OK, so I spoke to Valvoline (Australia) today over the phone. They were very helpful.
Previously in Australia, Valvoline had DuraBlend which they called a semi-synthetic and it had a higher synthetic content and better specs (e.g. A3/B4). They also had Engine Armour, which they called a synblend and it had lower synthetic content and lower specs (e.g A3/B3).
Today, the tech on the phone said that:
- DuraBlend was being phased out to the public and becoming their WorkShop / Garage / Professional series
- Engine Armour was being improved to have the same synthetic content and the same specs as the DuraBlend, it's really now DuraBlend in a different package
- DuraBlend and Engine Armour have always had the same add pack, they just differed on synthetic content, but they are now the same.
- Yes, I could expect a minimum of 30% synthetic in DuraBlend and now Engine Armour
- The DuraMax I referred to earlier, was just DuraBlend in a special package made for AutoBarn
BTW in OZ we only get one MaxLife and its 20W-50. So for any other oil grades in Oz, you want Engine Armour now days, if you want a Valvoline Semi-Synthetic.
The Engine Armour grades are: 10W30 (SN, GF-5); 10W40 (API SN/CF, ACEA A3/B4, MB 229.1, VW501.01, 502.00, 505.00); 15W40 (API SN/CF, ACEA A3/B4, MB 229.1, VW 501.01, 502.00, 505.00); 15W50 Diesel (API CI-4/SL, ACEA A3/B4.); 5W40 Diesel (API CJ-4/SN, ACEA A3/B4, ACEA E9/E7.)