Valvoline says its SynPower MST 5W-30 (a product on
the market for several years) already meets all the
requirements of General Motors dexos2 and it can be
used in all GM passenger car gasoline and diesel
vehicles.
In addition, Valvoline will introduce an engine oil
that meets the dexos1 specification for
gasoline-only vehicles in the fall of this year.
But, Valvoline does not plan to officially license
dexos for these products. The reason they don't is
reportedly to minimize the cost impact to customers
when they move from GF-4 to dexos licensed engine
oils.
As most in the industry are aware, GM charges a
very significant royalty fee to license dexos1 and
dexos2 engine oil. Understandably, lubricant
marketers will likely pass these fees on to the
consumer if they license dexos.
Whereas Valvoline does not plan to officially
license dexos, they make it clear that Valvoline
stands behind its products and that "the use of
the appropriate Valvoline products for GM vehicle's
will NOT void the vehicle's warranty."
So now the big questions. Will other marketers
take the same position as Valvoline with regards to
dexos? And if they do, what happens to dexos?
Note: dexos1 and dexos2 are General Motors
trademarks.
