I bought a 2014 Buick Encore a year and a half ago. Been using Valvoline Maxlife 5w30 since purchase with good results. The car now has 81,000 miles on it so is well out of warranty.
I note that the upcoming Dexos changes exclude Maxlife but (interestingly) include Durablend. Lots of oil change places in my neighborhood have Maxlife at a very attractive cost. Full synthetics cost a lot more. My assumption was always that MaxLife and Durablend were essentially the same product except for increased seal conditioners.
If I remember correctly, Valvoline was late to the Dexos party and used to state that their product met Dexos standards but that the licensing charge by GM was a ripoff. Since a high portion of Maxlife users are GM products out of warranty, I suspect that they're trying to save licensing. My experience with Maxlife has been very good. No oil usage when running the OLM down to about 10 percent. I'm thinking of keeping on with that product, maybe changing when the monitor hits 20%. The car had over 50,000 on it when I bought it and I'm continuing to run about 20,000 a year.
I live in a condo which forbids changing your own oil, so going down to Walmart to pick up some Mobil 1 is not in the plans. I can get a Maxlife change with tire rotation for a bit over $30.
Am I being penny wise and pound foolish or should I keep on keeping on?
I note that the upcoming Dexos changes exclude Maxlife but (interestingly) include Durablend. Lots of oil change places in my neighborhood have Maxlife at a very attractive cost. Full synthetics cost a lot more. My assumption was always that MaxLife and Durablend were essentially the same product except for increased seal conditioners.
If I remember correctly, Valvoline was late to the Dexos party and used to state that their product met Dexos standards but that the licensing charge by GM was a ripoff. Since a high portion of Maxlife users are GM products out of warranty, I suspect that they're trying to save licensing. My experience with Maxlife has been very good. No oil usage when running the OLM down to about 10 percent. I'm thinking of keeping on with that product, maybe changing when the monitor hits 20%. The car had over 50,000 on it when I bought it and I'm continuing to run about 20,000 a year.
I live in a condo which forbids changing your own oil, so going down to Walmart to pick up some Mobil 1 is not in the plans. I can get a Maxlife change with tire rotation for a bit over $30.
Am I being penny wise and pound foolish or should I keep on keeping on?
