New Extended Drain Interval Mobil Oils
- Thread starter GeorgeCLS
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Buster. This makes sense to me and we've all seen it in the UOAs. Thicker is not always better. If it was, we'd all be running SB rated $.79 a quart 40 and 50 weights and marveling at the low wear...quote:
Originally posted by buster:
jsharp said what I wanted to say. Thanks j.It could be entirely wrong, just a thought.
First with the right base stocks they could increase HTHS with no effect on the viscosity at all as compared to already available products! Second I am more concerned with HTHS then the viscosity at 40C and 100C. Third if they are limited in terms of various viscosity profiles then we are still better off if we get enhanced solvency(must for LL) and better additive package! It is a win win no matter how you slice! It will give us all more options and willf orce the competition to leave more money in the bottle. I also think that it will give everyone that extra margin of error. Seeing how the national average for oil change interval is 9000 miles with cheap quicky lube fluids I think a large margin is a good thing for anyone that has to buy used!
I remember that original Mobil 1. It stated on the can that it was equivalent to 10-40 regular oil.
Somewhere on that Mobil site it states that, because of the heavier dose of additives, it is not a fuel economy rated oil.quote:
Originally posted by buster:
Nice...I like what I'm hearing. I really like the viscosity choices. They will have the whole spectrum covered.
For one thing, because of their heavier additive package, the new oils are not fuel economy rated, according to the Mobil web site.
You are absolutely right. In years past, I have routinely used M1 for a full year, up to 20,000 miles. In one instance, I went 27,000 miles, but that particular car always used a quart of oil every 3- or 4000 miles. My engines were always nice and quiet to to 140,000 miles,at which time they were usually traded.
This new formula, with its much stronger additive package, is probably the equivalent of the Amsoil formula they recommend for 35,000 miles, as the old M1 was good for 25,000 30 years ago. They had to come off this 25,000 mile recommendation because of people ruining their engines by not checking their oil levels and running too low on oil.
pscholte,
In answer to your question, I suspect they want to use the same basestocks they blend for their regular Mobil 1 line. Hence the 5w-30 and 10w-30 come in at about 10 Cst @ 100C. In addition, European vehicles are only about 5% of the market, so you wouldn't want to tailor a new oil mainly for those ....
TS
In answer to your question, I suspect they want to use the same basestocks they blend for their regular Mobil 1 line. Hence the 5w-30 and 10w-30 come in at about 10 Cst @ 100C. In addition, European vehicles are only about 5% of the market, so you wouldn't want to tailor a new oil mainly for those ....
TS
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buster, maybe you should send your posts to jsharp's desk for review and revision before posting them.
So when are we going to see this oil in store? I can't wait...
BTW, does anyone notice that the mobiloil.com link, which has product specs of the EP oil, cannot be reached by going to mobil.com or mobil1.com or mobiloil.com directly? It still shows the old products when you go through mobil.com or mobil1.com. It seems like they haven't brought that site up officially yet.
BTW, does anyone notice that the mobiloil.com link, which has product specs of the EP oil, cannot be reached by going to mobil.com or mobil1.com or mobiloil.com directly? It still shows the old products when you go through mobil.com or mobil1.com. It seems like they haven't brought that site up officially yet.
"It's possible that a comparison of two oils, one with the "correct" HTHS and one with an HTHS that is below the manufacturers minimum will show that the oil with the lesser viscosity actually works better because it's superior in other ways Better base oils, better additive packages, etc. are all factors that will effect how well an oil works in a given situation."
You mean like this?
Amsoil 5W-30...HT/HS >3.5...25,000 miles/1 yr.
Amsoil 0W-30...HT/HS 3.4...35,000 miles/1 yr.
(Caveat - advertised parameters)
You mean like this?
Amsoil 5W-30...HT/HS >3.5...25,000 miles/1 yr.
Amsoil 0W-30...HT/HS 3.4...35,000 miles/1 yr.
(Caveat - advertised parameters)
I used to be a diehard Mobil 1 fan but after experiencing less than steller oil analysis results, noisier engines, and oil consumption that was more than it should have been, I became disillusioned. I don't think these new formulations will change my mind. I haven't used Mobil 1 in about a year and a half and I don't think I could get myself to try it again.
Wayne
Wayne
Saw the oil today at Autozone.They were selling only the 5/30 weight for the same price as the supersyn.$4.99 per quart.Its packaged in a new style bottle also.
You guys in California get everything first. Here in flyover country we have stores that still have bottles of M1 tri-synthetic. We'll probably see these new oils by late next year...
On Mobil's website concerning the new oils, they stated that for better performance and fuel economy, use the standard versions of M1.
Seems odd...
Seems odd...
Just saw this new oil at my local Wal-mart...
There, Mobil 1 5W-30 extended performance is $5.36/quart. It's SL/CF rated but has no "energy conserving" designation.
Also, they had 5 quart jugs of M1 10W-30 EP for $23.88.
Here's a pic of the M1 5W-30 EP 1 quart bottle:
There, Mobil 1 5W-30 extended performance is $5.36/quart. It's SL/CF rated but has no "energy conserving" designation.
Also, they had 5 quart jugs of M1 10W-30 EP for $23.88.
Here's a pic of the M1 5W-30 EP 1 quart bottle:
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At that price it won't sell at WallyWorld, IMHO. There's a $5 limit to a WallyWorld oil.
From Lubes-N-Greases Industry Newsletter.
ExMo Extends Oil Drains to 15,000 Miles
By David McFall
The highly competitive, $3.4 billion U.S. lubricant market has a new entry with the potential to upend the sales volume assumptions it has operated under for decades. Following two intensive and secretive years of work, ExxonMobil yesterday unveiled a new line of motor oils that offer “guaranteed engine protection” for change intervals of 5,000, 7,500 and 15,000 miles.
With the rollout of its quartet of products – Mobil Clean 5000, Mobil Clean High Mileage, Mobil Clean 7500 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance – the company claims to be “the first oil company to introduce a line of high-endurance motor oils designed for longer oil change intervals,” as recommended by many automakers today. That may be overstating it a wee bit (for example, Amsoil Inc. of Superior, Wis., for decades has sold a line of synthetic oils offering guaranteed performance and long drain intervals), but Mobil is the first major brand to make that leap – and its new line up includes both mineral oil and synthetic based formulas.
The new products achieve their lengthy drain intervals by “boosting the level of cleaning performance – to help extend engine life and help prevent the formation of sludge and other harmful deposits.”
The four new products “respond to a previously unmet consumer need by guaranteeing performance and protection for 15,000, 7,500 or 5,000 miles,” stated Mike Mullins, vice president of marketing at ExxonMobil Lubricants and Specialties in Fairfax, Va.
The company said it created the products in part because consumers “are receiving mixed messages from OEMs and installers and clarity is needed. Automakers have begun recommending longer oil change intervals and motor oil performance has also been boosted; yet, many new car owners have become confused about exactly how long their motor oil can last.”
“Consumers want oils that guarantee protection for the longer oil changes they are experiencing,” it said – and they can understand a straightforward performance claim, such as “proven protection for an ‘X-thousand’ guaranteed miles,” added Automotive Marketing Manager Habib Quazi.
Engine oil labels, including Mobil’s, for years have cited performance benefits including extending engine life and preventing the formation of sludge and deposits. What is different with this line is the explicit reference to and guarantee of engine protection, in miles of service. Other than Shell’s Jiffy Lube Division’s longtime 3,000-mile recommendation, no major oil company has offered change interval advice for over a decade. Instead, they tend to tell consumers to follow their vehicle owner’s manual’s recommendation. Specifying a discrete oil change interval may break this logjam.
According to ExxonMobil, oil change intervals have grown from an average 3,600 miles to reach 4,300 miles in the past 10 years. Should drain intervals increase to an average 7,500 miles, it would result in a substantial decrease in annual engine oil sales. The company did not estimate the potential volume decrease, but “if there is less used oil discarded as a result of the introduction of these products, that’s a positive impact on the environment,” ExxonMobil Automotive Marketing Advisor Jeff Jones said. “Our consumer research indicates 30 percent of consumers will extend their drain intervals.”
ExxonMobil’s consumer research found that 90 percent of drivers said they would use a motor oil that guaranteed to protect for 7,500 miles between changes. And “seventy percent of interested consumers indicate they do not intend on increasing their oil change interval. But consumers who do go longer between oil changes want an oil that provides guaranteed engine protection and peace of mind,” said Jones.
About 55 percent of oil changes in the United States are done by installers, such as quick-lube outlets, service stations and auto dealerships. The other 45 percent are performed by individual Do-It-Yourselfers.
“While ExxonMobil is particularly targeting the Do-It-Yourselfer segment, the offer is also designed to be a premium offer to the installed channel,” said Quazi. For installers, “these products start out with a very strong, core additive package which exceeds the GF-4 requirements,” said Tom Olszewski, the company’s technical advisor, automotive lubricants. “And then we have a boosted level of performance beyond our bulk installed offer, which now is going to be called Mobil Clean. This product is offered only to installers and is not in the retail aftermarket.”
The Line Up
Two of Mobil’s new products are conventional mineral oils, one is a synthetic blend, and one, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, is a fully synthetic formulation with 36 percent more anti-wear additives and 37 percent more cleaning agents than current Mobil 1 formulations.
This product also boasts an "Advanced SuperSyn System," with 50 percent more SuperSyn, ExxonMobil’s proprietary high-performance synthetic component, “to guarantee engine protection for 15,000 miles or one year whichever comes first.”
New Mobil Clean 5000 and Mobil High Mileage oils use mineral oil base stocks and contain 16 percent more detergent additives than the previous formulation. The High Mileage product is formulated for vehicles with over 75,000 miles and is also guaranteed to provide protection for 5,000 miles.
The concept of a product specifically targeted for older engines was pioneered in 2000 by Valvoline, with its MaxLife product line, followed later that year by Quaker State (since merged with Pennzoil which was subsequently acquired by Shell) with its Quaker State Higher Mileage Engine product line. Many other brands have jumped on the high mileage vehicle bandwagon since.
The synthetic blend offering, Mobil Clean 7500, “is guaranteed to protect critical engine parts for 7,500 miles under typical driving conditions.” It also contains 18 percent more cleaning agents than Mobil Clean 5000.
Each new product will be offered in either three or four of the more popular viscosity grades. All, except for Mobil 1 Extended Performance, are API licensed for the most current categories, ILSAC GF-4 and API SM. Mobil 1 Extended Performance is not currently licensed because it does not meet the fuel economy requirements of GF-4 as measured by the Sequence VIB engine test. It does, however, meet the engine durability and protection requirements of the specification. The company said it is doing a considerable amount of work to meet the fuel economy requirements while retaining the 15,000-mile guarantee. “Technically its doable,” said Olszewski, “We’re well under way and expect to get there.”
All of the new products, he pointed out, “also meet API CF performance. This is a diesel category but is also an indication of the higher level of the performance of the technology.”
The formulating strategy for Mobil Clean 5000 and 7500 was to boost performance by starting from a new ILSAC GF-4/API SM formulation and using more cleaning additives and high-performance base oils. In addition to engine and bench tests in the laboratory, an extensive field test program was undertaken, using more than 50 vehicles. “We’ve explicitly taken advantage of our long formulation history and experience in developing these products, particularly Mobil 1 with a 30-year history,” Olszewski noted.
Recommended Prices
ExxonMobil’s suggested retail pricing for Mobil Clean 5000 is $1.79 to $1.99 per quart. By comparison, a quart of the product it replaces, Mobil Drive Clean, costs $1.19 at Wal-Mart. Meanwhile Pep Boys’ and Wal-Mart’s own brands were just $1.19 and a super-low 88 cents, respectively, in Northern Virginia last week.
Mobil Clean 7500, the new synthetic blend, has a suggested price range of $2.49 to $2.69. Synthetic blend products of two other major oil companies were priced yesterday at $2.89.
Mobil Clean High Mileage oils have a suggested retail price spread of $2.29 to $2.49. Valvoline’s MaxLife for higher mileage vehicles was priced at $2.49 in Pep Boys and $2.24 in Wal-Mart; Quaker State Higher Mileage Vehicle oil was $2.18.
Mobil 1 Extended Performance’s suggested price range is $5.79 to $5.99 per quart. The current generation Mobil 1 sells for $4.99 at Pep Boys and $4.68 at Wal-Mart. However, Mobil 1 is the established synthetic oil category leader in sales worldwide, and commands much higher prices elsewhere – for example, $25 a liter in Europe.
Warranty Issues
Oil change intervals recommended by U.S. vehicle manufacturers have been increasing for a number of years, and European change intervals are higher still, with the average in Europe about 10,000 miles – more than double that of the United States. Moreover, Europe’s top-tier products – which include Mobil 1 – provide protection up to 20,000 miles.
The U.S. market is slowly edging in that direction, too. Ford’s and Toyota’s oil change intervals are currently 5,000 miles for most vehicles, DaimlerChrysler’s are 6,000 miles, and Honda’s have reached 10,000 miles.
General Motors alone among U.S. vehicle manufacturers does not make a mileage recommendation to its customers on when to change oil. Instead it relies on a proprietary oil life monitoring system (OLS) that informs a driver via a dashboard alert to “Change Oil Soon.”
GM evaluated a large number of oil samples from vehicles equipped with its system and found many cases where the oil had clocked more than 10,000 miles, a few with more than 14,000 miles and at least one with greater than 16,000 miles when the dashboard alert came on, according to GM Senior Project Engineer Robert Stockwell. These all were instances of oils using regular mineral oil base stocks, and in all cases when the alert appeared to “Change Oil,” the remaining oil life was within the expected “safety factor,” he said.
To address the issue of vehicle warranties, the back labels of Mobil’s new products advise that drivers of vehicles still under manufacturer’s warranty should follow the oil change interval guidelines set forth in their owner’s manual. “A warranty is a relationship between a car builder and a consumer,” Jeff Jones pointed out, “and during the warranty period we don’t want to get into the middle of that relationship. However, all consumers can benefit from a higher-performing oil such as the Mobil high-endurance line.”
The new oils are for use under “typical driving conditions” – even stop-and-go commuting, the company said. The only exceptions, all listed on the back label, are racing and commercial use; frequent towing or hauling; extremely dusty or dirty conditions; or excessive idling. “Except for the four exclusions shown on the back label, we guarantee protection for all driving conditions,” Quazi said. “Our product contains only these four disclaimers and the rest is normal consumer driving. We’re trying to cut through the clutter, confusion and different messages that are in the marketplace.”
Curtain Up
The oil giant developed its new products under a heavy blanket of secrecy. Competitive pressures compelled the company to limit access the project, and even within the company only a small group of employees was privy to its development. Now that the secrecy is being lifted, industry reaction is somewhat wary, as one would expect given the lack of information until now.
While ExxonMobil supplies oil for many new GM vehicles and GM specifically recommends Mobil 1 for its high performance Corvette sports cars, the automaker had no advance information on the new products. “This approach appears to be a marketing initiative and we’re not comfortable with commenting on it without more specific technical information,” Mike McMillan, manager of lubricating systems at GM Research & Development in Warren, Mich., told Lube Report.
”From a technical standpoint,” he added, “we don’t have any reason to deviate from our approach, that is, to calibrate our oil life monitoring systems, available on almost all of our vehicles, and make recommendations to customers based on the use of API-certified ‘Starburst’ engine oil, as recommended in GM owner’s manuals.”
Product Engineer Mike Riley at Ford Motor Co. in Canton, Mich., stated, “The oil change interval for gasoline-powered vehicles is 5,000 miles/6 months for normal service and 3,000 miles/3 months for severe service which includes trailer towing, extensive idling such as taxi use, dusty conditions and off-road operations.”
Riley added, “Oil drain intervals should not be extended because repairs may not be covered by warranty. Ford recommends the same change interval for mineral and synthetic oil use.”
An installer perspective came from Steve Christie, executive director of the Automotive Oil Change Association in Dallas, Texas, which represents 3,500 quick-lube outlets. “We support anything that improves the consumer’s experience with their vehicles but we will continue to emphasize regular service intervals recommended by manufacturers because of the many other services and checks that are performed by our members during an oil change, including safety, belts, hoses and tire pressure, the latter of which is crucial to attaining fuel economy savings,” he said. “We also have some concerns regarding the ability of the oil filter to function properly for extended drain intervals; that issue piggy-backs with the well documented sludging problems we’ve seen with engines from several manufacturers.”
Lew Williams, OEM and industry liaison representative at Lubrizol Corp. in Wickliffe, Ohio, noted, “Performance improvements over GF-4/SM minimum performance levels are certainly possible in the areas of TBN retention, piston cleanliness, sludge, and oxidation protection. The key to in-service success is care in selecting the right combination and amount of additive boosters, viscosity modifier type and base oil blend. It is also necessary for these enhanced engine lubes to have extensive laboratory, engine and field testing under severe driving conditions to ensure end-user satisfaction.”
Martin Kish, head of communications for market competitor Valvoline, in Lexingon, Ky., stated dryly, “Like any new product or technical development, Valvoline will watch this development with interest and follow it as the new products enter the marketplace.”
And Jiffy Lube spokeswoman Helen K. Bow, in Houston, said her company continues to advise consumers to stick to the advice in their vehicle owner’s manual. “Any quality motor oil meeting manufacturer guidelines (GF-3 or GF-4) will have the ability to perform throughout the recommended drain interval, under normal driving conditions, which can be up to 15,000 miles,” she stated. “Consumers should note, however, that many drivers may not operate under what is defined as ‘normal driving conditions.’ Many consumers drive under what the auto manufacturers refer to as ‘severe driving conditions,’ which refer to excessive idling or stop-and-go traffic, rather than the ideal 60 miles an hour highway driving. Under ‘severe driving conditions’ it would be better to go with the standard 3,000 mile oil change, or as detailed in your owner’s manual.”
Two major automotive aftermarket retail chains declined to comment on the new products, for competitive reasons, although each was familiar with the new launch.
ExxonMobil plans a major promotional effort for this new initiative and will kick off a TV advertising campaign in conjunction with the NASCAR Daytona 500. Sources claim, but ExxonMobil declined to confirm, that plans are underway to invest $40 million to $50 million in a media push starting after the Daytona kickoff.
The company also declined to disclose details of its marketing program prior to the program’s launch.
ExMo Extends Oil Drains to 15,000 Miles
By David McFall
The highly competitive, $3.4 billion U.S. lubricant market has a new entry with the potential to upend the sales volume assumptions it has operated under for decades. Following two intensive and secretive years of work, ExxonMobil yesterday unveiled a new line of motor oils that offer “guaranteed engine protection” for change intervals of 5,000, 7,500 and 15,000 miles.
With the rollout of its quartet of products – Mobil Clean 5000, Mobil Clean High Mileage, Mobil Clean 7500 and Mobil 1 Extended Performance – the company claims to be “the first oil company to introduce a line of high-endurance motor oils designed for longer oil change intervals,” as recommended by many automakers today. That may be overstating it a wee bit (for example, Amsoil Inc. of Superior, Wis., for decades has sold a line of synthetic oils offering guaranteed performance and long drain intervals), but Mobil is the first major brand to make that leap – and its new line up includes both mineral oil and synthetic based formulas.
The new products achieve their lengthy drain intervals by “boosting the level of cleaning performance – to help extend engine life and help prevent the formation of sludge and other harmful deposits.”
The four new products “respond to a previously unmet consumer need by guaranteeing performance and protection for 15,000, 7,500 or 5,000 miles,” stated Mike Mullins, vice president of marketing at ExxonMobil Lubricants and Specialties in Fairfax, Va.
The company said it created the products in part because consumers “are receiving mixed messages from OEMs and installers and clarity is needed. Automakers have begun recommending longer oil change intervals and motor oil performance has also been boosted; yet, many new car owners have become confused about exactly how long their motor oil can last.”
“Consumers want oils that guarantee protection for the longer oil changes they are experiencing,” it said – and they can understand a straightforward performance claim, such as “proven protection for an ‘X-thousand’ guaranteed miles,” added Automotive Marketing Manager Habib Quazi.
Engine oil labels, including Mobil’s, for years have cited performance benefits including extending engine life and preventing the formation of sludge and deposits. What is different with this line is the explicit reference to and guarantee of engine protection, in miles of service. Other than Shell’s Jiffy Lube Division’s longtime 3,000-mile recommendation, no major oil company has offered change interval advice for over a decade. Instead, they tend to tell consumers to follow their vehicle owner’s manual’s recommendation. Specifying a discrete oil change interval may break this logjam.
According to ExxonMobil, oil change intervals have grown from an average 3,600 miles to reach 4,300 miles in the past 10 years. Should drain intervals increase to an average 7,500 miles, it would result in a substantial decrease in annual engine oil sales. The company did not estimate the potential volume decrease, but “if there is less used oil discarded as a result of the introduction of these products, that’s a positive impact on the environment,” ExxonMobil Automotive Marketing Advisor Jeff Jones said. “Our consumer research indicates 30 percent of consumers will extend their drain intervals.”
ExxonMobil’s consumer research found that 90 percent of drivers said they would use a motor oil that guaranteed to protect for 7,500 miles between changes. And “seventy percent of interested consumers indicate they do not intend on increasing their oil change interval. But consumers who do go longer between oil changes want an oil that provides guaranteed engine protection and peace of mind,” said Jones.
About 55 percent of oil changes in the United States are done by installers, such as quick-lube outlets, service stations and auto dealerships. The other 45 percent are performed by individual Do-It-Yourselfers.
“While ExxonMobil is particularly targeting the Do-It-Yourselfer segment, the offer is also designed to be a premium offer to the installed channel,” said Quazi. For installers, “these products start out with a very strong, core additive package which exceeds the GF-4 requirements,” said Tom Olszewski, the company’s technical advisor, automotive lubricants. “And then we have a boosted level of performance beyond our bulk installed offer, which now is going to be called Mobil Clean. This product is offered only to installers and is not in the retail aftermarket.”
The Line Up
Two of Mobil’s new products are conventional mineral oils, one is a synthetic blend, and one, Mobil 1 Extended Performance, is a fully synthetic formulation with 36 percent more anti-wear additives and 37 percent more cleaning agents than current Mobil 1 formulations.
This product also boasts an "Advanced SuperSyn System," with 50 percent more SuperSyn, ExxonMobil’s proprietary high-performance synthetic component, “to guarantee engine protection for 15,000 miles or one year whichever comes first.”
New Mobil Clean 5000 and Mobil High Mileage oils use mineral oil base stocks and contain 16 percent more detergent additives than the previous formulation. The High Mileage product is formulated for vehicles with over 75,000 miles and is also guaranteed to provide protection for 5,000 miles.
The concept of a product specifically targeted for older engines was pioneered in 2000 by Valvoline, with its MaxLife product line, followed later that year by Quaker State (since merged with Pennzoil which was subsequently acquired by Shell) with its Quaker State Higher Mileage Engine product line. Many other brands have jumped on the high mileage vehicle bandwagon since.
The synthetic blend offering, Mobil Clean 7500, “is guaranteed to protect critical engine parts for 7,500 miles under typical driving conditions.” It also contains 18 percent more cleaning agents than Mobil Clean 5000.
Each new product will be offered in either three or four of the more popular viscosity grades. All, except for Mobil 1 Extended Performance, are API licensed for the most current categories, ILSAC GF-4 and API SM. Mobil 1 Extended Performance is not currently licensed because it does not meet the fuel economy requirements of GF-4 as measured by the Sequence VIB engine test. It does, however, meet the engine durability and protection requirements of the specification. The company said it is doing a considerable amount of work to meet the fuel economy requirements while retaining the 15,000-mile guarantee. “Technically its doable,” said Olszewski, “We’re well under way and expect to get there.”
All of the new products, he pointed out, “also meet API CF performance. This is a diesel category but is also an indication of the higher level of the performance of the technology.”
The formulating strategy for Mobil Clean 5000 and 7500 was to boost performance by starting from a new ILSAC GF-4/API SM formulation and using more cleaning additives and high-performance base oils. In addition to engine and bench tests in the laboratory, an extensive field test program was undertaken, using more than 50 vehicles. “We’ve explicitly taken advantage of our long formulation history and experience in developing these products, particularly Mobil 1 with a 30-year history,” Olszewski noted.
Recommended Prices
ExxonMobil’s suggested retail pricing for Mobil Clean 5000 is $1.79 to $1.99 per quart. By comparison, a quart of the product it replaces, Mobil Drive Clean, costs $1.19 at Wal-Mart. Meanwhile Pep Boys’ and Wal-Mart’s own brands were just $1.19 and a super-low 88 cents, respectively, in Northern Virginia last week.
Mobil Clean 7500, the new synthetic blend, has a suggested price range of $2.49 to $2.69. Synthetic blend products of two other major oil companies were priced yesterday at $2.89.
Mobil Clean High Mileage oils have a suggested retail price spread of $2.29 to $2.49. Valvoline’s MaxLife for higher mileage vehicles was priced at $2.49 in Pep Boys and $2.24 in Wal-Mart; Quaker State Higher Mileage Vehicle oil was $2.18.
Mobil 1 Extended Performance’s suggested price range is $5.79 to $5.99 per quart. The current generation Mobil 1 sells for $4.99 at Pep Boys and $4.68 at Wal-Mart. However, Mobil 1 is the established synthetic oil category leader in sales worldwide, and commands much higher prices elsewhere – for example, $25 a liter in Europe.
Warranty Issues
Oil change intervals recommended by U.S. vehicle manufacturers have been increasing for a number of years, and European change intervals are higher still, with the average in Europe about 10,000 miles – more than double that of the United States. Moreover, Europe’s top-tier products – which include Mobil 1 – provide protection up to 20,000 miles.
The U.S. market is slowly edging in that direction, too. Ford’s and Toyota’s oil change intervals are currently 5,000 miles for most vehicles, DaimlerChrysler’s are 6,000 miles, and Honda’s have reached 10,000 miles.
General Motors alone among U.S. vehicle manufacturers does not make a mileage recommendation to its customers on when to change oil. Instead it relies on a proprietary oil life monitoring system (OLS) that informs a driver via a dashboard alert to “Change Oil Soon.”
GM evaluated a large number of oil samples from vehicles equipped with its system and found many cases where the oil had clocked more than 10,000 miles, a few with more than 14,000 miles and at least one with greater than 16,000 miles when the dashboard alert came on, according to GM Senior Project Engineer Robert Stockwell. These all were instances of oils using regular mineral oil base stocks, and in all cases when the alert appeared to “Change Oil,” the remaining oil life was within the expected “safety factor,” he said.
To address the issue of vehicle warranties, the back labels of Mobil’s new products advise that drivers of vehicles still under manufacturer’s warranty should follow the oil change interval guidelines set forth in their owner’s manual. “A warranty is a relationship between a car builder and a consumer,” Jeff Jones pointed out, “and during the warranty period we don’t want to get into the middle of that relationship. However, all consumers can benefit from a higher-performing oil such as the Mobil high-endurance line.”
The new oils are for use under “typical driving conditions” – even stop-and-go commuting, the company said. The only exceptions, all listed on the back label, are racing and commercial use; frequent towing or hauling; extremely dusty or dirty conditions; or excessive idling. “Except for the four exclusions shown on the back label, we guarantee protection for all driving conditions,” Quazi said. “Our product contains only these four disclaimers and the rest is normal consumer driving. We’re trying to cut through the clutter, confusion and different messages that are in the marketplace.”
Curtain Up
The oil giant developed its new products under a heavy blanket of secrecy. Competitive pressures compelled the company to limit access the project, and even within the company only a small group of employees was privy to its development. Now that the secrecy is being lifted, industry reaction is somewhat wary, as one would expect given the lack of information until now.
While ExxonMobil supplies oil for many new GM vehicles and GM specifically recommends Mobil 1 for its high performance Corvette sports cars, the automaker had no advance information on the new products. “This approach appears to be a marketing initiative and we’re not comfortable with commenting on it without more specific technical information,” Mike McMillan, manager of lubricating systems at GM Research & Development in Warren, Mich., told Lube Report.
”From a technical standpoint,” he added, “we don’t have any reason to deviate from our approach, that is, to calibrate our oil life monitoring systems, available on almost all of our vehicles, and make recommendations to customers based on the use of API-certified ‘Starburst’ engine oil, as recommended in GM owner’s manuals.”
Product Engineer Mike Riley at Ford Motor Co. in Canton, Mich., stated, “The oil change interval for gasoline-powered vehicles is 5,000 miles/6 months for normal service and 3,000 miles/3 months for severe service which includes trailer towing, extensive idling such as taxi use, dusty conditions and off-road operations.”
Riley added, “Oil drain intervals should not be extended because repairs may not be covered by warranty. Ford recommends the same change interval for mineral and synthetic oil use.”
An installer perspective came from Steve Christie, executive director of the Automotive Oil Change Association in Dallas, Texas, which represents 3,500 quick-lube outlets. “We support anything that improves the consumer’s experience with their vehicles but we will continue to emphasize regular service intervals recommended by manufacturers because of the many other services and checks that are performed by our members during an oil change, including safety, belts, hoses and tire pressure, the latter of which is crucial to attaining fuel economy savings,” he said. “We also have some concerns regarding the ability of the oil filter to function properly for extended drain intervals; that issue piggy-backs with the well documented sludging problems we’ve seen with engines from several manufacturers.”
Lew Williams, OEM and industry liaison representative at Lubrizol Corp. in Wickliffe, Ohio, noted, “Performance improvements over GF-4/SM minimum performance levels are certainly possible in the areas of TBN retention, piston cleanliness, sludge, and oxidation protection. The key to in-service success is care in selecting the right combination and amount of additive boosters, viscosity modifier type and base oil blend. It is also necessary for these enhanced engine lubes to have extensive laboratory, engine and field testing under severe driving conditions to ensure end-user satisfaction.”
Martin Kish, head of communications for market competitor Valvoline, in Lexingon, Ky., stated dryly, “Like any new product or technical development, Valvoline will watch this development with interest and follow it as the new products enter the marketplace.”
And Jiffy Lube spokeswoman Helen K. Bow, in Houston, said her company continues to advise consumers to stick to the advice in their vehicle owner’s manual. “Any quality motor oil meeting manufacturer guidelines (GF-3 or GF-4) will have the ability to perform throughout the recommended drain interval, under normal driving conditions, which can be up to 15,000 miles,” she stated. “Consumers should note, however, that many drivers may not operate under what is defined as ‘normal driving conditions.’ Many consumers drive under what the auto manufacturers refer to as ‘severe driving conditions,’ which refer to excessive idling or stop-and-go traffic, rather than the ideal 60 miles an hour highway driving. Under ‘severe driving conditions’ it would be better to go with the standard 3,000 mile oil change, or as detailed in your owner’s manual.”
Two major automotive aftermarket retail chains declined to comment on the new products, for competitive reasons, although each was familiar with the new launch.
ExxonMobil plans a major promotional effort for this new initiative and will kick off a TV advertising campaign in conjunction with the NASCAR Daytona 500. Sources claim, but ExxonMobil declined to confirm, that plans are underway to invest $40 million to $50 million in a media push starting after the Daytona kickoff.
The company also declined to disclose details of its marketing program prior to the program’s launch.
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