ExxonMobil Fleet Brochure - Delvac Line

[Doug Hillary]

Hi,
ED - Delvac 1 5W-40 was taken off the market here in OZ about the time of the change to CI-4 and "re-badged" as MB had withrawn Approval for 228.5. This caused some supply issues for several months but Mobil "did the right thing"

Over the years HDEOs have indeed been mutually exclusive. The first real standard was from CAT in the 1930s. MIL followed and engine manufacturers like Scania-Mack, Volvo, MB, MAN, Magirus-Duetz and etc became very sensitive about what worked and what did not in their engines. Cummins were taught a lesson in the early 1980s (by the API's intransigence) as technologies outstripped lubricant "quality"

This is why I support using Manufacturer Approved lubricants in engines, and drive lines

For many years in Benzes, VWs and Porsche cars (and in Taunus V4 & V6, Opel, Volga, Tatra, FIAT, Alfa Romeo and others) I would only use CAT Series 3 rated lubricants. PCMO of the era were wanting! My research when I worked for Chevron-Caltex in Copenhagen had simply confirmed what I found some years earlier in NZ

The Delvac range of mineral oils are "sleeper" products and have been at the top of the HDEO tree for many decades IMHO

ACEA has been the best thing that has happened in the world of automotive lubricants IMHO

 

[1sttruck]

I've been running 100% Mobil 1 5w40 in my Dodge with a Cummins as it revs easier when cold, makes a bit less noise overall, needs almost no make oil between oil chnages, and I assume that it's about as good of an oil available. A local place has it for $21 a gallon. A Cummins dealer has the Valvoline 5w40 for about $18 a gallon, which is about the same as the Rotella 5w40 at Walmart, but I'll stick with the Mobil 1 as long as I can get it at a decent price.

 

[Extreme-Duty]

Doug,

you've actually inspired me to use D1 in my VW gas engine. With this simple setup, modern PCMOs won't get me anything other than double costs.

It's interesting that you worked in Copenhagen. That's just around the bend or 300 km from here. I lived in southern Denmark for about 9 years of my young life.

Did Chevron-Caltex have automotive R&D facilities in Denmark? Was this to serve the Scandinavian market only?

Never thought that Denmark ever had something sophisticated in the field of lubrication. Were other companies present too?

 

[Doug Hillary]

HI,
ED - I operated from Caltex (later Chevron-Caltex) HO near Nyhavn. My operational shop was in Adelgade not far away
I lived in Fredericksberg

I ran a "model" Technical & Training facility. We did field (and test) work for MB, VW, Volvo and some others. We looked after a FIAT race car team's vehicles too. We cross trained apprentices from other Dealers (six month "exchange" Franchise programme) and Chevron employees of course

Caltex had a American-Italian CEO during my time there (he was previously running their Italian operation) and he replaced a Dane (who had been in the job from shortly before WW2) during my first month. My Mentors were his (the retiree's) Danish staff. Some of these people were Danish WW Heros from the active Danish Underground

The rebranding from Caltex to Chevron occured during this time in Denmark and elsewhere in Europe. And Sweden changed from RHD to LHD too!

I had little to do with other Oil Companies but we worked on Porsche cars (356, 911, 912 - no Dealer there), Eastern Bloc vehicles and fleets of Cadillacs, Studebakers (Hawks etc) and others that were based there via the USA activities in Germany

 

[bmwtechguy]

That's quite an interesting history. Thank you for sharing!

 

[1sttruck]

"ACEA has been the best thing that has happened in the world of automotive lubricants IMHO"

Seems like a simple, robust rating scheme. I used it when selecting PCMOs a year or two ago; want a 5w30, A5/B5 seems like a hardy grade, ...hmmmmmm let's see what meets it ..... no dinos meet it...... Mobil 1 5W30 T&S seems to be one of the very few on the shelf tha do, so Mobil 1 5W30 T&S it is.

Since then others seem to have met it, but I still use Mobil 1 5w30 T&S.

 

[Extreme-Duty]

Doug, You're a real veteran!

I wonder if "Hydro Texaco" does any kind of testing in Denmark nowadays. The Chevron brand is no longer marketed in Europe, I think. Btw, my impression is that the Texaco brand is better represented in Denmark than it is in Germany.

World wide products like Delo 400 are available, but only if one decides to purchase 10.000 litres. If you want an oil for an American engine, the European "Ursa" range has a boring Gr. I 15w40 and a Gr. I/III 10w-40 for you, but none of them is CI-4 Plus. The other products, like their "UHPD" oils may be excellent though.

Also, their XLC OAT coolant is well recognized in Europe. A nitrited/molydated "Texaco ELC" is not readily available though. ANYWHERE else in the world it is! They may have a special deal with Caterpillar. Otherwise, Caterpillar couldn't charge 4 Euro + tax a liter 50:50 premixed ELC.

 

[Extreme-Duty]

To get back on Topic, how do other oils perform in the Cummins ISB test?

Delvac 1 ESP does not seem far superior at preventing cam shaft lobe wear.

Can anyone provide data?