Supertech and Shell

[techie]

After looking on the Shell website and browsing through Walmart today, I noticed something. The Supertech bottles use the same color scheme as the Formula Shell. Except that Supertech has no blend.

This is Shell:
Conventional - White bottle
High Mileage Formula - Red Bottle
Synthetic Blend - Blue Bottle
Full Synthetic - Silver Bottle

This is Supertech:
No White Bottle
Conventional - Blue Bottle
High Mileage Formula - Red Bottle
Full Synthetic - Silver Bottle

Don't know if this means anything, but I thought I would just post it anyway.

 

[BrianWC]

Actually Supertech's blend used to be the red bottle. Valvoline has the same scheme as Shell, down to the white bottle.

 

[Al]

This has been discussed before. I believe that Walmart is made by Warren in at least some areas.

 

[Dave Hess]

In some areas, SuperTech is made by Mobil

 

[Ray H]

The 5 qt. jugs of SuperTech 10W-40 in my area are apparently blended and bottled by SOPUS - the jugs are identical and carry the exact same alpha-numeric product and date code format stamped on the bottom of the jugs. This, too has been discussed previously. WalMart is apparently keeping its supplier options open in these uncertain times.

 

[miraCRD]

I think the red bottles for high mileage oils are hoped to be associated with the original high milage oil, Valvoline...which has been sold in red bottles since its intro. AND, I think the silver bottles for the synthetic are hoped to be associated with Mobil 1's silver bottles, the most recognised synthetic. I don't think there's any meaning for the color parallels other than that.

To protect their colors, some companies have copyrighted/patented their brands colors. The UPS brown is considered part of their corporate identity and is protected by copyright. I recently learned that Quaker State patented clear bottles for oil. That means nobody else is allowed to sell oil in clear containers.

I personally think this is an absurd abuse of "corporate identity" protection. A specific color like Quaker State Green, Chevron Blue, or even UPS Brown is one thing, but CLEAR??? If some attorney thought of it before everyone else started to do it, some soda company could have patented clear containers for their brand of soda...or spring water....or dish soap. Clear, or black or white for that matter are not really unique "colors" that anyone could argue helps establish a companies corporate identity. Somehow Quaker State's lawyers were able to get this through.

 

[BrianWC]

quote:

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Originally posted by Al:
This has been discussed before. I believe that Walmart is made by Warren in at least some areas.

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I was just adding to the color observations. I figured everyone knew who made supertech.

 

[dave1251]

SOPUS/Exxon-Mobil/Warren all make supertech. Wal-Mart is just going with the lowest bidder in each region. It doesn't matter all three make a fine blend. Besides the major players in the oil industry often trade base stocks and additives anyways its hard to tell the difference sometimes.

 

[csandste]

If memory serves me right the Consumer Reports taxi-cab study of a decade ago mentioned that Shell (Fire and Ice?) was totally different products in different parts of the country. As Dave 1251 states, uniformity or lack thereof is more than a Walmart practice.

 

[Zaedock]

Warren Performance Products (Warren Distribution), to my knowledge and research, is the only supplier of Full Synthetic and "High Mileage" oils to WalMart. Also, IMO, I believe that the WPP "High Mileage" oil is re-bottled WPP syn-blend. Blend oils were the rage a few years ago. Now it's "high mileage". WPP is adjusting to the market.

 

[Brikhead]

quote:

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Originally posted by Zaedock:
Warren Performance Products (Warren Distribution), to my knowledge and research, is the only supplier of Full Synthetic and "High Mileage" oils to WalMart. Also, IMO, I believe that the WPP "High Mileage" oil is re-bottled WPP syn-blend. Blend oils were the rage a few years ago. Now it's "high mileage". WPP is adjusting to the market.

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I brought up this exact point in this thread . If ST/HM is a syn blend, you'd think they'd want it stated on the bottle. IMO - "Synthetic" still has more mass appeal than "High Mileage".
Then again, we know that certain grades of Valvoline MaxLife (conventional) contain enough PAO to be considered a "blend", but they choose not to mention it either.

 

[BrianWC]

quote:

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Originally posted by Zaedock:
Warren Performance Products (Warren Distribution), to my knowledge and research, is the only supplier of Full Synthetic and "High Mileage" oils to WalMart. Also, IMO, I believe that the WPP "High Mileage" oil is re-bottled WPP syn-blend. Blend oils were the rage a few years ago. Now it's "high mileage". WPP is adjusting to the market.

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Wrong again, SOPUS is making the High Mileage oil down here in Katritaville. They also supply my Walmart w/ 10W40 and 20W50. 5 and 10W30 and the synths are WPP though.

 

[Zaedock]

When was I wrong the first time??? I said, "to my knowledge". QS used to supply dino to Walmart. If SOPUS supplies oil down there again, then I'm really happy for you.

 

[BrianWC]

Relax man. Just pointing out SOPUS makes HM Supertech. I'm happy for me, too.

 

[csandste]

It wasn't QS, it was Specialty Petroleum, a Shreveport blending plant that was taken over by QS, by Pennzoil and so on to SOPUS. I think SJ was the last oil that was widely distributed via ST.

I assumed this plant was closed when SOPUS bought out Pennzoil. Is there still a bit of ST coming out of that plant?

 

[BrianWC]

quote:

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Originally posted by csandste:
It wasn't QS, it was Specialty Petroleum, a Shreveport blending plant that was taken over by QS, by Pennzoil and so on to SOPUS. I think SJ was the last oil that was widely distributed via ST.

I assumed this plant was closed when SOPUS bought out Pennzoil. Is there still a bit of ST coming out of that plant?

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Nope, it's Calumet Lubricants.