Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Greasymechtech
Doesn't need to be licensed as Maxlife, Amsoil, Peak, Mag1, Lubegard, Redline, Amalie, and numerous others make synth Dex6 equivalents.
If you stick with a licensed DexVI, there are several that are full synthetic and are the ones that I'd recommend since you're paying a premium for that license.
Your reply has some serious inaccuracies.. As with a lot of your posts, your information is clearly derived from marketing information and your own personal bias towards using aftermarket parts whenever possible.
The Dexron-VI licensing program is critical because it assures that the fluid provides the proper performance and durability for every application that Dexron-VI is called for. The additive package specifies certain base oil blends. However the performance of the final formulations will all be very similar. WhiteWolf has formulation experience and can comment further.
With a 3rd party fluid that is unlicensed, you are relying on the small blenders and the additive mfg to do the testing. Do you REALLY think their fluid was tested in every vehicle/Trans/application that it is recommended for? Think about the available financial resources of each party.
If you think about this situation logically, the choice should be very clear.
It just seems like you're making an assumption that a fluid cannot pass the dex requirements without being licensed, which isn't true. The requirement a set of criteria a fluid must pass, the license is a logo a corporation says you can paint on your bottles. Presumably having the logo means you meet the requirement, but not having it doesn't mean you don't.
I'm sure it's within Valvoline's capabilities to make a licensed Dex VI product. The fact they recommend it without being licensed wouldn't shy me away. Same with the Dexos spec and Ashland products. If that makes you or the OP want to shop elsewhere I certainly wouldn't find that odd, but at the same time I wouldn't go out chastising those who choose otherwise.