Marketing Hype or true fact?

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Valvoline is the #1 choice of ASE Certified Master Automobile Technicians, and they recommend Valvoline to their customers, family and friends.
 
Marketing, Just like every other oil company has. Nothing wrong with that though, They have to sell product too.
 
I think they probably did a survey among ASE techs and said of those they surveyed, Valvoline was the most chosen brand amongst them.

It's true marketing hype.
 
I'm not ASE certifed yet, however, I have been pleased with Valvoline because:
I used the original Maxlife on an old Honda Accord, and it stopped the slow oil leak. 2 years later, several manufacturers copied the idea.
Valvoline was the first full synthetic Dexron VI fluid that was widely available, so when it came out, I bought and replaced the "Dexron type only" PSF in my friend's Scion TC.
I got a great deal on Valvoline Synpower, and my dad's 2.4L Ecotec has never ran quieter.
Valvoline Maxlife ATF works in most transmissions, so one repair center I worked in never needed additives for their Dexron III/Mercon in order to put it into certain Fords and Japanese imports.
I also used Valvoline 75w140 gear oil once in my mom's Jeep Grand Cherokee, but that was because it was the only 75w140 I could find at the time.

I like Valvoline because they make a wide variety of products, are available in many stores, and are priced low.
 
This isn't a Valvoline is a "good" or "bad" issue, IMHO. (Valvoline makes fine products if you want my opinion)

No this is a marketing hype thing. All companies do this sort of thing. Love the dental ones.

This one is easy. How thorough is the ASE oil training module?
 
All the power of advertising.Valvoline starting coming out with these commercials that more mechanics prefer and use Valvoline motor oil than any other oil. That could very well be a true fact. Valvoline was used a lot in racing and a lot of mechanics probably heard about Valvoline.

I think Valvoline makes good products. There are probably motor oils better than Valvoline and oils worse than Valvoline.

Advertising is powerful. A oil company will come out with commercials to the effect that their oil prevents sludge better than other oils. And people will believe it.

Rumors can either hurt or help a motor oil. Rumors were started about Pennzoil causing sludge. I think I have an idea how those rumors started. I have met a lot of mechanics who still believe in rumors like that.

I have met a lot of mechanics who like Valvoline. Not all of them but a considerable number.

Any good quality motor oil will meet the requirements and get the job done in normal service. The only way to really find out about a motor oil is testing (VOAs and UOAs). Just for a matter of record a lot of VOAs and UOAs done by people who frequent this website indicated that while Valvoline was a good quality motor oil there are certainly motor oils equal to or superior to Valvoline. Pennzoil, the oil that some people believe causes sludge, usually produces really good VOAs and UOAs in a person's engine unless there is some problem like a coolant leak.

This website is very valuable because we get user experience froma large number of people who are intersted in car care.
 
Yes I have seen those comments about Pennzoil. Don!t know if it is still parraffin based but Schaeffers is parraffin base.

I don!t understand why Pennzoil sells such good oil and then sells a couple other products that aren!t such as oil filters and additives.
 
Shouldn't the question be if it matters what "ASE Certified Techs" recommend? I've heard more misinformation from Techs and parts counter guys than you can imagine.
 
Originally Posted By: wgtoys
Shouldn't the question be if it matters what "ASE Certified Techs" recommend? I've heard more misinformation from Techs and parts counter guys than you can imagine.


Good points. That is the question most of us (myself especially) who know a little bit about oil would be thinking, but to the uninformed average consumer - they are thinking "Well if professional mechanics recommend it, it must be good - so I should use it".
 
Originally Posted By: Michelob
Valvoline is the #1 choice of ASE Certified Master Automobile Technicians, and they recommend Valvoline to their customers, family and friends.


Fiction.

At least in San Francisco bay area, the #1 choice of mechanics are no name cheapest oil in 55 gal drum or dollar store / local distributor. I have seems some uses SL oil in 2007, while other have straight 30wt oil on a pellet in the middle of waiting room (talking about stupidity, showing your customer that you use the wrong oil).
 
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The only possible affect the opinion of an "ASE certified mechanic" would have on me would be that of inverse action, not that I would ever be affected at all by such a meaningless gesture.

Ok enough mechanic bashing. There are many a fine one out there - I've just never met one so my opinion is biased.
 
Originally Posted By: Michelob
Yes I have seen those comments about Pennzoil. Don!t know if it is still parraffin based but Schaeffers is parraffin base.



Oh, Good Grief!
 
Originally Posted By: MatchboxCar
Originally Posted By: Michelob
Yes I have seen those comments about Pennzoil. Don!t know if it is still parraffin based but Schaeffers is parraffin base.



Oh, Good Grief!

+1
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:no-no:
 
I've heard people think it is a better product because it looks "cleaner" out of the bottle.
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I have to say, Valvoline smells good.
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