's leadership in contested Tesarus. Faced with the inevitable advance of the Resistance-allied Pack, she ordered Strikedown and the rest of her squad to dig in and fortify their position before the Pack arrived. Derailment

Toys

Generation 1

He wants to oil on you!

• Metro Squad (Micromaster Combiner Squad, 1990)

Oiler transforms into a trailer truck that is intended to be the front half of a blue and white tanker truck that he forms with his combiner partner Slide. He can, of course, combine with any other Micromaster Combiner to form a new vehicle, as well as connect to any Micromaster Combiner Transport. Oiler was only available in a six-pack with his squadmates Slide, Power Run, Roadburner, Strikedown, and Wheel Blaze.

• More information on Oiler at TFU.info

Return of Convoy

• Fire Tanker W Team (Micro Trailer W Team, 1991)
  • Japanese ID number: C-365
  • Accessories: Micro Trailer #5

In Japan, Oiler came as part of the Fire Tanker W Team with Slide, Wheelblaze, and Roadburner. All four components were identical to their Hasbro releases. The group also came with Micro Trailer #5.

Notes

Foreign names

• Japanese: Oiler (オイラー Oirā)
• French: Aéro (Canada)
• Italian: Pluton