Dexos oil vs NON Dexos

[Big_kahuna]

So here is a question, are the Dexos approved oil’s better than non Dexos oil ?

 

[bullwinkle]

Better for GM's bottom line, more license fees!

 

[JTK]

Can you even get a non-dexos passenger car oil these days?

 

[tasch72]

Generally yes. Dexos1 Gen 3 is a more stringent standard than API SP.

But, Dexos1 approval is a costly license and for whatever reason, high mileage oils don't carry Dexos1 approvals, but that doesn't mean that a high-mileage oil is not as good as its standard-use counterpart.

Boutique blenders, such as Amsoil and Redline, also produce great oils but choose not to license their oils under Dexos1.

And there are Euro-spec oils that are mid- or high-saps that would never get approved under Dexos1 anyway.

 

[The Critic]

If Oil A only met the minimum API SP specs and Oil B was a licensed Dexos 1 Gen 3 product, then yes.

 

[Hall]

high mileage oils don't carry Dexos1 approvals, but that doesn't mean that a high-mileage oil is not as good as its standard-use counterpart.

Interesting. Is there an additive or additives that keep it from meeting that spec ?

Amsoil and Redline, also produce great oils but choose not to license their oils under Dexos1.

They don't license them strictly for financial reasons, if I'm not mistaken, and good for them for not giving in.

 

[aquariuscsm]

I was thinking Dexos didn’t apply to anything thicker than 5W30.

 

[kschachn]

Like your other thread that got locked where it was a "better" question, please define better.

Technical terms please.

 

[kschachn]

Boutique blenders, such as Amsoil and Redline, also produce great oils but choose not to license their oils under Dexos1.

Because in some instances they don't meet the licensing requirements as the blender themselves note.

 

[Hall]

I was thinking Dexos didn’t apply to anything thicker than 5W30.

If GM doesn't spec the viscosity in any of their vehicles, it won't get DEXOS approval, so what you say is very likely the case.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

So here is a question, are the Dexos approved oil’s better than non Dexos oil ?

Depends on whether or not you can tell if the non-Dexos oil is actually a different formulation vs the Dexos product. It's entirely plausible that they are one in the same but marketed differently with different certifications.

 

[tasch72]

Interesting. Is there an additive or additives that keep it from meeting that spec ?

Great question, I wish I had the answer, just functioning off the observation that very few high-mileage full synthetics are Dexos-licensed.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

I was thinking Dexos didn’t apply to anything thicker than 5W30.

M1 ESP X3 0w-40

 

[kschachn]

dexos is a performance specification. You can get details in the Afton Specification Handbook.

 

[Wheel366]

M1 ESP X3 0w-40

I think that is Dexos2 as opposed to Dexos1 Gen2 or Gen 3.

 

[kschachn]

M1 ESP X3 0w-40

There is more than one dexos license.

 

[kschachn]

I think that is Dexos2 as opposed to Dexos1 Gen2 or Gen 3.

Yes dexos2 has an HT/HS requirement of ≥3.5 so it can result in a -30 or a -40 grade.

 

[4WD]

Here

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[4WD]

Better for GM's bottom line, more license fees!

Go get some Mopar or ZF ATF - and then decide who is the rip off … Dexos oil is cheap and readily available

 

[Hall]

Depends on whether or not you can tell if the non-Dexos oil is actually a different formulation vs the Dexos product. It's entirely plausible that they are one in the same but marketed differently with different certifications.

I pay little to no attention to DEXOS so I don't know if companies like Castrol, Valvoline, QS, etc, etc had to reformulate their existing oils to meet DEXOS or not. I suspect a lot of oils already met it though.