Valvoline MaxLife - Full Synthetic

[robl]

I have been reading on this site about Valvoline Maxlife Full Synthetic, which I have been using for awhile now. I have been seeing all the issues about "group III or group this and that" and was curious about what it all meant. I sent an email to Valvoline about what group their Maxlife is considered, etc.
I got this back:

Thank you for your message. Valvoline uses a mixture of various base oils
designed to provide the maximum performance for our MaxLife Synthetic. All
of the base fluids used in MaxLife are 100% synthetic and considered trade
secrets for competitive reasons.

Some synthetic fluids are produced through a synthesis process that takes
very small molecules and assemble them into larger designer molecules with
premium lubricating properties. Others may be produced through a synthesis
process that takes very large molecules, breaks them apart and re-arranges
them to produce designer molecules with premium lubricating properties. In
either case the end products are base fluids with extremely good
lubricating properties. However, all of them also carry with them certain
inherent disadvantages.

**Now, from all this, is the maxlife a group xx oil? Also what is a group I, II, II, etc. what is the best?

Again thanks all for this site, I love it! Good Work!

 

[RSica]

Hi robl

Maxlife full synthetic is primarily Group III petroleum(Hydrocracked/Isomerized) base oil with a percentage(20-30%)of GroupIV PAO in the blend. This is a very good oil for the money. Check out the UOA's posted here and many positive comments from BITOGER's.
Best regards,

Randi

 

[dave1251]

Quote:

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Hi robl

Maxlife full synthetic is primarily Group III petroleum(Hydrocracked/Isomerized) base oil with a percentage(20-30%)of GroupIV PAO in the blend. This is a very good oil for the money. Check out the UOA's posted here and many positive comments from BITOGER's.
Best regards,

Randi

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Where is the PAO in maxlife synthetic? the MSDS that I found on the valvoline website does not list it. The MSDS shows it for Maxlife conventional. Tallpaul was going to investgate more into this. Until he finds out otherwise I consider it is a group III synthetic. With other bases used for a carrier or maybe a tad of ester for seal swell.

 

[2KBMW]

Robl. Valvoline Maxlife synthetic is now available in
Canada and I'm so happy.

I now have another oil that meets the BMW LL-98/LL-01
specs. to choose from. This oil supposed to have more
grp.4 PAO than the regular maxlife.

 

[TallPaul]

Quote:

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Tallpaul was going to investgate more into this.

---

Oops, slipped my agenda. I'll get on it Monday morning. Sorry.

 

[dave1251]

Tallpaul. It's ok. I know you will get to the bottom of this.

 

[Triple_Se7en]

Unless you get it in writing - with a name at the bottom, then it's hard to believe anything oil techs (or others) say for gospel - when caling for info by phone.

If's it's not PAO-listed there at the Valvoline website, then it probably doesn't exist.

I have two OCIs of Maxlife Synthetic waiting to be used in 2007 and 2008. Paul may not get a "real/trustworthy answer" - since most are annonymous replies. Most UOAs I've read here all seem to complain about excess oil consumption. Same with Synpower and Durablend.

Good oil... just keep an eye on the dipstick.

 

[TallPaul]

I emailed them a few weeks ago and they have not gotten back to me. I called a week later and actually go the guy who fielded the email to the tech folks. Said he would check on it. Guess I better call back again.

 

[Challenger71]

I was thinking that with Maxlife Synth meeting such stringent specifications (API SL/SJ, ACEA A3/B3/B4, BMW LL01/98, VW502.00/505.00, MB229.3/229.1) that it would at the very least contain a modest percentage of PAO. Am I correct in assuming this?

Quote:

---

Robl. Valvoline Maxlife synthetic is now available in
Canada and I'm so happy.

I now have another oil that meets the BMW LL-98/LL-01
specs. to choose from. This oil supposed to have more
grp.4 PAO than the regular maxlife.

---

 

[Rob Taggs]

I'm not debating that with some there is burnoff with this oil. I can state that I've used all of the Valvoline oils and never had any burn off issues at all. I do get an increase in milage when using Valvoline Synpower and Valvoline Duralube.