Newer 0w20 PCMOs dropping Dexos 1 Gen 3 approvals

[walkhardfan82]

It seems that some of the 0w20 oils that have had Dexos approval for years now may no longer be approved.

The latest and greatest data sheets on Quaker State Full Synthetic and Pennzoil Platinum (at least in the 0w20), indicate they will no longer be Dexos 1 Gen 3 approved.

I contacted Shell customer service and they confirmed that is the case.

What gives? I was thinking that was pretty much the gold standard (other than Euro approvals) of mainstream engine oils?

Does anyone have any insight into this?

 

[JavierH19]

Margins are gonna get compressed with shell losing capacity and the consumer not being able to take the full price increase only a little so they have to cut costs and take them out so the company can still continue to give executives raises during the times and not make shareholders too mad in the earnings report.

Besides dexos 1 gen 3 is junk with a noack limit of 13%. Even a synthetic blend can meet the dexos 1 gen 3 requirements and that's what gm dealers put in them when you pay almost $200 for an oil change, full syn is more. If even master mechanics at ford and gm don't know what dexos and wss is then I'd say a good 90% of people who change their own oil likely don't know what dexos or wss is and to them 0w-20 is 0w-20 so they put it in and if they change frequently they'll be fine.

 

[kschachn]

It seems that some of the 0w20 oils that have had Dexos approval for years now may no longer be approved.

The latest and greatest data sheets on Quaker State Full Synthetic and Pennzoil Platinum (at least in the 0w20), indicate they will no longer be Dexos 1 Gen 3 approved.

I contacted Shell customer service and they confirmed that is the case.

What gives? I was thinking that was pretty much the gold standard (other than Euro approvals) of mainstream engine oils?

Does anyone have any insight into this?

Gold standard? Why is that?

 

[walkhardfan82]

Gold standard? Why is that?

Maybe I worded that poorly.

Just thinking that Dexos 1 Gen3 performance standards are generally exceeding the top API and ILSAC standards, is what I was trying to say.

Just struck me as odd that these oils that seeked out/payed $ for these approvals for years, would suddenly opt out.

 

[walkhardfan82]

Margins are gonna get compressed with shell losing capacity and the consumer not being able to take the full price increase only a little so they have to cut costs and take them out so the company can still continue to give executives raises during the times and not make shareholders too mad in the earnings report.

Besides dexos 1 gen 3 is junk with a noack limit of 13%. Even a synthetic blend can meet the d1 g3 requirements and that's what gm dealers put in them when you pay almost $200 for an oil change, full syn is more. If even master mechanics at ford and gm don't know what dexos and wss is then I'd say a good 90% of people who change their own oil likely don't know what dexos or wss is and to them 0w-20 is 0w-20 so they put it in and if they change frequently they'll be fine.

Makes sense.

I just found it odd that they suddenly wanted to jump off that bandwagon, when even Supertech 0w20 carries the Dexos 1 Gen 3 approval.

I guess that is apples and oranges though.

 

[GW.]

GM has denied allowing changes to the base oil composition without retesting. API has approved it. So due to the current base oil shortage some oils will be losing Dexos but maintaining the API starburst.

 

[FreedomOne]

Gold standard of fleecing oil companies for dexos label. That's about the gist of it.

 

[BobsArmory]

GM has denied allowing changes to the base oil composition without retesting. API has approved it. So due to the current base oil shortage some oils will be losing Dexos but maintaining the API starburst.

This.
API has folded and will allow changes to base oil and additive packages without testing to keep the oil flowing to the consumers. GM has not folded to the pressure (yet).

My thoughts? In the near future, oils that don't keep the DEXOS label might not protect your machinery as well as you think it does because the blenders will be playing it fast and loose just to keep product on the shelves

Flame suit on! ;-)

 

[kschachn]

This.
API has folded and will allow changes to base oil and additive packages without testing to keep the oil flowing to the consumers. GM has not folded to the pressure (yet).

My thoughts? In the near future, oils that don't keep the DEXOS label might not protect your machinery as well as you think it does because the blenders will be playing it fast and loose just to keep product on the shelves

Flame suit on! ;-)

Outside of Annex E? I didn’t see that. Do you have a link?

 

[CKN]

Margins are gonna get compressed with shell losing capacity and the consumer not being able to take the full price increase only a little so they have to cut costs and take them out so the company can still continue to give executives raises during the times and not make shareholders too mad in the earnings report.

Besides dexos 1 gen 3 is junk with a noack limit of 13%. Even a synthetic blend can meet the d1 g3 requirements and that's what gm dealers put in them when you pay almost $200 for an oil change, full synthetic is more. If even master mechanics at ford and gm don't know what dexos and wss is then I'd say a good 90% of people who change their own oil likely don't know what dexos or wss is and to them 0w-20 is 0w-20 so they put it in and if they change frequently they'll be fine.

The going rate for a dealer oil change is between $90.00 and $125.00.
It depends if you use a coupon or not.
I get all my changes done at a Chevrolet Dealer. My truck takes 8 quarts. Searching the part number on the invoice comes up as this-
GM 88865700 Oil,Engine Dexos1 Gen2 Full Synthetic 0W20 Acdelco Bulk Opt1
And they have to remove a skid plate.

Total on invoice $107.40 (3/18/2026)

 

[walkhardfan82]

This.
API has folded and will allow changes to base oil and additive packages without testing to keep the oil flowing to the consumers. GM has not folded to the pressure (yet).

My thoughts? In the near future, oils that don't keep the DEXOS label might not protect your machinery as well as you think it does because the blenders will be playing it fast and loose just to keep product on the shelves

Flame suit on! ;-)

This is kind of what I was concerned about when hearing of these kind of changes.

Like what is the motivation to meet/exceed certain specs, if the label no longer says that you do?

I get that certain oils may still be just as good as they were previously, but what is our assurance as consumers?

 

[facility1]

The Dexos G_3 licensing is very expensive and in a competive market ,it just adds to cost, and confidential formulas also can be a factor.

 

[walkhardfan82]

That makes sense.

I guess I was just wanting assurance that these oils I have used previously in my NA GDI (Mazda) and my wife’s turbo GDI (Honda) engines are still up to the task. I don’t own any GM products, for the record.

I’ve used mostly Shell (Quaker and Pennzoil) in them thus far. Sometimes Mobil 1. All in the recommended 0w20 flavor.

Thanks everyone for the replies, very insightful.

I’ve been lurking around here for awhile now but just recently registered.
Lots of good information.

 

[TheOtherAndy]

The going rate for a dealer oil change is between $90.00 and $125.00.
It depends if you use a coupon or not.
I get all my changes done at a Chevrolet Dealer. My truck takes 8 quarts. Searching the part number on the invoice comes up as this-
GM 88865700 Oil,Engine Dexos1 Gen2 Full Synthetic 0W20 Acdelco Bulk Opt1
And they have to remove a skid plate.

Total on invoice $107.40 (3/18/2026)

I have certainly found the dealership to be cheaper than the local quick lube places. The Valvoline places have seemed to be the worst.

 

[kschachn]

This is kind of what I was concerned about when hearing of these kind of changes.

Like what is the motivation to meet/exceed certain specs, if the label no longer says that you do?

I get that certain oils may still be just as good as they were previously, but what is our assurance as consumers?

Buy a Euro oil that still has a proper Euro approval. There’s no evidence that an oil with VW 504 00 approval doesn’t still have that approval.

 

[facility1]

Buy a Euro oil that still has a proper Euro approval. There’s no evidence that an oil with VW 504 00 approval doesn’t still have that approval.

Great for Euro cars, though it won't harm Api car oil needs.

 

[kschachn]

Great for Euro cars, though it won't harm Api car oil needs.

What?

 

[walkhardfan82]

Buy a Euro oil that still has a proper Euro approval. There’s no evidence that an oil with VW 504 00 approval doesn’t still have that approval.

That’s an idea.

I just bought a jug of Castrol Edge Extended Performance that I believe has some Euro approvals as well (ACEA C5,C6 and Mercedes 229.71.)

If I like that one, maybe I will use it again (assuming I can keep getting it at a reasonable cost.)
Not trying to do extended drain intervals, just want to know I’m using a more than adequate oil for my applications.

 

[Hohn]

Margins are gonna get compressed with shell losing capacity and the consumer not being able to take the full price increase only a little so they have to cut costs and take them out so the company can still continue to give executives raises during the times and not make shareholders too mad in the earnings report.

Besides dexos 1 gen 3 is junk with a noack limit of 13%. Even a synthetic blend can meet the dexos 1 gen 3 requirements and that's what gm dealers put in them when you pay almost $200 for an oil change, full syn is more. If even master mechanics at ford and gm don't know what dexos and wss is then I'd say a good 90% of people who change their own oil likely don't know what dexos or wss is and to them 0w-20 is 0w-20 so they put it in and if they change frequently they'll be fine.

I'm convinced Dexos is mostly just a GM shakedown of the lube industry. GM realized they had some leverage and tried to monetize it.

 

[ka9mnx]

Maybe the oil companies don't want to get caught up with GM's engine fiasco.