We understand the power that information can hold for our customers, which is why our experts at SCL work to share the latest in trends, safety and compliance and a number of other topics on our blog. Please explore the latest entries below or search for articles by topic.
Leer en Español Read in EnglishExxonMobil Plays Catch Up While Shell Undergoes Quarterly Indexing Review ExxonMobil, which sat out the most recent round of price increases, will be increasing prices on finished lubricants effective September 15, 2022. According to ExxonMobil, market dynamics have been evolving driven by continued global and regional imbalances in the supply... Read More +
The 2022 Professional Installer Lubrication Recommendation Guide, the official key to the full line of Chevron Havoline® lubricants, is now available. This annual guide contains OEM specifications and corresponding Chevron product recommendations, and is an essential tool for professional installers. To request a copy, contact your SCL Representative.
12-20% Increase Across-The-Board As Oil Demand Peaks Increasing costs of raw materials and packaging impacting the manufacture of products, as well as an increase in transportation costs, are all being cited by major suppliers resulting in another round of price increases on finished lubricants. The prices of lubricating oils and... Read More +
Spike Will Affect Finished Lubricants, Greases, and Specialty Products. Chevron Provides Some Relief with Antifreeze/Coolant Decrease Major suppliers have announced yet another price increase between 10-15% on finished lubricants, greases, and specialty products. SCL will be passing along these price movements effective on manufacturing dates listed below. As of today,... Read More +
Effective April 15, Spike Will Affect Finished Lubricants, Greases, and Specialty Products Citing “intense inflationary pressure” due to increased costs across the board, some major suppliers have announced yet another price increase of up to 25% effective April 15 on finished lubricants, greases, and specialty products. The move, which comes... Read More +
Deliveries of Lubricants, DEF and Fuel to customers will see a Temporary Fuel Surcharge (TFS) added to their orders to account for similar charges pressed upon the market by suppliers themselves. SCL receives and distributes products from these suppliers to customers throughout California. This additional fee, which is a pass-through... Read More +
We are deeply troubled by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the ominous implications it has for escalating tensions between Russia and Western nations. As we watch the war and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine unfold in Europe, we join the free world in condemning violence and praying for peace... Read More +
Ongoing increases in raw materials, significant hikes in packaging, freight get the blame On the heels of a dual increase on DEF in January 2022, suppliers have responded to a volatile market and continued cost hikes across the board with another increase ranging from 15% to 25% on finished lubricants... Read More +
SCL Keeps Eye on Opportunities but Focus on Continuing Tradition of Customer Service Acquisitions of several family-owned oil and lubricant distributors throughout California by national players has created a new landscape of the state’s petroleum industry in the past 14 months alone. While SCL has participated in its own acquisitions... Read More +
Increase for Raw Materials Effective Jan. 1 Precedes Annual Adder Increase for Rail Freight Due to increases announced by diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) suppliers, SCL is increasing DEF prices immediately by $0.25 per gallon. In addition, another increase will take effect later in the month to account for the annual... Read More +
Why Prioritizing Profitability Doesn’t Have to Mean Sacrificing Customers While car dealerships are constantly working to keep their labor rates in line with market demand, often raising costs for customers as a result, smaller independent shops do not operate in the same manner. For many, especially mom-and-pop repair operations that... Read More +
The energy crisis in California is very real, but will new power plants solve the grid problem? The answer isn’t quite as simple as it appears. It’s no secret that California’s grid has been strained over the past several years as energy demand increases fueled in part by population increases... Read More +
Tumultuous Year for DEF, Lubricants, Additives + Greases Ends with Across the Board Hike In what has been an unprecedented and tumultuous year for price increases on DEF, lubricants, additives and greases, manufacturers have once again announced an across-the-board hike of up to 15% on all products effective in December.... Read More +
$1/gallon Rebate on Qualifying Purchases of Chevron Coolants Now in Effect Chevron has announced a rebate program for Delo® Premium Coolant will extend through Nov. 30, 2021, offering an opportunity to take advantage of $1/gallon cashback with every qualifying purchase of at least 110 gallons. Qualifying purchases include those of... Read More +
Owners Wrestle With Halt in New Production + Critical Part Delays that Ground Trucks The ongoing supply chain crisis, impacted largely by a historic backlog at major ports on the West Coast, is hitting fleets particularly hard. In addition to preventing companies from accessing critical repair parts like DEF sensors... Read More +
New announcement cites increase of up to 9% on select products beginning Nov. 4 As costs associated with production and transportation of base oils and lubricants continue to climb, additive manufacturers have now announced an increase of up to 9% on select products beginning Nov. 4, 2021. It’s important to... Read More +
Discounts on Overstock Items Can Be Up to 20% Of the many paths to profitability for businesses, one principle that has always remained true, regardless of business size or industry sector, is to take advantage of every opportunity. Exploring SCL overstock inventory can be one of those opportunities. With lubricant... Read More +
Salinas Valley Farmers Face an Uphill Battle Thanks to Pending Regulations, Trucking Shortages, and Ongoing Dents in Demand With over 1.4 million acres in Salinas Valley dedicated to agriculture, the region is well known as the “Salad Bowl of the World.” Crops ranging from lettuce to broccoli, spinach, strawberries, and... Read More +
SCL Recommends Customers Plan Now to Avoid Fallout from Fertilizer, DEF Shortages DEF costs in late September jumped $0.15 – $0.20 gallon while prices for urea, the key ingredient in diesel exhaust fluid, have also simultaneously skyrocketed in recent weeks. Prices for DEF in Europe has jumped as well, a... Read More +
Due to global economic activity resuming, disruptions of manufacturing overseas, and supply chain challenges ranging from port congestion and even California wildfires diverting railroad shipments, experts began sounding the alarm earlier this year about urea shortages and increasing DEF prices. Spikes in demand in the agriculture industry and more... Read More +
Precautionary Measures for Companies, Critical Infrastructure and Municipalities to Take For Short- and Long-Term Stability As temperatures continue to rise, most of us are anxiously monitoring the state of California’s power grid. While most only think of their own lights in their own home, the reality is that power is everywhere. ... Read More +
Prices Linger at 7-Year High as Foreign Oil Manufacturers Hold Reins on Supply In the face of continually rising gas prices throughout the United States and a push for his $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill prioritizing clean energy, President Joe Biden called on OPEC+ leaders in July to increase oil production... Read More +
After 25 Years, Dedicated Teammate Leaves Void at Company We are deeply saddened of the recent passing of our long-time SCL family member Raul Evangelista. On Tuesday, Aug. 17, Raul passed with his family and friends by his side. A resident of Eastvale, he is survived by his wife Elsa... Read More +
High Demand Among Agriculture, Factory Shutdowns Leading to Higher Prices In the early months of 2021, experts stated that spikes in urea prices were driven by greater demand in the agriculture industry and more prevalent use among diesel-engine vehicles. Although price increases during the spring planting season isn’t uncommon, the... Read More +
Coolant maintenance is a priority during hot months. However, preventative summer maintenance should extend well beyond coolant and oil. The summer months can be brutal on engines. That’s why people call roadside assistance more during the summer than at any other time. However, it’s not just personal vehicles that are... Read More +
Picture this—you pull into the Shell gas station on Pico and Western. The Marquee reads $4.52 for regular unleaded, $4.92 for premium, and $4.50 for Diesel. But wait…weren’t gas prices more than $1 less just a year ago? Yes, but fuel taxes aren’t what they used to be. Fuel... Read More +
Awaiting Funding, Chips for America Act to Invest $52 Billion in U.S. Chip Manufacturing Amid an ongoing semiconductor shortage that continues to significantly impact the ability to complete vehicle builds for automotive and fleets, automobile industry leaders and unions have linked up to push Congress to move on the Chips... Read More +
Why You Should Care How Long Electric Vehicle Batteries Last + What Happens After Amid the years-long discussion of replacing combustible engines in California with electric vehicles (EVs) and the impact that will have on the state’s power grid and economy, there’s a looming issue that most everyone on either... Read More +
Suppliers Attribute 7% to 18% Spike Across Products to Market Stress, Soaring Costs In an unprecedented and “unique” year, suppliers have announced their fourth price increase since January 2021 on finished lubricants, greases, chemicals, coolants, DEF and antifreezes – with hikes ranging from 7% to 18% depending on the product.... Read More +
3 Issues Service Departments Should Be Focusing on Now to Get Ahead With AAA predicting more than 37 million Americans will be traveling for the upcoming Memorial Day weekend, and millions more feeling comfortable enough to spend summer on the road once again, automotive service centers have an opportunity to... Read More +