jeff49

The picture above is of a poster hanging up in my son's shop. He is a lube tech at a valvoline full service shop. The poster shows that valvoline's synthetic oil has 4 times as much protection as mobil 1. Have any of you guys switched to valvoline oil or heard of this same study?

blacksedan87

I haven't had any personal experience with Valvoline synthetic, as long as it meets GM4718M (which is the Corvette standard), and says so on the bottle, I'd have no issue with using it.

I always wonder, though....how does Valvoline quantify their claim?

LoneStarFRC

If that's the Valvoline racing oil, I'm thinking the "4x" thing has to do with the amount of ZDDP additive. If it's 4 times the amount in Mobil 1 then it's easy to document.

That can be a little misleading though as our roller lifter LS engines don't need high ZDDP levels. The ZDDP is critical for the flat tappet guys on a new engine break-in.

my6thvette

I looked at a bottle of Valvoline synthetic and although it claims 4X the protection of Mobile 1, there is no mention of the GM4718M standard.

El Zappo

Valvoline is not on the current list of GM4718M Registered Products. Not saying that it is not as good, or maybe even better, just that it's not on GM's approved list.

Current List:

76 Super Synthectic Motor Oil: 5w-30,10w-30
AC Delco Full Synthetic: 5w-30
Castrol SLX Professional 4718: 5w-30
Chevron Supreme Synthetic: 5w-30, 10w-30
CITGO SUPERGUARD Synthetic: 5w30, 10w-30
Kendall GT-1 Ultimate Synthectic Motor Oil: 5w-30, 10w-30
Mobil 1: 0w-30, 5w-30, 10w-30
Northland, SynergySynthetic: 5w-30
Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic: 5w-30, 10w-30
Q Horsepower: 5w-30, 10w-30
Texaco Havoline Synthetic: 5w-30, 10w-30
Valvoline SynPower: 5w-30

dobewillie

castrol is my choice if Mobile1 isn't available

travelingypsye

No Royal Purple either....

Munch

Does GM go out and test all the oils out there or do the manufacturers submit their oils and ask to be GM registered?

blacksedan87

I would imagine GM publishes the requirements to meet the standards, and the oil companies choose whether or not to produce products that meet or exceed the standards. One the product satisfies the requirement, I would think that the companies provide evidence as such and then they are allowed to state that they meet or exceed the standard.

And BTW - I didn't see any of the Amsoil products on the list, and I know that they meet or exceed the standard, and state this fact on all of their literature and the bottles.

El Zappo

It seems to me it would be beneficial for Amsoil to get on the registered list. I wonder why they don't?

LoneStarFRC

The oil companies have to pay big bucks to API and/or GM to get their respective oils tested and approved. I think the actual protocols for a particular standard, GM 4718M in this case, are not secret to the best of my knowledge, but in order for the "meets GM 4718M" claim to stated on the container itself, requires the payments of very large bucks. It seems to be sort of like a patent or copyright type thing. If GM owns the rights to the standard, then anyone wanting "approval" must pay. Pay big. Just meeting or exceeding the standard is not good enough. They must pay.

BTW Amsoil, which I personally like very much does not have any statements on the bottle that claims it meets the standard. On the bottles of Signature Series 100% Synthetic 0W-30 (which is the very best oil Amsoil produces for cars/light trucks) it says:

"Recommended for applications requiring the following:

SAE 0W-30 API SM/CF, SL, SJ...
ILSAC GF-4,3...ACEA A5/B5-04 - GM 4718M, 6094M, etc, etc

"Recommended" (by Amsoil in this case) is very different from having the words "Meets or exceeds GM 4718M, etc...."

Also note, there is no API emblem (starburst or otherwise). I think Red Line and Royal Purple do the same thing. It's a legal thing.

HTH

bencini231

I like to stay with what come with the car,unless i decide "build" the motor then i might change to something else. Thats just my opinion.

blacksedan87

Robert - I am pretty sure that I saw the GM4781M standard on the bottle of Amsoil at SEMA this year. It could be new labeling....

I know that Amsoil's literature and their website states compliance with the GM4718M standard - here's a quote from their site -

http://www.amsoil.net/storefront/atm.aspx

itzza427

Well the Valvoline IS a full synthetic,,and the price is much better at wally world,,,has me thinking about it!!! Might try it next change!!

LoneStarFRC

Hey I hear ya Randy, and I think what is going on is that Amsoil is able to say (legally) that they recommend it for vehicles needing those standards. The key is AMSOIL "recommending". They just can't make a (legal) claim to "meets or exceeds" on their bottles and can't use the API logo without a license. Red Line also does not show their products meeting the API standards as they too would have to pay API for a license to do so. It seems Royal Purple may have paid API for licensing on some of their products.

In the case of GM 4718M (and many other "specs"), it's all about the money.

04 commemorative

I use Mobil 1 in all 3 cars 2000 Blazer which just turned 190K...96 Maxima with 36K and of course my 04 Vette with 16K. I attribute the trouble free 190K on the Blazer (engine wise that is) to using it. Only thing on or in the engine I have changed so far are the plugs/wires/hoses ! It even has the factory exhaust !

rws.1

Most oil that "meets" a certain spec is never tested by anyone.
Additive companies (Lubrizol, Ethyl etc) test their additives in a number of standard basestocks.

They then sell an additive package to the Oil Companies that they certify when blended with the basestock that the oil company claims to use will pass the tests necessary to meet a spec like GM4718M.

An oil company can ask for a "meets" or "exceeds" additive package.

I suspect that Mobil 1 bought an additive package that "meets" while Valvoline bought an additive package that "exeeds"

10U 99

it's called marketing

7thgeneration

Long story short... when I owned a 77 Corvette I used to use Quaker State. Just for the heck of it I put in Valvoline because it was on sale. This was regular dino oil back then. Well I don't know what made me do it but after I changed it and went for a drive I took off the oil cap and peered into the valve cover, well brother there was so much foam in there you would have thought I put a cup of laundry detergent in there ! I immediately went out and purchased Quaker State and a fresh oil filter and drained out the Valvoline and have never purchased any since ! Moral of the story ? If it isn't broke don't fix it ! I just can't get past the memory of that foam to purchase anything they make.

jrose7004

I'm using Mobil 1 in all 3 of my cars that require synthetic motor oils and I never have any trouble finding it. So I think I'll stick with it.