Full Synthetic

[TIEfighter]

I saw a similar post but it was in the 1.4L thread. Is it worth putting full synthetic oil in a 1.8L Sonic even though it doesn't have a turbo like the 1.4L Sonic? I've read in the Official Sonic driver's manual that GM prefers dexos. What exactly does that mean?

 

[Summerson1]

Dexos is a spec that gm requires. Full synthetic is always good since it cleans the engine better than regular oil and keeps out sludge buildup

 

[TIEfighter]

Dexos is a spec that gm requires. Full synthetic is always good since it cleans the engine better than regular oil and keeps out sludge buildup

Yeah, when I had my first car I only used regular oil because it was a 16 year old car. Since my Sonic is new that is a good idea to use Fully Synthetic oil.

 

[laborsmith]

At one time I thought dexos was a blend, but since this topic recently came up I suspect it is a version of full synthetic. At any rate full synthetic would definitely be an equivalent to dexos and would therefore be fully compliant with the Chevrolet recommendation. Regular "dino" oil would not.

Laborsmith

 

[Papasonic]

From what I have gathered concerning the Dexos 1 oil is this.
1. It may be a blend or full synthetic (GM branded Dexos 1 is a blend)
2. This requirement originated with the 2011 model year GM product line
3. The certification appears to require a 5W-30 viscosity rating
4. Many fully synthetic oils meet the performance requirements but are not licensed as Dexos 1
5. To be licensed as Dexos 1; GM has to confirm certain performance criteria, and will obtain royalties from future sales of Dexos 1 certified product
6. Many brands of lubricants would easily meet/exceed these standards, but oppose paying GM royalties

Here is a link to more Dexos1 info:

http://themotoroilevaluator.com/members-blog/general-motors-dexos-motor-oil-spec/

These are my observations; I am open to corrections, and encourage others observations.

Papasonic

 

[laborsmith]

Papa, that conforms to what I have learned, and the GM house brand being a blend is also what has led to my confusion. Mobil1 full syn and Mobil1 dexos are priced the same at Meijers so I would conjecture that dexos is full syn. I miss the oil fill cap that specifies Mobil1 only but I do not miss it enough to go buy a replacement.

Laborsmith

 

[rdss]

Luckily I run Mobile One anyway so there isn't to much of a problem. If I had the 1.8 I wouldn't have any problem running Castrol GTX oil, but I would maintain the 3,000 mile oil change out of habit.

 

[Papasonic]

I updated my previous post with a link explaining Dexos1 further.

Here is another link
http://www.gmdexos.com/aboutdexos.html

Papasonic

 

[TIEfighter]

Luckily I run Mobile One anyway so there isn't to much of a problem. If I had the 1.8 I wouldn't have any problem running Castrol GTX oil, but I would maintain the 3,000 mile oil change out of habit.

Changing the oil every 3,000 miles would seem like a better way to maintain the quality and integrity of the engine longer I suppose.

 

[LS1notFOUND]

I don't believe GM gets a royalty but they do however get paid something for putting it through the test and and the initial licensing...its like their own Starburst symbol. I haven't found anything that says GM gets a royalty for every dexos certified product sold....I'm sure they make more than enough on the dealership sold stuff.

 

[TIEfighter]

I don't believe GM gets a royalty but they do however get paid something for putting it through the test and and the initial licensing...its like their own Starburst symbol. I haven't found anything that says GM gets a royalty for every dexos certified product sold....I'm sure they make more than enough on the dealership sold stuff.

Yeah, because to my knowledge most GM dealers already have a supply of Dexos oil in the shop to use for vehicles. Same thing goes with dino oil. Most customers probably don't know which type of oil to buy for their car when it needs an oil change so the dealer already has some in supply.

I'm not sure that GM would get royalties for each container of Mobil 1 sold. But its probably something similar to sponsored material. (i.e. Mobil 1 - Official Oil of NASCAR) It's probably similar with GM (i.e. Mobil 1 - Official Oil of GM products) just an assumption though.

 

[Papasonic]

I don't believe GM gets a royalty but they do however get paid something for putting it through the test and and the initial licensing...its like their own Starburst symbol. I haven't found anything that says GM gets a royalty for every dexos certified product sold....I'm sure they make more than enough on the dealership sold stuff.

Below is a portion of the article in the link I posted earlier. It seems that GM gets 36 cents per gallon of Dexos1 certified oil sold, and $1,000 per each product licensed. That is what I refered to as a royalty.


[Get Out Your Checkbook
Of course, the “cover charge” to get into the exclusive “dexos 1″ club will be considerably higher than attaining the less exclusive API licensing. These additional costs are not only due to higher licensing fees ($1,000 per licensed oil plus 36 cents per gallon sold), but are also attributable to the higher cost of developing the oil in the first place.]

Exerpt taken from this source:

http://themotoroilevaluator.com/members-blog/general-motors-dexos-motor-oil-spec/



Papasonic

 

[LS1notFOUND]

Mobil has only gone down lately at Walmart so they don't seem to passing it on yet

Interesting.

 

[TIEfighter]

Below is a portion of the article in the link I posted earlier. It seems that GM gets 36 cents per gallon of Dexos1 certified oil sold, and $1,000 per each product licensed. That is what I refered to as a royalty.


[Get Out Your Checkbook
Of course, the “cover charge” to get into the exclusive “dexos 1″ club will be considerably higher than attaining the less exclusive API licensing. These additional costs are not only due to higher licensing fees ($1,000 per licensed oil plus 36 cents per gallon sold), but are also attributable to the higher cost of developing the oil in the first place.]

Exerpt taken from this source:

Dexos 1: What is This New Motor Oil Spec from GM?



Papasonic

Interesting article Papasonic, didn't know that GM got royalties for dexos approving certain oils and not approving others. Amazing how capitalism works.

 

[LS1notFOUND]

GM Switches to Flat Fee on Dexos

did a google, this article is a good read too, shows that they changed to a "flat fee" instead of per gallon, intresting to is the reasoning behind it is to bank roll new testing equipment and such.

Hmm, also ZDDP is being replaced not because of Dexos but because it kills Catalytic converters, and todays motors are less reliant on it, just an FYI on that first articles slant. High Mileage oils however tend to have increased ZDDP or similar to help keep those older motors running.

 

[Luv2xlr8]

So putting Royal Purple is a NO NO??

 

[laborsmith]

If Royal Purple markets a full synthetic, and I believe they do, than using same would be the "equivalent" to using a dexos1 motor oil therefore one could say: Using Royal Purple would be a "Yes Yes."

Laborsmith

 

[TIEfighter]

Would exactly is the difference between Royal Purple and a 'dexos1' approved oil other than the name of the container?

 

[laborsmith]

Each version of dexos1 would be somewhat different from the other. Mobil1 full synthetic and Mobil1 dexos1 appear to me to be the same but for the label. At Meijers there is no price difference per quart.

I personally have been a user of Mobil1 full synthetic for many years. I have friends who use Royal Purple full synthetic and swear by it. To me, there is no difference (recognizing there may be some additives different) and Mobil1 was accessible. If Royal Purple had been as accessible as Mobil1 when I first started using Mobil1, I would probably be a Royal Purple user today.

Laborsmith

 

[Luv2xlr8]

I use Royal Purple on my honda motors and got a couple of bottles laying around so thanks for clearing that up.