What Is Dexos Oil?

Dustin Hawley | Dec 08, 2022

Taking proper care of your vehicle is a top priority. Failure to inspect the car or notice certain issues leads to damage and high repair costs.

What Is Dexos Oil

One of the most essential components of a car is the engine. Taking proper care of it will ensure problem-free driving and costly repair bills. Using the correct oil greatly assists in that, but there is a debate between going with conventional or dexos oil. 

This article will discuss dexos oil in-depth, including the differences between conventional oil and vehicle compatibility.

What Is Dexos Oil?

General Motors is a company that needs no introduction. Having brought multiple solid vehicle lines into existence, it has a long-standing reputation for quality.

If you know anything about GM, you will likely have seen “dexos oil” mentioned somewhere. The company developed a set of specifications for oil to be used in its vehicles from 2011 onwards. Dexos oil is any type of oil that happens to meet these specifications and get certified. 

Dexos oil is made from synthetics or synthetic blends. The idea behind creating dexos oil was to provide exceptional motor cleaning, increased gas mileage, extended drain interval, and reduced sludge formation. 

Is Dexos Oil Any Good?

Dexos oil is undoubtedly a high-quality product that brings long-term benefits with its use. General Motors conducted various in-house tests that showed dexos outperformed other synthetic or conventional oils. 

All synthetic oils undergo rigorous testing with modern engines in GM’s labs. These tests may include the Aeration test, Sequence VID test, the M271 Sludge test, etc. If they pass and meet all the specifications, a dexos title is befitted to them. 

While not many other companies conduct such tests, it is fair to assume that dexos oil provides benefits over conventional engine oil. 

Differences From Regular Oil

Between 2010 and 2013, GM stated that unauthorized dexos engine oil might lower the efficiency of your vehicle. They claimed it negatively impacted performance and could cause severe damage.

You can challenge these claims under the Magnuson-Moss Warranty act, but the question of using dexos oil remains. While it is true that the product is considerably more expensive, it does decrease the friction that is responsible for engine failure. Furthermore, it saves you from changing the oil too many times.

So, unless your engine is non-GM, it is risky to use conventional oil. After all, the repairs are costly, and challenging warranty claims over legal proceedings is even more expensive.

Does It Work With Any Vehicle?

You can use it as long as dexos oil matches the specifications for your car. Most vehicles require oil that is certified by specifications like API and ILSAC. 

One of the benefits is that GM makes the oil compatible with both GM and non-GM vehicles. It exceeds all international standards, and the company spreads the product across the globe. In turn, consumers unable to locate manufacturer-recommended oil often opt for dexos. 

But if you want to know for sure, just open up your car manual. Look up the specifications and compare them with the dexos oil ones. If everything meets or exceeds the requirements, you are good to go. 

Can I Still Use Conventional Oil?

It will depend on vehicle specifications and the way you drive. Conventional will do just fine if you are up to everyday things, usually using the car to go to the office. But, if you like to go on long trips and drive off-road, then dexos oil is the prime solution. 

Summary

Dexos oil uses advanced additives that make it flow quickly during winter and slowly during summer, giving the product strong viscosity grades. Moreover, even conventional high-grade oil lacks consistency and doesn’t perform as well against sludge and impurities. All in all, you can use conventional oil if you want. Just keep in mind that your warranty coverage and engine lifespan may be affected in the long term.

What’s Next?


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