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Bye bye Valvoline EP
- Thread starter busdriver
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They can be. Are we theirs?
Hmm....being that Foxtrot owns a lubrication company that's been in his family for over 100 years, he may know a thing or two about it....
None of the majors are truly vertically integrated anymore. Mobil doesn’t always use an infinium additive package. Oronite doesn’t make every single component of their additives. Thus why there is room for Afton and Lubrizol, let alone other players like Spectrum, Functional, BASF, DOW, Etc.
They’re all somehow, connected together.
When Lubrizol’s facility went down a few months ago for chlorine corrosion issues, it knocked out the majority of the HDEO market.
When Afton’s facility went down, it upset the gear oil market. When they were flooded in KY, PCEO went offline.
Most of these “major” oil companies don’t make their own grease. Which is why the Chemtool fire was so bad.
The lubricants market is not nearly as “vertically” integrated as you think. Sure they have some of their own blend plants. Others rely on toll blenders such as Gordon terminal systems or ALS. In greases, it was Chemtool or Battenfeld out east. With Citgo and Axle making a lot of it out west.
But thinking Mobil and Shell only use an infinium additive package? Not true at all.
In terms of base oil. Not everyone makes the right cuts. Or are they located freight wise, in a good area. Mobil might be buying Ergon bright stock, or maybe holly fontier to make MobilGear 634. And using a Lubrizol additive package.
Buying a TES668 product? From Chevron? It uses an infinium additive package. Not an Oronite.
This leads to contracts. Thus being sole sourced. As let’s face it - no other additive manufacturer has enough capacity to take on major oem business. If GM suddenly switched from Mobil to say P66. It would be a disaster. P66 might have the base oils, but not the additive or blending capacity. Thus, contracts. And sole source happens. Often times with companies that the major oil company, doesn’t own. And they will be contractually obligated to not change formulas - especially to OEMs.
Folks, this one has gone off the rails. I’ve had to moderate some ugly stuff. Lock time.
Furthermore, the essential thread thesis, that Valvoline is now too expensive, is no longer true. It‘s back on rollback at Walmart, and the OP no longer has a case.
Furthermore, the essential thread thesis, that Valvoline is now too expensive, is no longer true. It‘s back on rollback at Walmart, and the OP no longer has a case.
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