Valvoline becomes the first major lubes producer to shun GM's Dexos™ licencing.
Newsletters and blogs have been buzzing with the news that Valvoline is not intending to licence its forthcoming motor oil product range for GM's Dexos™ specification. This does not mean, according to Valvoline, that the products won't meet the specification requirements.
Valvoline claim its existing SynPower MST 5W-30 products for both petrol and diesel vheicles is already at Dexos2™ spec, with a new product set for launch in the autumn for petrol engines only which will meet Dexos1™ as well as the new ILSAC GF-5 standard.
As reported recently in the OATS Resource Centre, GM intend to use licence fees from lubes producers to develop the Dexos spec, as well as launching their own Dexos brand. However, according to Lubes News Valvoline has baulked at the potential licencing cost which it believes will have to be passed on to consumers, as well as the automaker's decision to distance itself from the GF-5 standards.
Valvoline is adamant that using its new products will not invalidate any warranties on GM vehicles. Comments on blog sites are mixed, with some supporting Valvoline's decisions, while others are sceptical about the oil producers motives and product quality in meeting the spec.