Thirty nine billion: that’s the staggering
amount of motor oil used by engines worldwide annually, and most of this is
used just once and then treated as waste. Think about the sort of environmental
impact this would have on Mother Nature from the pollution it causes to the
reduction of the already dwindling supply of the world’s crude oil. And even
when used motor oil is disposed of properly, it is simply burned off into the
atmosphere, contributing to the already worsening problem of global warming.
Nonetheless, the world runs on oil—that’s a
fact of life. However, there must be a way to reduce the world’s dependency as
well as minimize the environmental impact caused by the seemingly insatiable
appetite for crude oil. One company has started the first step, and it comes
from a very unlikely industry: petrochemicals. The company is Ashland
Incorporated and its solution: Valvoline NextGen.
One of the largest producers of motor oil
in the United States,
Valvoline has been around since 1866. Since then, it has pioneered several key
technologies seen in almost every brand of motor oil including the creation of
fully-synthetic oil, oil specifically developed for high-mileage and older
engines, and engine oils that promise an engine longevity guarantee. Now,
Valvoline has taken a step further and introduced NextGen, a new line of
premium motor oil with environmental benefits.
Available for both gasoline and diesel
engine applications, Valvoline NextGen is made of 50 percent recycled motor
oil. This may not sound particularly pleasing to car owners out there, but
Valvoline says there’s nothing to worry about. Just about any brand of motor
oil is composed of 85 percent base oil and 15 percent additives. And being in
the lubricants business for more than a century, Valvoline engineers have
determined that it’s the additives that breakdown during use and not the base
oil itself. Valvoline has found a way to extract this base oil and after
undergoing a re-refining process, it’s transformed into 100 percent new motor
oil.
Though oil recycling has been around for
quite some time, its usability is severely limited given that the resulting oil
product still has some level of contaminants which will not pass the industry,
let alone Valvoline’s exacting quality standards. However, thanks to a new
process that mimics the refining of virgin crude oil, Valvoline is able to
remove contaminants and neutralize and remove any chemically altered molecules
to produce oil that answers the demand not just of regular drivers, but of
professional race car drivers as well.
Valvoline NextGen has already proven itself
on the racetracks of NASCAR where several teams have voluntarily switched to
the recycled motor oil after being convinced of Valvoline’s extensive series of
tests. As a matter of fact, Roush Fenway Racing’s Matt Kenseth scored Valvoline
NextGen’s first win by taking the legendary Daytona 500 race. Aside from
offering optimal engine protection against extreme heat, high RPMs and
anti-wear demands of racing, Cummins, the leading producer of diesel engines in
the world has given NextGen its seal of approval as well.
Whether on the road or track, Valvoline
mentions the key advantages of NextGen that benefits everyone. First, NextGen’s
base oil is cleaner because used oil actually has less contaminants and more
oil molecules compared to “virgin” crude oil. Second, processing used oil into
a new base requires less energy and produces fewer pollutants compared to the
drilling, processing and refining of crude oil from the ground. Lastly, NextGen
reduces the demand for crude oil, stretching the world’ supply of oil for
future generations.
Valvoline Philippines, a subsidiary of Ashland,
Inc. is also making a bold statement by offering NextGen to the local market.
Currently, the Philippines
is the only country in Asia to offer this
environmentally-conscious premium motor oil. This is in part thanks to the
Filipino’s largely environmentally-conscious mindset as well as the growing
demand for “green products”. And though people usually pay a premium for
earth-friendly technology, Valvoline Philippines will keep NextGen’s
pricing in line with similar premium mineral-based oils.
“We, at Valvoline are increasingly
concerned about the environmental situations that we experience. Thus, we felt
that now is the time for us to contribute to the preservation and protection of
the environment, which is why we are determined to search for new ways to
reduce our carbon footprint and environmental impact. Our long history and
proven track record of innovation and leadership puts us in the perfect
position to introduce a new game-changing motor oil in the industry. And with
the Valvoline NextGen, it is 50 percent recycled with 100 percent Valvoline
protection,” says Valvoline Philippines Country Manager Virgilio Mariano.
Indeed, Valvoline NextGen aims to reduce
the use of fossil fuels by a total of 48 percent, lessen harmful and acidic
emissions by 40 percent and the reduction of greenhouse gases by 20 percent.
All in all, not only is NextGen the next generation of motor oils, it also
helps preserve the environment for the next generation as well.
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