Question before I stock up on SL:

[TallPaul]

I thought it wouldn't hurt to stock up on SL. Maxlife is on sale at Pep Boys and Advance Auto so I am heading over tomorrow for a couple cases 10w30. Yep, paranoid over SM. I know the SL is great stuff, so I figure go with it. Besides I can fill my oil stash shelves. But here is the question:

Is is possible and/or likely that the current SL bottles on the shelf may have SM oil in them (especially considering Valvoline's new SM tech data sheets are dated effective Sept 04)?

Would they have started filling with SM before the new labels were put out, perhaps, just to be sure no SL got into SM bottles?

Or am I fairly certain to get the SL stuff if it's the old SL label?

 

[k1xv]

No, I think it may be possible for them to use up their old packaging while filling it with the new formulation. I think Shell did this with their Rotella Synthetic, using up packaging with a CH-4 label when the oil was actually formulated as meeting CI-4.

 

[Blue99]

Hey TallPaul, just noticed the new Valvoline SM/GF-4 data sheets are posted.

Click on Maxlife Multigrades for SM/GF-4 Data Sheet

The new data sheet now lists the amount of moly - 300 ppm, pretty healthy dose!

It appears to me that Valvoline is launching new labels for the SM/GF-4 product. I've spotted new labels for All Climate, Durablend & Synpower on the shelves.

 

[TallPaul]

Excellent point Blue99 and one I saw and thought everything would be great, but the question would be are they still going to run the 15% PAO in Maxlife. This recent quote from a respected member of another oil forum suggests it is an open question (which should be answered if and when they update the MSDS to the SM oil):

quote:

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Just one of the differences between GF-3 and GF-4 is the latter has to be more resistant to oxidation . Moly was was used in GF-3 dino's as a primary anti-oxident and secondary anti-wear especially when used with group I oils " ...

Without actually knowing if Valvoline has stopped using group I , I'll argue till the cows come home that the reason they now use moly according to the above post [which noted the 300 ppm moly in the SM Maxlife] is they use cheaper group I and needed moly to help with oxidation and not anti-wear .

I guess we will see if this new generation oil is better or worse when analysis come in and if a new MSDS becomes available and this oil still shows some PAO in it.

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Yep, saw the new labels on all but Maxlife yet. The All Climate bottles even had an extra sticker half attached that said "Protects at Start Up." Would you agree that most any oil provides some measure of protection at startup?

I was pleased to see the new data sheets for Durablend show about 2400 ppm calcium. The techs at Valvo always told me Durablend had as much detergent as Maxlife. But the Durablend sheets don't show what is making up for the reduced zinc and phosphorus. Perhaps a VOA is in order.

[ November 07, 2004, 09:33 AM: Message edited by: TallPaul ]

 

[haley10]

I'm not a Valvoline user, but I've alway though Durablend looked pretty fair with a good NOACK and TBN. That implies that it must have a pretty good basestock. Reductions in zddp don't appear to be that dramatic and the calcium level also serves a dual function to off-set this somewhat.

Since Maxlife show the typical
I wouldn't worry about SL or SM either way.

 

[Ken2]

GF-4 & SM is better oil. Buy anything you like, but don't worry about this. The tests required for meet GF-4 are tougher than any previous tests.


Ken

 

[TallPaul]

quote:

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Originally posted by Ken2:
GF-4 & SM is better oil. Buy anything you like, but don't worry about this. The tests required for meet GF-4 are tougher than any previous tests.

Ken

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So, what you are saying apparently is that on balance it doesn't matter what additives they use or don't use in the SM because the required testing is more severe and so the oil will protect better. OK. Still, I know the SL Maxlife is killer stuff, so Haley 10 makes a good point that either way I can't lose.

Yep, I do like the Durablend. That's what I used to run before I switched to Maxlife. Now I have (as soon as the Citgo and AutoRx is done) Durablend for the pickup, Maxlife for the motorhome, and Synpower for the short tripper Aerostar.

Thanks all.

 

[BeltwayBandit]

I have only seen a few of the new MaxLife labels, but it has a larger Valvoline V at the top center of the label, and the 75,000 mile odometer is larger and just under the Valvoline logo. You will know one when you see it.