Valvoline Debuts Heavy-Duty Engine Oil With 100,000-Mile Drain Approval
Valvoline Global Operations introduced Premium Blue One Solution Gen 2 heavy-duty engine oil, which the company says is designed to extend oil drain intervals for multiple engine types. The product has been approved by Cummins for oil drain intervals of up to 100,000 miles (160,000 kilometers) under certain operating conditions. The extended drain intervals apply to Cummins X15 diesel and natural gas engines.
Valvoline said the longer service intervals can reduce maintenance events, improve fleet uptime and lower operating costs. Premium Blue One Solution Gen 2 is engineered for diesel, natural gas and gasoline engines, allowing fleets to consolidate lubricants across mixed-fuel equipment. The lubricant was developed in collaboration with Cummins, extending a partnership spanning more than 30 years. The extended drain capability applies to Cummins X15 diesel and natural gas engines built between 2021 and 2026 that achieve at least 7 miles per gallon and operate with less than 40% idle or power take-off time.
Nyco Opens New U.S. Ester Plant
French company Nyco’s new plant in Newnan, Georgia, is now fully operational and producing Nycobase synthetic ester base stocks in the United States. The Newnan plant will supply the American market with synthetic ester base oils for both industrial and automotive applications. The plant also manufactures HX-1 Nycobase FG food-grade base oils. The HX-1 Nycobase FG series is free of PFAS and MOAH.
Valvoline Motor Oil Unsticks Piston Rings
It’s been a busy time for Valvoline Global Operations, which claims that its Restore & Protect motor oil can release seized piston rings, addressing a major contributor to engine failure when used continuously. This builds on the product’s 2024 launch claim that it could eliminate all piston deposits over time. The company cites validation from laboratory work at its Ashland, Kentucky, Propulsion Lab and supporting engine teardown studies.
Piston rings play a critical role in sealing combustion, managing oil usage, and dissipating heat. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures can cause deposits to harden around the rings, immobilizing them and degrading engine performance—an issue traditionally requiring mechanical repair. According to the company, the formulation reverses this condition without disassembly. The oil combines deposit-removal and protective technologies and is offered in several viscosity grades. Performance claims were assessed using adapted Sequence IIIH testing developed by ASTM International.