So, it seems that as long as I have been here Valvoline does NOT get much love; Pennzoil conventional does. What gives? I'm guessing it's the additive package. Just curious is all as I talked to some older folks that use nothing but Valvoline conventional or MaxLife the whole time of ownership and clean engine they say. Which is a better cleaning oil: Pennzoil conventional, Valvoline conventional or MaxLife. I am curious so please let us all discuss this
Valvoline info
- Thread starter 53' Stude
- Start date
- Status
Valvoline just doesn't have the same amount of money as SOPUS or ExxonMobil. More money sometimes means a better product.
I'll agree on that; but I disagree that the more $$$ doesn't always equate to a better product. I value your opinion and thoughts though sir
In the minds of many consumers, better advertising equals better products.
For me the difference is the additive package...though I can't say if that difference is worth anything.
Valvoline to me seems quite different in the add pack vs. the other major oil brands. Valvoline along with Napa, Shaeffer, RP, Lukoil, Peak, AZ, O'Reilly's, Brad Penn, Mobil 5000, etc. have lighter calcium and moderate sodium. And Valvoline per the PQIA results I've read has essentially no Moly or Boron. The only company I see that uses sodium and either moly/boron is Schaeffer. All the rest stay clear of Mo/Bo. I can only guess that Na plays a similar role to Mo/Bo in those other oils. Fwiw, I'm not a fan of heavy Sodium. I did run Valvoline conventional in my last oil change. Then shifted to PP.
I know others have said you can't judge an oil's performance by its additive numbers. I prefer to stick with the strong Ca, low magnesium, no sodium oils that also have some reasonable Bo/Mo levels....like those put out by Pennz-QS-Shell, some Mobil products like MSS/Mobil 1 0w-40, Castrol, Kendall, Havoline, Chevron, Citgo, etc.
Valvoline to me seems quite different in the add pack vs. the other major oil brands. Valvoline along with Napa, Shaeffer, RP, Lukoil, Peak, AZ, O'Reilly's, Brad Penn, Mobil 5000, etc. have lighter calcium and moderate sodium. And Valvoline per the PQIA results I've read has essentially no Moly or Boron. The only company I see that uses sodium and either moly/boron is Schaeffer. All the rest stay clear of Mo/Bo. I can only guess that Na plays a similar role to Mo/Bo in those other oils. Fwiw, I'm not a fan of heavy Sodium. I did run Valvoline conventional in my last oil change. Then shifted to PP.
I know others have said you can't judge an oil's performance by its additive numbers. I prefer to stick with the strong Ca, low magnesium, no sodium oils that also have some reasonable Bo/Mo levels....like those put out by Pennz-QS-Shell, some Mobil products like MSS/Mobil 1 0w-40, Castrol, Kendall, Havoline, Chevron, Citgo, etc.
I value your opinion sir. Last time I spoke with Thomas at Valvoline tech line: he said they are NOT using Moly or boron cause' they are using other additives and such that are less $$$
Between m1 pp and whatever bulk Toyota and Lexus provides, the valvoline syn actually made the cams quiet down some. Especially while cold. Im going to run it in the is and do a upa on the third oc. I have seen valvoline to reduce iron wear significantly in the jeep 4.0 (uoa). I have high hopes for valvoline, and may use it exclusively if the cars/bikes like it
I reckon Valvoline have some great value products, especially the Durablend range. Some of the best UOIs I've seen, including my best was with Durablend 10w30.
Some people don't like the look of them on paper because of the look of their add pack, but I'm pretty sure Valvoline know what they're doing and it seems to work well
Some people don't like the look of them on paper because of the look of their add pack, but I'm pretty sure Valvoline know what they're doing and it seems to work well
The actual performance of Valvoline conventional versus other conventionals are comparable and there must be some love out there because it is a top 5 seller in the PCMO market every year.
mm! this is a good question op. i use the oil i use because it is cj-4 sn .would i use valvoline if they had a cj-4 sn synthetic oil ( say vetted by cummins? i think i would!) i think we just dont know valvoline !
I like Valvoline but don't use it much because of the sodium add pack. I'm a sucker for SOPUS and all the goodies I can see.
But I've had great results with Valvoline, it tends to be very shear resistant puts out consistently great looking used oil analysis here.
I certainly would sleep well at night with Valvoline in the crankcase. Have used Maxlife pretty much exclusively in the Sebring and the Ranger we had also. Good stuff. Maxlife cleans well, between the sodium and the calcium it has about 2600ppm of cleaners going which is quite high.
I personally think Maxlife blend is Valvolines best oil especially if you consider price.
But I've had great results with Valvoline, it tends to be very shear resistant puts out consistently great looking used oil analysis here.
I certainly would sleep well at night with Valvoline in the crankcase. Have used Maxlife pretty much exclusively in the Sebring and the Ranger we had also. Good stuff. Maxlife cleans well, between the sodium and the calcium it has about 2600ppm of cleaners going which is quite high.
I personally think Maxlife blend is Valvolines best oil especially if you consider price.
KCJEEP: I hear and value your thoughts and advice. Valvoline conventional at $14.87 is dam hard to beat nor is MaxLife blend at $15.88
I must admit I have a soft spot for Valvoline Syn-Blends. They just seem to work well and go the distance every time I use them.
In Oz a few extra dollars does Not buy you a full synthetic. Think $10 more (per 5 L) to take you from a mineral to a synblend, then $20 more again to take you to a full synthetic.
So a good synblend is a good thing.
In Oz a few extra dollars does Not buy you a full synthetic. Think $10 more (per 5 L) to take you from a mineral to a synblend, then $20 more again to take you to a full synthetic.
So a good synblend is a good thing.
Originally Posted By: car51
I value your opinion sir. Last time I spoke with Thomas at Valvoline tech line: he said they are NOT using Moly or boron cause' they are using other additives and such that are less $$$
I'd have to wonder what those EP/AW additives are if they aren't Boron or Moly. Could it be Sodium? I don't think so. And sodium is probably cheaper. And if their "other" additives are indeed cheaper, why haven't their motor oils like Valvoline conventional and Synpower been cheaper than the competition. It seemed to me that Synpower was typically much higher priced that Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, and Quaker State Ultimate Durability in 2015. It wasn't until the past few months that finally Synpower is at the same price levels as those other guys.
Valvoline conventional when not on Rollback at Walmart costs about the same as Castrol GTX, Mobil Super 5000, or Pennzoil Conventional. So where are savings from those cheaper additives? If anything, advertising and marketing drive price a lot more than just additives. I've used Valvoline conventional before. I'm sure it's a good oil. But I'm not willing to use it any longer unless they better list just what the "secret" additives are that no one else is using.
I value your opinion sir. Last time I spoke with Thomas at Valvoline tech line: he said they are NOT using Moly or boron cause' they are using other additives and such that are less $$$
I'd have to wonder what those EP/AW additives are if they aren't Boron or Moly. Could it be Sodium? I don't think so. And sodium is probably cheaper. And if their "other" additives are indeed cheaper, why haven't their motor oils like Valvoline conventional and Synpower been cheaper than the competition. It seemed to me that Synpower was typically much higher priced that Mobil 1, Pennzoil Platinum, and Quaker State Ultimate Durability in 2015. It wasn't until the past few months that finally Synpower is at the same price levels as those other guys.
Valvoline conventional when not on Rollback at Walmart costs about the same as Castrol GTX, Mobil Super 5000, or Pennzoil Conventional. So where are savings from those cheaper additives? If anything, advertising and marketing drive price a lot more than just additives. I've used Valvoline conventional before. I'm sure it's a good oil. But I'm not willing to use it any longer unless they better list just what the "secret" additives are that no one else is using.
To clarify my previous post I meant SOPUS and ExxonMobil have more money into research and development, not just marketing, which means they will always be using and experimenting with the newer more expensive additives first and won't have to cut as many corners with the whole package.
Originally Posted By: 901Memphis
To clarify my previous post I meant SOPUS and ExxonMobil have more money into research and development, not just marketing, which means they will always be using and experimenting with the newer more expensive additives first and won't have to cut as many corners with the whole package.
Does Exxon Mobil make oil additives? They do in partnership with Shell, so Shell would have the same additive available.
I have a document from EXXON that shows various oil formulations using their synthetic base stocks, but the additive packages listed are from Infineum.
Link to get document from EXXON- http://exxonmobilchemical.com/Chem-Engli...ions-guide.aspx
The document shows the EXXON syn base stocks used, PAO. mPAO, AN and esters, in what percentage and what the specs the oil will meet. Interesting reading.
Infineum web site:
http://www.infineuminsight.com/
Established in January 1999, Infineum is a joint venture of two of the most respected names in lubricants and fuels, ExxonMobil and Shell.
To clarify my previous post I meant SOPUS and ExxonMobil have more money into research and development, not just marketing, which means they will always be using and experimenting with the newer more expensive additives first and won't have to cut as many corners with the whole package.
Does Exxon Mobil make oil additives? They do in partnership with Shell, so Shell would have the same additive available.
I have a document from EXXON that shows various oil formulations using their synthetic base stocks, but the additive packages listed are from Infineum.
Link to get document from EXXON- http://exxonmobilchemical.com/Chem-Engli...ions-guide.aspx
The document shows the EXXON syn base stocks used, PAO. mPAO, AN and esters, in what percentage and what the specs the oil will meet. Interesting reading.
Infineum web site:
http://www.infineuminsight.com/
Established in January 1999, Infineum is a joint venture of two of the most respected names in lubricants and fuels, ExxonMobil and Shell.
Last edited:
Valvoline don't seem to spend nearly as much money as for example Mobil on advertising, but their products are great
I would suggest Valvoline might do a bit better at shops than it does in the public eye, at retail. We do need to remember, too, that Valvoline has really expended a great deal of effort with MaxLife, to the point that it may very well be more recognizable than any other Valvoline product.
I think a lot has to do with the marketing. Assuming price is the same, put a bottle of Pennzoil Conventional and Valvoline conventional side-by-side and Pennzoil Conventional will be chosen over Valvoline conventional almost all the time. Ask the average DIYer why they prefer Pennzoil Conventional and they'll probably tell you because it's a better oil even though most won't be able to tell you why it is better.
I've been running Valvoline conventional in the Q for the past 1100 miles. Can't tell any difference whatsoever between that and the FF (presumably the Nissan Ester) I ran for the first 5000 miles.
I've been running Valvoline conventional in the Q for the past 1100 miles. Can't tell any difference whatsoever between that and the FF (presumably the Nissan Ester) I ran for the first 5000 miles.
Agreed. Now, ask half of the semi-literate motoring public (not BITOGers) to name one high mileage motor oil, and if they can, it'll probably be MaxLife.
- Status
Similar threads
- Locked