Feedback from Valvoline on their base oil

[Rob Taggs]

Valvoline is part of Ashland Consumer Markets, a division of Ashland Inc., a global diversified chemical company. Neither Valvoline nor Ashland drill for oil nor do we refine oil. Valvoline, therefore, is not tied to any base oil producer or base oil technology. This allows Valvoline to search the world for the highest quality base oils utilizing the latest technologies. Additionally, as one of the largest purchasers of base oil in the world, our strong buying position and multi-suppliers strategies assure us greater security of supply. Currently, Valvoline utilizes several base oil suppliers to assure that we have the highest quality products while being competitive in all markets.

Starting with those base oils, Valvoline produces its premium oils using chemical additives in proprietary formulations to not only meet but exceed automaker and API specifications. Good base oil is only the start of producing Valvoline's modern formulations. Of the major motor oil marketers, Valvoline is the one not owned by an integrated oil company.

Well, so much for asking where they get their base oil from.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

It's a commodity market.

 

[Pablo]

What did you ask them exactly? We can't think that oil companies will just hand over their formulas

BTW Valvoline is not that big. True they aren't tied.....

 

[Triple_Se7en]

The two main paragraphs sound eerily similar to what I read from other oil bottlers.

I would like a list of the refiners and drillers that bottle their own oil. What's to stop the Valvolines and Castrols of this world from searching the world for the "not-so-highest" base oils???

Are there any groups watching these individual oil searchers - to ensure the purchaser doesn't get holding the inferior stuff?

 

[BearZDefect]

Castrol is now owned by BP, does that mean they only use BP base stocks now?

I thought one of our esteemed BITOG members (TD) stated that Ashland has cutting edge lube testing equipment to produce lubricants that meet the requirements without wasting a dime of resources exceeding the requirements.

 

[Blue99]

Quote:

---

Are there any groups watching these individual oil searchers - to ensure the purchaser doesn't get holding the inferior stuff?

---

What exactly is the "inferior stuff"?

Only a handfull of Grp II & II+ lube plants in North America. None are considered poor quality.

Current Base Oil price Report

And many of the worl wide Grp II & II+ plants are running the ExxonMobil catalyst technologies which produce very good quality base oils.

 

[Blue99]

BP is only in the gasoline refining business, not base oil stocks. Castrol, while owned by BP, has no direct access to base oil stocks.

The Amoco Lubricant division assets were sold off by BP at the time of the acquisition by BP.

 

[Johnny]

Valvoline and BP both buy a lot of base stocks from Shell and Mobil.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

What about Conoco and Chevron Johnny?

 

[Johnny]

Right now I think Conoco is pretty busy taking care of all their brands. They could be buying some Chevron on the West Coast (BP) that is. I also think BP is buying some base from Petro Canada. Right now Valvoline is pretty much purchasing from Shell and Mobil.

 

[Finklejag]

Quote:

---

Right now I think Conoco is pretty busy taking care of all their brands. They could be buying some Chevron on the West Coast (BP) that is. I also think BP is buying some base from Petro Canada. Right now Valvoline is pretty much purchasing from Shell and Mobil.

---

I thought Conoco buys their base stock from Korea?

 

[Ray H]

Quote:

---

...Neither Valvoline nor Ashland drill for oil nor do we refine oil. Valvoline, therefore, is not tied to any base oil producer or base oil technology. [translation - we have to scrounge like any other independent.] This allows Valvoline to search the world for the highest quality base oils utilizing the latest technologies. [translation - oy vey, you should see our monthly phone bills, already!] Additionally, as one of the largest purchasers of base oil in the world, our strong buying position and multi-suppliers strategies assure us greater security of supply. Currently, Valvoline utilizes several base oil suppliers to assure that we have the highest quality products while being competitive in all markets. [translation - we take what we can get and pray a lot.] Starting with those base oils, Valvoline produces its premium oils using chemical additives in proprietary formulations to not only meet but exceed automaker and API specifications. Good base oil is only the start of producing Valvoline's modern formulations. [translation - we use off-the-shelf additives like other independents.] Of the major motor oil marketers, Valvoline is the one not owned by an integrated oil company. [translation - we're an "independent" suffering delusions of grandeur.] Well, so much for asking where they get their base oil from. [translation - like I'm actually surpised?]

---

OK, I was just bringing a little morning cheer at Ashland/Valvoline's expense. Don't get your knickers all in a knot.

 

[Johnny]

Conoco gets their Group III base from Korea. They produce their own Group II.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

So Chevron, Shell and Mobil are pretty much the big players in both oil production & bottling. The rest of the fast production bottlers rely on 2nd party securement for a percentage of their oil/refinement reserve -- for today's typical passenger vehicles.

Am I pretty close on that?