Valvoline NextGen Q&A

[wwillson]

Hello BITOG members from the team at Valvoline:

As most of you probably know, last year Valvoline introduced NextGen. The first premium motor oil made from 50% recycled base stock. We’ve seen some very interesting conversations taking place around here and we would love to be a part of it, hear your thoughts and gain the perspective of the guys who really know their way around a drain plug... you. After all, when there's big news in oil, the BITOG community are the opinion leaders.

Beginning today you may have noticed a special Q&A session to collect questions about Valvoline NextGen. Please keep the thread on subject and only post questions about Valvoline NextGen.

As a thank you for your participation, we’d like to send ANY member of the BITOG community who participates in our Q & A session an offer for 5 quarts of Valvoline NextGen, at no cost to you, after mail-in rebate. (Offer link will be emailed to BITOG members directly by Valvoline).

Please understand that there will be some questions that we will not be able to answer. For example, we can't divulge any proprietary information. And please, don’t comment or speculate on the products of our competitors as we do not want to turn this into a grudge match.

Our team consists of ASE Certified Technicians, formulators, engineers and marketers from our R&D group. And like we said, some of our team are already BITOG members, so LET THE QUESTIONS BEGIN!

And thank you!

Regards,
Team Valvoline

PLEASE NOTE: if you participate in the Q&A session, BITOG will send your email address to Valvoline in order for Valvoline to send you the mail-in rebate offer. If you do not want your email shared, then please PM wwillson and state that you do not want your email address shared with Valvoline.

Answers have been posted here: http://www.bobistheoilguy.com/valvoline-qa/

Wayne

 

[NosajM]

The only way I see this product surving is if costs less than a "virgin" product. Being green and recycling is great. But what will make the sale with the majority of folks is if it saves some green in their wallets.

 

[moklock]

My only issue with NextGen has been trying a mail-in rebate on it. AAP has/had a $20 card rebate on a 5.1 qt. jug that I submitted twice now and was denied for no decent reason. Sorry but I don't think ill purchase again it again just for that reason.

 

[BrownBox88]

Is the nextgen maxlife better than regular maxlife?

 

[jim302]

First, I'd like to thank Valvoline for sponsoring the forum and opening up a Q&A session.

Why is NextGen only based on 50% recycled oil? Is this intended to increase customer confidence in a new type of product (in other words, are consumers more comfortable with a product that has some new oil)? Is this because of limitations in the re-refining process that may impact the quality of the end product? Is there limited availability of recycled/re-refined oil to introduce a 100% recycled product to the mass market?

 

[08sienna]

I've had a question since I first learned about your Nextgen products - Do you set the quality target of Nextgen products exactly same as that of premium conventional/red bottle maxlife? or do you target either higher or lower?

Thanks.

 

[spasm3]

Will there be any plans for nextgen oils for outdoor power equipment I.E. straight 30 weights. Any nextgen diesel oil, Motorcycle oils planned?

 

[NHGUY]

Does it cost more to reclaim the old oils and restore them to be usable again than just using virgin base stocks...and if so,how is this product expected to ever succeed selling for less-than premium prices? At what point will Valvoline/Ashland pull the plug?

 

[tomcat27]

Many of us at BITOG are very passionate about using synthetic oils to extend our oil change intervals beyond 3000 miles. Is it possible/are there plans to have a synthetic variant of NextGen?

PS: Thanks for bringing the product to market! You currently have some fantastic marketing/advertising around the product!

 

[JasonC]

Are the contents of the recycled oil made up of strictly Valvoline products or are they a mix of everyone's? Also, since 50% of the oil is recycled is there a chance that some of the recycled oil is actually a Group 3 or higher Synthetic?

 

[08sienna]

[question#2] This might become a very silly question but,
It seems that most of members here in BITOG believe that molybdenum metal element is such a superior agent for engine protection, at the same time people hate to see lots of sodium in their oil (for some unclear reasons)
Are you aware of that? Are you willing to provide any explanation about your additive formulation to convince us?

Thank you

 

[Loobed]

Thank you for this Q&A session

Since I don't know what you will and will not answer, I shall ask several questions. (Feel free to reformat my questions if they do not sound right)

1) Is NextGen re-refined (or what ever the process is called) at one central location (refinery), or at several different locations (refineries) throughout the U.S., and then processed into the finished product at Valvoline?

2) Where do you get the used oil to re-refine; Only from Valvoline lube shops, or as a commodity from any oil recovery service.

3) Since NextGen is made from recycled oil, and since some people use synthetic oil in their vehicles which will get recycled with conventional oil, does NextGen contain a small percentage of synthetic base stock, or does the re-refining process remove the small amount of synthetic base stock in the recycled oil?

4) Will you be coming out with a NextGen Diesel oil, or NextGen automatic transmission fluid (ATF) in the future? Many people use diesel oil in motorcycles.

5) Older Maxlife was a synthetic blend. Is NextGen Maxlife also a synthetic blend?
(note: I don't think 75,000 miles is high mileage)


I wish Valvoline a lot of success with their NextGen line of motor oils.

 

[cancov]

Thank you for our website sponsorship and this Q&A. I commend the effort and reasons behind Valvoline NextGen and have no reserve using it in any applicable application.

Most of us here at BITOG understand and commend the recycling process that reformats the used motor oil into the 50% aspect of NextGen. What is the initial market outlook for the average consumer? Has it been accepted as a dutiful complement to Valvoline conventional that has a loyal customer base?

 

[Loobed]

Can you tell us what process is used to re-refine the used oil?

Do they use the same equipment that is used to refine crude oil, or is their a separate facility that only processes used oil and not crude oil?


I would like to know if the rebate also includes MaxLife NextGen? I don't mind paying the difference between the Maxlife and the regular NextGen.

 

[Garak]

One question: When will it become available (or more widely available) in Canada?

 

[LoganC]

The oil that is recycled is it just any old brand of oil or do you only use Valvoline oil that has been used?

 

[HTSS_TR]

Recycle oil bin at auto parts stores and quick lubes may contain other fluids such as ATF, gear fluid, brake fluid, coolant ... How do I know that NextGen has only oil based fluid and not other fluids ? This is the main reason I didn't buy any NexGen oil yet, even when there were good rebates so that the cost per quart was less than $1.

 

[volk06]

It has been mentioned that recycled engine oil is more pure due being refined again. Is there any truth to that?

Do you know what type,weight, brand of oil when you receive it? Since there can be numerous base oils in the used oil, how can you separate them out? How can you be certain nextgen is 100% conventioal oil and not part synthetic?

 

[Billbert]

What is the percentage of group 3 in the nextgen maxlife?

 

[JavierG]

Thank you for bringing such fine products to market. Any plans to make a NextGen Synpower product? Also, why is it so difficult to find 5W-20 in the 5 quart jugs in stores like O'Reilly and Autozone?