Next year I will probably take to visiting the local GM dealer near my barbershop on a Saturday morning for their oil & filter change and tire rotation special, which is $59.99 and (I think) includes the 6th quart needed by the LaCrosse. No doubt they use their own AC Delco Dexos synth oil. Out of curiosity, I ask, any idea who makes it? Is it rebranded Valvoline or Quaker State?

From what I've gathered here, AC Delco is most likely manufactured by Mobil. And also, the dealer is also likely to use whatever bulk Dexos1g2 5w30 they get in bulk, not necessarily AC Delco.

Like the above, I always thought that it was Exxon-Mobil.

Yep ACDelco is/was Mobil like Toyota oil. But chances are they will use what ever they can get that is the cheapest that meets spec.

+1

Is that necessarily a bad thing, as long as it meets the spec?

Absolutely not. Some will argue that some oils just barely meet the spec and must be garbage while other oils go beyond the spec and are therefore "better".

I always thought GM dealerships put in AC-Delco, and rarely Mobil1 (for Corvettes, a few others). I know other dealerships like Kia for example are likely to stock whatever they could get for cheapest.
Its almost as if GM has contractual agreements to push AC-Delco to dealerships. Anybody know what the arrangement is, if any?

Dealer I worked for til 2008 had a deal for bulk oil and grease with Pennzoil but they had jugs of Mobil 1 on the shelf for whoever wanted, Corvettes or whatever. My Mazda dealer uses Total. That was set up by Mazda here and elsewhere in the world however the owner’s manual recommends Castrol

They could be using any Dexos approved oil and have it in a 55 gallon barrel. I have to believe when I see Cadillac dealerships offer a full synthetic oil change for about $25.00 with a filter they have to be using something really low priced but good quality. I don't know what Mobil 1 costs in bulk.

From DEXOS license numbers at least Chevron and Lukoil are AC Delco blenders.

I did not see an identical XOM license for AC Delco.

When was the previously referenced machinery lubricant article released? Was it from "old" GM?

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I highly doubt if they use GM oil. If they are like the shops here they buy oil in bulk from whoever has the best price.

September 10 2019