A little info on Valvoline 's 300k guarantee
09-10-2009, 05:04 PM
#1
A little info on Valvoline 's 300k guarantee
as some Oil company are finally offering a few extended drain
lubricants, the 3,000-mile oil drain mindset still dominates
the industry. Valvoline, for example, has reinforced
that recently with its introduction of its Valvoline
Engine Guarantee program. Essentially, this program
guarantees an engine for up to 300,000 miles if Valvoline
motor oil is used. Impressive on the surface, but there
is a little more to it than that. Valvoline attached some
qualifiers. First and foremost, the Valvoline motor oil,
along with the oil filter, must be changed every 3,000
miles throughout the duration of the program. Qualified
vehicles must be registered prior to reaching 75,000
miles, Valvoline motor oil must be used for at least 18
months prior to registration and no vehicles older than
1990 models qualify. Diesel powered vehicles don’t
qualify for the program, nor do vehicles used for racing,
vehicles over 10,000 pounds or vehicles with modifi ed
engines. That’s understandable.
Valvoline has further qualified the program contingent
on the type of oil used. To gain the 300,000-mile
coverage consumers must use one of Valvoline’s full
synthetic products. Using a Valvoline synthetic blend
carries the coverage to 225,000 miles and a Valvoline
conventional oil carries it to 150,000 miles.
To be sure, Valvoline has done its homework. Very
few, if any, claims will ultimately be paid. On the low
end, 150,000 miles is virtually no stretch for today’s
engines. On the high end, very few motorists drive the
same vehicle for 300,000 miles, and the guarantee is
not transferable. There is no question that the profi ts
are there for Valvoline. Assuming a motorist drives
15,000 miles per year it would take 20 years, driving the
same vehicle, to reach 300,000 miles. That’s 20 years at
five oil changes per year. That’s a lot of Valvoline motor
oil sold.
Clearly, the push behind the Valvoline program is
profit, and a person can’t fault Valvoline for that. We
are all in this business to make money. What you can
fault Valvoline for, and all others who continue to support
3,000-mile oil change intervals, is their irresponsibility
in regard to consumers and the environment.
To be sure, way too much money is being wasted on
unnecessary oil changes, and way too much used oil is
being generated.
lubricants, the 3,000-mile oil drain mindset still dominates
the industry. Valvoline, for example, has reinforced
that recently with its introduction of its Valvoline
Engine Guarantee program. Essentially, this program
guarantees an engine for up to 300,000 miles if Valvoline
motor oil is used. Impressive on the surface, but there
is a little more to it than that. Valvoline attached some
qualifiers. First and foremost, the Valvoline motor oil,
along with the oil filter, must be changed every 3,000
miles throughout the duration of the program. Qualified
vehicles must be registered prior to reaching 75,000
miles, Valvoline motor oil must be used for at least 18
months prior to registration and no vehicles older than
1990 models qualify. Diesel powered vehicles don’t
qualify for the program, nor do vehicles used for racing,
vehicles over 10,000 pounds or vehicles with modifi ed
engines. That’s understandable.
Valvoline has further qualified the program contingent
on the type of oil used. To gain the 300,000-mile
coverage consumers must use one of Valvoline’s full
synthetic products. Using a Valvoline synthetic blend
carries the coverage to 225,000 miles and a Valvoline
conventional oil carries it to 150,000 miles.
To be sure, Valvoline has done its homework. Very
few, if any, claims will ultimately be paid. On the low
end, 150,000 miles is virtually no stretch for today’s
engines. On the high end, very few motorists drive the
same vehicle for 300,000 miles, and the guarantee is
not transferable. There is no question that the profi ts
are there for Valvoline. Assuming a motorist drives
15,000 miles per year it would take 20 years, driving the
same vehicle, to reach 300,000 miles. That’s 20 years at
five oil changes per year. That’s a lot of Valvoline motor
oil sold.
Clearly, the push behind the Valvoline program is
profit, and a person can’t fault Valvoline for that. We
are all in this business to make money. What you can
fault Valvoline for, and all others who continue to support
3,000-mile oil change intervals, is their irresponsibility
in regard to consumers and the environment.
To be sure, way too much money is being wasted on
unnecessary oil changes, and way too much used oil is
being generated.
09-10-2009, 05:14 PM
#3
4th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Virginia
Posts: 1,216
yeah i'm not suprised, nothing is what it seems, the last thing i heard about something good, i laughed. EVERYTHING is a scam or to good to be true these days.. i don't even waste the time. the money i spend on the oil i could have a built motor put it in for another hard strong 100k.
10-10-2009, 09:06 AM
#6
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: TX
Posts: 4,897
Agreed. VERY irresponsible but whatever. Don't buy valvoline. I wouldn't.
I'm at 40k miles and have swapped my oil filter with Amsoil sig series 0w-30 and filter ~5 times @ $85 per change. The first two changes were @3-5k and the last three around 10k. $425...my car runs like new and performs like new. When I removed the valve covers to swap my cam phaser bolts it looked like new and the cams had marginal if not zero wear.
By 100k I'll have invested $1k in maintenance but I'll probably still have another 50-100k in engine life. It's worth it to me.
I'm at 40k miles and have swapped my oil filter with Amsoil sig series 0w-30 and filter ~5 times @ $85 per change. The first two changes were @3-5k and the last three around 10k. $425...my car runs like new and performs like new. When I removed the valve covers to swap my cam phaser bolts it looked like new and the cams had marginal if not zero wear.
By 100k I'll have invested $1k in maintenance but I'll probably still have another 50-100k in engine life. It's worth it to me.
10-23-2009, 03:06 AM
#7
Multi-Tasking Moderator!
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Detroit Rock City!
Posts: 15,618
I only change my oil in the stang in the sig once a yr!!!!!!! My DD gets 2-3 times a yr.
I am not surprised at Valvoline but feel (like others have stated) that it is very irresponsible for any business or car owner to push something that will hurt the amt of fossil fuel we have 50 yrs from now esp when it is not necessary to change oil at 3000 miles/3months
I am not surprised at Valvoline but feel (like others have stated) that it is very irresponsible for any business or car owner to push something that will hurt the amt of fossil fuel we have 50 yrs from now esp when it is not necessary to change oil at 3000 miles/3months
11-02-2009, 10:52 PM
#9
2nd Gear Member
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: CA
Posts: 229
So your saying, you guys don't change oil at 3000.. Exuse me for being a noob and most likely an ignorant one at that.. But I thought 3000/ every three months, was standard practice. Long as i don't use water to clean out my crank case I should be fine..
11-04-2009, 10:47 AM
#10
5th Gear Member
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Wheeling, IL
Posts: 3,748
I wouldn't use anything but Royal Purple(possibly giving Amsoil a Shot one day) especially not Valvoline.
No oil is guaranteed for anything.
I went 7200 Miles and 7 months on 6 Quarts of Royal Purple. I got every drop of 6 Quarts back, and the oil came out a medium Brown. The Purple dye is gone after about 100 miles, so don't let that fool ya.
Anyhow, Don't go with Valvoline. Get Amsoil, Mobile 1, Royal Purple, Shaeffer Oil, etc.
No oil is guaranteed for anything.
I went 7200 Miles and 7 months on 6 Quarts of Royal Purple. I got every drop of 6 Quarts back, and the oil came out a medium Brown. The Purple dye is gone after about 100 miles, so don't let that fool ya.
Anyhow, Don't go with Valvoline. Get Amsoil, Mobile 1, Royal Purple, Shaeffer Oil, etc.