Why are Chevron/Havoline Syns so hard to find?

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I've always been a fan of the Chevron/Havoline family, using both Chevron Supreme and Havoline conventional quite often in the past. I was curious to know if anyone had a clue as to why the Chevron Delo 400 LE Synthetics and Chevron Full Synthetics, specifically their 0w30 and 5w40, and also the Delo 400 conventional 10w30 are so difficult to find at retail outlets? Has anyone ever seen them on the shelf anywhere, or do they have to be specially ordered through a distributor? If you have seen them at a retail store, then which ones? Also, what about the Havoline Synthetic Blend and Havoline Full Synthetics? I've never seen those in person either.

The Product Data Sheets show all of these to be extremely good looking competitive oils. I did notice that their Delo 0w30 is only SJ rated, but their Delo 5w40 and Delo conventional 10w30 are both SM. Also, it is clear from the numbers that the Chevron Supreme Synthetics and Havoline Synthetics are the exact same oils but it's interesting to see they only offer the 0w20 under the Havoline name.

I'm puzzled as to why I can't buy these easily? Why wouldn't Chevron want to make them as accessible as their 15w40 that I see everywhere?

Chevron Delo 400 LE Synthetic 0w30: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=77115&docFormat=PDF

Chevron Delo 400 LE Synthetic 5w40: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=324992&docFormat=PDF

Chevron Delo 400 LE 10w30: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=322985&docFormat=PDF

Havoline Synthetic Blend 5w30 and 10w30: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=310593&docFormat=PDF

Havoline Full Synthetic 0w20, 5w20, 5w30, 5w40, 10w30: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=310592&docFormat=PDF

Chevron Full Synthetic 5w20, 5w30, 5w40, 10w30: https://cglapps.chevron.com/msdspds/PDSDetailPage.aspx?docDataId=313625&docFormat=PDF
 
I totally agree with you as I cannot seem to find them here in the Phoenix area other than the 5w40 at the Costco Business Center. I really want to use the Havoline Syn in my cars. If anyone knows of a place in Phoenix, please let me know.
 
Low demand and they couldn't compete against the well known brand name oils in Syn and Syn Blends.

When AAP got rid of Havoline Syn, Syn Blend and HM oil... I was lucky to buy about 110 quarts of oil for 49 cents each.
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OReillys carries some Chevron oil in Southern California...not that it helps you.

I found a fairly close Chevron distributor that sells all products at a very fair price. I have to pick them up, but it really is not that bad.

I believe Atlanta has both Chevron and Havoline distributors?
 
I think buster's probably right. We have a Chevron refinery here in Hawaii, but that doesn't translate to a wide availability of Chevron oils in the marketplace. For example, I bought a case (6 gallons) of Delo LE 10W-30 from the distributor and had to wait 6 weeks for delivery. It was a special order. I've seen a few cases Delo 5W-40 in the warehouse, but they were a special order for another customer. I haven't seen any Havoline-branded motor oil here nor Chevron synthetics. Retailers have plenty of Chevron dino PCMO on hand, though.
 
My FIL is a texaco and now chevron distributor in the USVI. He orders any product he needs, on a need basis to stock.

But the big box stores, it seems to me, do it by the known brands in the area. Take wal-mart, they seem to have trop arctic in areas where 66 is big. Ive never seen it around in the mid-atlantic region.

Chevron HDEO is one thing, it is one of the big three and known coast to coast... But in an area of the country where there is no such thing as a chevron station, I can understand why the oil doesnt exist anywhere. I'd imagine that in "chevron country", whereever that is, I suppose somewhere west of here, their products may be more available from small to large stores.
 
Originally Posted By: LT4 Vette
Low demand and they couldn't compete against the well known brand name oils in Syn and Syn Blends.

When AAP got rid of Havoline Syn, Syn Blend and HM oil... I was lucky to buy about 110 quarts of oil for 49 cents each.
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Well rub it in why don't you.
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We have a Chevron refinery in town too, and the only place you can find Chevron lubes is in their gas stations. Even that is usually just 5W30 and 10W30 dino/syn plus 15W40. Never seen anything at Walmart or any big chains, though one local auto chain stocks Havoline.
 
Just because there is a refinery doesnt mean that lube oils are produced there.
 
I asked the same question the other day about Sunoco branded oils. Never see them. But why we don't see any Delo other than dino 15w-40 is a bigger mystery. 15w-40 is widely available, but I don't ever recall seeing any of the others except at some specialty marine stores. You might want to look at truck specialists or places that specialize on working on marine diesels. Why bother to produce these products if they aren't marketed and distributed? Somebody must be buying them somewhere.
 
Most of the Chevron Delo synthetic and the Valvoline HDMO in synthetic are most likely being used by the armed forces and military overseas. Lots of diesel trucks and the lube is great for ships and aircraft. Most likely that is why it can't be found on the retail level.
 
The Fred Meyers here in the Nothwest, carry a bunch of Chevron High Mileage and Syn. Well, the ones around in the Portland area does, I'm not sure about the rest.
 
The same scarcity applies to the Shell Rotella synthetic oils in the 5W-40 class. These oils are so good, that the military has first dibs on the procurement for their equipment.
 
The oil jobber here { Redding Calif] . Stocks 10w-30 Delo 400 . They have sales areas around here in the high deserts and mountains where it gets cold at wintertime.
 
Originally Posted By: mongo161
The same scarcity applies to the Shell Rotella synthetic oils in the 5W-40 class. These oils are so good, that the military has first dibs on the procurement for their equipment.
Walmart in Redding and Anderson [about ten miles apart] and Tractor supply almost always have Rotella 5w-40 on the shelves. Seems the military uses the lowest price bidder? Or the company that lobbie$ the be$t.
 
I wish I could answer your question but I have no idea either. I have used Havoline dino for years and it can be found easily here in NC but you can forget about the high mileage or synthetics. Chevron can be found but you really have to look for it since it's not sold at Wal-Mart or any of the parts stores. I think I've seen some at Sam's Club and Roses discount stores but that's it.
 
Originally Posted By: mongo161
The same scarcity applies to the Shell Rotella synthetic oils in the 5W-40 class. These oils are so good, that the military has first dibs on the procurement for their equipment.


US Military in combat theaters generally madates non-synthetic lubes.
 
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