Opinions on DuraMax brand oil

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Righty Tighty

Righty Tighty

Blame it on the dog
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FABO,

I found what seems to me a deal on 6 gallon boxes of DuraMax brand motor oil at Grainger. The price varies by viscosity, but they're all costing around $40 for 6 gallons. I looked around and it seems like this is basically a "bulk" brand used by the quick lube shops, which turns me off.

Have any of you used or heard of this brand?

DURAMAX-Engine-Oil-6-gal-Size-56HT75
 
Since the full synthetic oil says it will work with E85 one has to assume (because there is no other information on the website) that the synthetic base oil is Group III.

And one would doubt that they use a different synthetic base oil in the blend.

For the price that’s a good oil.
 
I went to the DuraMax website and requested their catalog, since that seems to be the only resource for more information. I don't know if you were referring to Grainger's website or the DuraMax website, but neither have any info as you mentioned.
 
GM licenses several grades of DuraMAX as Dexos1/Gen 2. Even though the whole Dexos licensing deal is a money grab by GM, they won't license a bad product.
That's a good price, and I love the bag-in-the-boxes. Use it with confidence in modern engines.

dexos®1 Gen 2 | GM
 
Righty Tighty said:
I went to the DuraMax website and requested their catalog, since that seems to be the only resource for more information. I don't know if you were referring to Grainger's website or the DuraMax website, but neither have any info as you mentioned.
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I looked both places. Good idea getting a catalog. Hopefully it has more information.
 
Jarlaxle said:
Oil is oil. As long as it has the API starburst, it's fine.
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That’s just not even close to true. There is a HUGE difference in oils. It’s not 1955 or even 1975 any more.

And the API starburst means diddly if you don’t run cats.
 
Rat Bastid said:
That’s just not even close to true. There is a HUGE difference in oils. It’s not 1955 or even 1975 any more.

And the API starburst means diddly if you don’t run cats.
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So...you must, then, have some EVIDENCE that it is not good oil...right?

Reality: for most engines, oil is oil.
 
Jarlaxle said:
So...you must, then, have some EVIDENCE that it is not good oil...right?

Reality: for most engines, oil is oil.
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Lots of EVIDENCE. It’s everywhere. You can do the research. Or, continue on thinking all oil is the same. I couldn’t care less.
 
Rat Bastid said:
Lots of EVIDENCE. It’s everywhere. You can do the research. Or, continue on thinking all oil is the same. I couldn’t care less.
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So..still no evidence Duramax brand is not good oil, then? Figured.

For most engines, oil is oil.
 
Jarlaxle said:
So..still no evidence Duramax brand is not good oil, then? Figured.

For most engines, oil is oil.
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Is that what I said? Don’t think so. What I said was you are WRONG if you think all oils are the same.

Head out and troll somewhere else.

OIL ISN’T OIL unless you think it’s 1948.
 
Rat Bastid said:
Since the full synthetic oil says it will work with E85 one has to assume (because there is no other information on the website) that the synthetic base oil is Group III.

And one would doubt that they use a different synthetic base oil in the blend.

For the price that’s a good oil.
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Just for YOU Jarlaxle. See the LAST sentence? Work on your reading and comprehension skills. Once you get that down, then you can tackle learning about oil.
 
Rat Bastid said:
Is that what I said? Don’t think so. What I said was you are WRONG if you think all oils are the same.

Head out and troll somewhere else.

OIL ISN’T OIL unless you think it’s 1948.
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I didn't say all oils were the same. I said that, for most engines, oil is oil. It's not that they're all the same...it just doesn't matter.
 
Duramax is a product of RelaDyne.
RelaDyne is owned by Ashland Oil Co.
Do what you want with that information.
 
S'cuder said:
Their current motor oil venture after spinning off Valvoline?
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They're gonna have to sell a lot of oil to make a profit, at a buck and a half a quart, (compared to $4-$10 qt)
If I didn't already have (maybe) enough oil to last me the rest of my life, and if it was diesel oil, I'd sure give it a try.....
 
gunbunny said:
Duramax is a product of RelaDyne.
RelaDyne is owned by Ashland Oil Co.
Do what you want with that information.
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S'cuder said:
Their current motor oil venture after spinning off Valvoline?
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Yes, that's how I understand it. Actually, I got a phone call yesterday from a representative from New West Oil, owned by RelaDyne. The way he made it sound was that they are still producing oil for Valvoline and other big labels, but I may not have understood him right.

He confirmed that for the viscosities I asked about, they use group III base oils and that all of their oils are API approved. We discussed zinc content and he said their 10W30 has 760ppm of zinc, which isn't enough for my flat tappet lifters. I still like the Lucas Hot Rod oil which has 2100 ppm. He started to explain that newer oils have additives that take the place of zinc regarding wear protection and that zinc content isn't as important as it used to be, but he also acknowledged that folks in the classic car community are likely hesitant to risk using an oil with lower zinc.

All in all, it was an interesting conversation. I didn't ask him to call, he was following up on my catalog request. He wasn't a salesman, simply wanted to answer any questions I had on their product.

I'll probably stick with Lucas for my older cars, but I'm going to try DuraMax in my Tacoma.
 
Righty Tighty said:
Yes, that's how I understand it. Actually, I got a phone call yesterday from a representative from New West Oil, owned by RelaDyne. The way he made it sound was that they are still producing oil for Valvoline and other big labels, but I may not have understood him right.

He confirmed that for the viscosities I asked about, they use group III base oils and that all of their oils are API approved. We discussed zinc content and he said their 10W30 has 760ppm of zinc, which isn't enough for my flat tappet lifters. I still like the Lucas Hot Rod oil which has 2100 ppm. He started to explain that newer oils have additives that take the place of zinc regarding wear protection and that zinc content isn't as important as it used to be, but he also acknowledged that folks in the classic car community are likely hesitant to risk using an oil with lower zinc.

All in all, it was an interesting conversation. I didn't ask him to call, he was following up on my catalog request. He wasn't a salesman, simply wanted to answer any questions I had on their product.

I'll probably stick with Lucas for my older cars, but I'm going to try DuraMax in my Tacoma.
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You can always tell if a synthetic oil is using a Group III base oil. It will say it’s alcohol compatible. Group IV and V base oils are not alcohol compatible.

That’s the easiest way to figure out that part of it. Plus there is a story behind Group III oils that I’ve posted before. The upshot is it took a SCOTUS ruling to call Group III oils synthetic. IMO, they are not synthetic by the true definition of the word. Hence the lawsuit and subsequent SCOTUS ruling.
 
Few comments.

Phosphorus is just as important as Zinc as an anti wear agent.
Synthetic blend is a fancy way of saying the oil is not full synthetic.
I use Penrite full syn oil, group IV & V, & it is compatible with E fuels.
 
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