[roostere4]

Posting this here as it might be helpful to others. I had a bit of confusion around the correct oil to use in the SC 6.2 and the availability of oil.

learned the owners manuals changed several times over the years in regards to the recommended oil, in 2020 it was dexos 2 0w-40, and later manuals recommend dexos R 0w-40.

For dexos 2 0w-40 it appears the big choice was/is "Mobil 1 ESP" and dexos R it is "Mobil 1 Supercar". However it looks like "Mobil 1 ESP" is no longer being produced, as it has been replaced/updated to "Mobil 1™ Supercar 0W-40" which would explain why it is difficult to locate. Mobil does not even list anywhere to buy it on their website, just 'No sellers found', but Supercar lists multiple sellers. And I didn't know the recommendation had changed which added to my confusion.

Mobil 1™ – Corvette’s recommended motor oil

From the above page:

Our latest formulation was originally called Mobil 1 ESP Formula 0W-40, but has now become the first-ever dexosR™-approved motor oil. With that new spec, a new name reflects the true spirit of our performance pedigree: Mobil 1 Supercar.

and that page and this page: Mobil 1™ Supercar 0W-40

Is Mobil 1 Supercar motor oil being used in any other GM engines?

Only the highest performance GM engines are being factory filled with Mobil 1 Supercar. This includes the most powerful Corvette, Cadillac, and Camaro models that feature the LT1 or LT4 engines, and any future engines that require a dexosR-approved motor oil. Not only that, the Mobil 1 Supercar family of products are the first to receive the coveted dexosR-approval.

and then from
GM's dexos website - Licensed dexos®R brands

Please note: GM dexos R engine oils meet or exceed the performance of GM dexos 2 and GM dexos 1 Gen 2 and Gen 3 oils and are backward compatible, therefore vehicles equipped with gasoline engines that used GM dexos 2, or GM dexos 1 Gen 2 or Gen 3 may use a GM dexos R licensed engine oil of the appropriate viscosity grade at their next oil change.

CorvetteBlogger - Mobil 1 Rebrands ESP Formula 0W-40 as Mobil 1 Supercar

Hope this is useful to someone else too

[haggler]

it also says that Dexos2 will be replaced with DexosD for diesel or DexosR. The implication then is that if you are using Dexos2 oil that is compatible with gasoline engines, its equivalent to DexosR. This is of concern to those with a 2023+ V8 which "requires" DexosR.


https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos2/index.html

Please note: GM dexos 2 is being discontinued in 2025 and replaced by GM dexos D and GM dexos R. Vehicles equipped with diesel engines that used GM dexos 2 engine oil will use GM dexos D licensed engine oils, while vehicles equipped with gasoline engines will use GM dexos R licensed engine oils of the of the appropriate viscosity grade at their next oil change.

[MT-SS1LE]

It appears that Mobil makes the only DexosR certified oil available in the United States. Would be nice if the other big oil companies like Valvoline, Castrol, Pennsoil, etc. would jump in the game. Must be why Mobil can get away with charging a ridiculous $10+ per quart. Myself I'm using the previously approved ESP since I can find it significantly cheaper than DexosR. And from all the research I have done, it is equal to, if not superior to the new variation.

[23Redrocket]

Dexos R is not the same as Dexos 2. They are not equivalent.
According to Tadge (GM Engineer) on the corvette forums Dexos R is stickier.
It was developed specifically for wet sump pumps that may be starved during high G turns. (LT4s)
Yes you can use Dexos 2 in a gasoline engine and I would for a street/daily however, I would definitely use the Dexos R for the track as there is a reason they did this.

[Evergreen6]

The chain auto parts stores can usually order 0w40 Supercar, if it's not on their shelves.

I've been buying it from Amazon for about $55 per case of 6 quarts, shipped.

I also got in touch with RockAuto and asked if they would consider carrying it. The service rep said he's escalate through their channels which probably meant deleting my email. They've been responsive in the past, so, who knows!

[Odabo]

Originally Posted by Evergreen6

The chain auto parts stores can usually order 0w40 Supercar, if it's not on their shelves.

I've been buying it from Amazon for about $55 per case of 6 quarts, shipped.

I also got in touch with RockAuto and asked if they would consider carrying it. The service rep said he's escalate through their channels which probably meant deleting my email. They've been responsive in the past, so, who knows!

Evergreen is right. I walked into my local Advanced and asked them to order a few cases of Supercar. It was the same price I could get online after shipping but I got it text day.

[Dabjbr]

I wish I had seen this post before. Instead, I played investigator last night and most of this morning.

Anyway, I find it very interesting that the same UPC number was/is used for different formulations. In the image below, the left 2 pictures are from my garage and the last Dexos2 formula I used. The right 2 pictures are of the new ESP X4 formula that no longer covers Dexos2. Notice how both of them use the same UPC number. Why does that matter? Well, one can easily purchase the wrong formula. In fact, the guys at Autozone tried to tell me it's the same but untrue and that was confirmed with a phone call to Mobil 1.

Unfortunately, the older formula cost $11.99 each but Autozone always ran a special 6 bottles for $45 or $7.50 each.

The new DexosR bottles are $12.99 and Autozone has no deals. The cheapest now is 6 bottles for $59 on Amazon or $9.83 each.

[Patriot Motorsports USA]

You all crack me up with the "This Oil and That Oil" threads... did you know the Dexos oil is nothing special...? Dexos Oil is made by Coastal which is a division of Phillips66 in Houston, Texas and the variants are differences in origin if it comes from the Houston Plant or the Lake Charles one in Louisiana. In addition, you are paying top dollar for the same exact fluids that WalMart is selling with their private label.

GM, Porsche and a Dozen other manufacturers struck deals with ExxonMobil decades ago as they ship Billions of Dollars worth of oil to the manufacturers for "First Fill Rights" and they do it for free!!! Then they get us arguing about it because somewhere over the rainbow of oil in the water... some Service Writer told you the warranty was void because you used a Walmart oil instead of theirs when if you did samples, they are exactly the same.

My background in Chemicals, formulations and such go to decades of such in my Family as my Father has the patents for the manufacture process of Phenol, Methanol & Acetone.

My stint in the industry years ago was before Synerlec went into racing lubricants known as Royal Purple. They were the standard lubricant for companies like Ingersol-Rand and Texaco Oil field operations. There was then and probably still today, no better extreme lubricant.

Many people are buying into the DRIVEN Oil which used to be Kendall and three or four other names as the company changed hands with an Identity Crisis... that is just another ConocoPhillips brand. Guess what other oil brands they produce..?

Just buy Amsoil if you want to protect your engine as they are one of the few companies that truly formulate to a specific standard using base stocks not from garbage wholesalers.

[CalgaryZL1]

Originally Posted by ZLElvira

You all crack me up with the "This Oil and That Oil" threads... did you know the Dexos oil is nothing special...? Dexos Oil is made by Coastal which is a division of Phillips66 in Houston, Texas and the variants are differences in origin if it comes from the Houston Plant or the Lake Charles one in Louisiana. In addition, you are paying top dollar for the same exact fluids that WalMart is selling with their private label.

GM, Porsche and a Dozen other manufacturers struck deals with ExxonMobil decades ago as they ship Billions of Dollars worth of oil to the manufacturers for "First Fill Rights" and they do it for free!!! Then they get us arguing about it because somewhere over the rainbow of oil in the water... some Service Writer told you the warranty was void because you used a Walmart oil instead of theirs when if you did samples, they are exactly the same.

My background in Chemicals, formulations and such go to decades of such in my Family as my Father has the patents for the manufacture process of Phenol, Methanol & Acetone.

My stint in the industry years ago was before Synerlec went into racing lubricants known as Royal Purple. They were the standard lubricant for companies like Ingersol-Rand and Texaco Oil field operations. There was then and probably still today, no better extreme lubricant.

Many people are buying into the DRIVEN Oil which used to be Kendall and three or four other names as the company changed hands with an Identity Crisis... that is just another ConocoPhillips brand. Guess what other oil brands they produce..?

Just buy Amsoil if you want to protect your engine as they are one of the few companies that truly formulate to a specific standard using base stocks not from garbage wholesalers.

I use Amsoil because I literally can’t buy any of this fairy dust oil that’s recommended in the service manuals

[Classic Muscle]

Originally Posted by Dabjbr

I wish I had seen this post before. Instead, I played investigator last night and most of this morning.

Anyway, I find it very interesting that the same UPC number was/is used for different formulations. In the image below, the left 2 pictures are from my garage and the last Dexos2 formula I used. The right 2 pictures are of the new ESP X4 formula that no longer covers Dexos2. Notice how both of them use the same UPC number. Why does that matter? Well, one can easily purchase the wrong formula. In fact, the guys at Autozone tried to tell me it's the same but untrue and that was confirmed with a phone call to Mobil 1.

Unfortunately, the older formula cost $11.99 each but Autozone always ran a special 6 bottles for $45 or $7.50 each.

The new DexosR bottles are $12.99 and Autozone has no deals. The cheapest now is 6 bottles for $59 on Amazon or $9.83 each.

My 2 local Autozones still have the ESPx3. The ESPx3 bottles is pretty much identical to the x4. No indication of what the difference is. Dexos 2 license doesn't appear on the x4 which means they could have just stop paying the license fee, I mean why would they put the Dexos 2 license# on the bottle if Dexos 2 has been phased out.

I would call BS on Mobil 1 saying the formula is different or that it doesn't meet Dexos 2 requirements... Unless they list the formula differences I'm not buying it.

[Gunkk]

Originally Posted by Classic Muscle

My 2 local Autozones still have the ESPx3. The ESPx3 bottles is pretty much identical to the x4. No indication of what the difference is. Dexos 2 license doesn't appear on the x4 which means they could have just stop paying the license fee, I mean why would they put the Dexos 2 license# on the bottle if Dexos 2 has been phased out.

I would call BS on Mobil 1 saying the formula is different or that it doesn't meet Dexos 2 requirements... Unless they list the formula differences I'm not buying it.

Mobil1 has spec sheets on most of their products on their websites. Should be easy enough to compare/contrast and make a decision.

[Classic Muscle]

Originally Posted by Gunkk

Mobil1 has spec sheets on most of their products on their websites. Should be easy enough to compare/contrast and make a decision.

Viscosity is 14.1 for x4 vs 13.9 for the x3, the other specs are the same but they only list a few specs. Super Car Dexos R 0W-40 has a viscosity of 12.9 btw.

X4 meets the same MB and Porsche requirements as X3. With GM's constantly changing Dexos # they didn't test and license it for an old Dexos spec (Dexos 2) that GM has discontinued.

Dexos 2 https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos2/index.html
Dexos R https://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexosr/index.html

[Patriot Motorsports USA]

Originally Posted by CalgaryZL1

I use Amsoil because I literally can’t buy any of this fairy dust oil that’s recommended in the service manuals

[cdrptrks]

Originally Posted by ZLElvira

You all crack me up with the "This Oil and That Oil" threads... did you know the Dexos oil is nothing special...? ... In addition, you are paying top dollar for the same exact fluids that WalMart is selling with their private label.
...
Then they get us arguing about it because somewhere over the rainbow of oil in the water... some Service Writer told you the warranty was void because you used a Walmart oil instead of theirs when if you did samples, they are exactly the same.

The owner's manual states that you must use Dexos 2 (or DexosR for the newer model years) for track use. Even if it is the same or very close to other cheaper oil options, it is worth the extra money to cover yourself in case you have a warranty claim because they could ask for receipts and if you didn't use the required oil they could deny your warranty claim.

I had about $6k of warranty engine work done on my car shortly before the warranty ran out. They didn't ask for receipts in my case which I found kind of surprising since I did my own oil changes besides one "free" oil change (upcharge for 0W-40 Dexos 2) at the dealership right after I bought the car.