Valvoline and NAPA Exactly The Same?

[PontiacHO]

I’m sure that this question has been posted before so I’ll ask forgiveness first...
I did a quick search and after three pages of threads didn’t find the answer.

Has there been an actual lab result showing that Valvoline and NAPA oils are exactly the same?

I’m in my 60s and recall our NAPA sales rep 20 years ago stating that there was no difference so we bought several skids fo NAPA oil for the Fleet. It was a darker oil and smelled different. Not the scientific test to prove or disprove but there was the before mentioned diffences.

Could save a few bucks if it’s truly the same...

Otherewise It’s still going to be Valvoline poured in my vehicles.

 

[UncleDave]

To a large degree yes at least 0W-20 was. Someone posted a used oil analysis here to this effect.

Valvoline is the OEM for Napa and the formulations although not absolutely identical are very close.

Close enough for the differences to be largely irrelevant.

 

[PontiacHO]

I think that the “differences” makes me question the chemistry. Is it a weaker blend? Seems it would cost more to reblend vs just re-bottle the two???

 

[UncleDave]

I think that the “differences” makes me question the chemistry. Is it a weaker blend? Seems it would cost more to reblend vs just re-bottle the two???

Didnt appear that way, but 100% identical its not.

Nor would any other major oil rated the same sn/ sn+ be identical.

You cant get a true pict of base oil %, formulations, and specific additives from a used oil analysis anyway so you dont really know what makes valvoline special.

Curious when you say weaker what are you referring to?

 

[PimTac]

Made by Valvoline doesn’t equate to being the same.

 

[AJB0009]

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/threads/napa-full-synthetic.334872/
It is SP and GF-6, so I’d say that it could be used with confidence in most applications.
Edit: ...and D1G2...

 

[UncleDave]

I would agree one can run any legitimately rated oil with confidence, but the OP doenst seem to feel that way.

 

[AutoMechanic]

It says on the bottle Formulated by Valvoline so it’s probably not exactly the same but I’d guess close I just picked up a whole bunch. It meets all the ratings so it must be ok to use.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

To a large degree yes at least 0W-20 was. Someone posted a used oil analysis here to this effect.

Valvoline is the OEM for Napa and the formulations although not absolutely identical are very close.

Close enough for the differences to be largely irrelevant.

Yes but oh goodness only the sniff test can tell for sure ask Joe!

 

[aquariuscsm]

According to Valvoline via email, no.

 

[AJB0009]

I would agree one can run any legitimately rated oil with confidence, but the OP doenst seem to feel that way.

I hear ya'. And that's fine, to each his own. Whatever floats his boat.

 

[UncleDave]

I hear ya'. And that's fine, to each his own. Whatever floats his boat.

Agreed on choice and preference as well sir!

There is what I WILL run, and what I PREFER to run.

Valvoline is good stuff.

 

[PontiacHO]

I guess for less than 10 bucks more per oil change I’ll stick with Valvoline. Thanks for responding.

 

[02zx9r rev2]

I guess for less than 10 bucks more per oil change I’ll stick with Valvoline. Thanks for responding.

Either one will give you many many thousands of miles with no problem

 

[SR5]

If you go the the GM Dexos web page
https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos1/index.html

Napa and Valvoline have different licence numbers

 

[ddown]

Since when did GM set the international standards on OILs?

 

[oldhp]

I used to work for NAPA. My customers had asked this very question. I called the Valvoline tech line, told them why I was calling. I was put through to a specialist. "She" said they can't be exactly the same because of marketing. But. While in the lab they are just a little different, in your engine they are basically the same. Hope this helps.

 

[PontiacHO]

If you go the the GM Dexos web page
https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos1/index.html

Napa and Valvoline have different licence numbers

That’s telling in my opinion. Kendall and Phillips 66 have the same license number.

correction- no it’s not.

 

[PimTac]

That’s telling in my opinion. Kendall and Phillips 66 have the same license number.

It was mentioned in another of these Valvoline/NAPA threads that the add pack might be the same but a different base oil formulation.

 

[SR5]

That’s telling in my opinion. Kendall and Phillips 66 have the same license number.

Yes, that is how I see it. If one oil came out of the production tap into two different bottles, then they may be branded differently but they would both carry the same Dexos number.

Two numbers to me means two different formulations needed testing to get their Dexos license. We don’t know how they differ, it could be the add pack or it could be the base oil mix.

Either way, they both did pass, which is the important bit.