What Schaeffer's Oil does

Schaeffer Manufacturing Co., doing business as Schaeffer's Oil, is a privately held specialty lubricants manufacturer founded in 1839 and headquartered in St. Louis, Missouri, with manufacturing operations in St. Louis, MO and Du Quoin, IL, and a workforce of 501–1,000 employees. The company formulates, blends, and packages synthetic and petroleum-based engine oils, greases, gear lubricants, hydraulic and transmission fluids, metalworking fluids, motorcycle lubricants, food-grade lubricants, fuel additives, surfactants, and specialty industrial chemicals, serving more than 15 vertical end-markets including agriculture, trucking, construction, mining, manufacturing, marine, and racing.

The company's technical differentiators are proprietary additive systems trademarked under brands such as Micron Moly (molybdenum disulfide for friction and wear reduction), Penetro (friction modifier for racing and performance oils), VarniShield (varnish inhibitor for slide/way lubricants), high-zinc anti-wear packages, and biostatic surfactant technology for metalworking cleaners. These additives are blended with premium base stocks including polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetics and severely hydrofinished paraffins to produce specialty formulations such as Supreme 7000/9000 racing oils, Silver Streak wire-rope and open-gear lubricants, Citrol degreasers, Neutra fuel stabilizers, and a dedicated V-Twin motorcycle product line meeting Harley-Davidson specifications.

Revenue is generated through one-time product sales (no subscription or licensing model disclosed) via a hybrid go-to-market combining factory-trained field sales representatives for enterprise accounts, a U.S. retail partner network accessed via a retail locator, an owned direct-to-consumer e-commerce store at schaeffersoilshop.com, and international district offices for export. Pricing is not publicly listed; the company supplements its commercial offering with technical services including a laboratory oil analysis program and a Lube Advisor selection tool to support customer adoption and retention.

Name

Schaeffer's Oil

Legal name

Schaeffer Manufacturing Co.

Website

https://schaefferoil.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1839

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Schaeffer Manufacturing Co. (dba Schaeffer's Oil) is a privately held, St. Louis-based specialty lubricants manufacturer founded in 1839, formulating synthetic and petroleum-based engine oils, greases, metalworking fluids, food-grade lubricants, and fuel additives with proprietary additives (Micron Moly, Penetro, VarniShield), serving agriculture, trucking, mining, manufacturing, racing, and more than 15 other verticals through factory-direct, retail, and e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Lubricants

NAICS

Petroleum Lubricating Oil and Grease Manufacturing (324191), Petroleum and Petroleum Products Merchant Wholesalers (4247), Other Chemical and Allied Products Merchant Wholesalers (42469)

SIC

Motor Vehicle Parts & Accessories (3714), Wholesale-Petroleum & Petroleum Products (No Bulk Stations) (5172), Wholesale-Motor Vehicle Supplies & New Parts (5013)

akta.pro primary industry

Industrial & Heavy-Duty Lubricants (IMAEAMAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Automotive Lubricants & Fluids (IMAEAMAA), Automotive Lubricants (PCMO, HDMO, ATF, Gear Oils, Coolants) (EUALAJAH), Greases & Specialty Lubricants (Greases, Pastes, Chain Oils, Silicone/Fluoro) (EUALAJAJ), Gear Oils & Transmission Fluids (IMAEAMAE), Fuel Additives & Lubricant Additives (IMAEAMAL), Lubricant Additives & Performance Chemicals (EUALAJAB)

Keywords

• Industrial lubricants
• Synthetic motor oils
• Fuel additives
• Metalworking fluids
• Racing engine oils

Headquarters

HQ city

St Louis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Lubricant Product Sales: Schaeffer's Oil generates revenue through the manufacture and sale of specialized lubricants including engine oils, fuel additives, greases, gear lubes, hydraulic fluids, metalworking fluids, and specialty products. Sales are conducted through multiple channels including direct factory representatives, retail partners, and e-commerce. The company serves diverse end markets including agriculture, trucking, construction, mining, manufacturing, racing, and marine sectors.
2. Industrial Lubricant Solutions: Sale of industrial lubricants and metalworking fluids to manufacturing, mining, and industrial operations. Products are sold in various packaging sizes from small containers to bulk quantities, with technical support through oil analysis services and Lube Advisor tool.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Schaeffer Manufacturing Co. (Schaeffer's Oil) manufactures and sells synthetic and petroleum-based industrial and automotive lubricants, including engine oils, fuel additives, greases, gear lubricants, hydraulic and transmission fluids, metalworking fluids, food-grade lubricants, motorcycle lubricants, and specialty products. The company's offerings are differentiated by proprietary additive technologies (Micron Moly, Penetro, VarniShield) and are sold across more than 15 vertical end-markets including agriculture, trucking, construction, mining, manufacturing, racing, and marine.

Product overview

Schaeffer's Oil is a specialized lubricants manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of synthetic and petroleum-based oils, greases, and specialty products for automotive, commercial, industrial, and racing applications. The product portfolio centers around major categories including Engine Oils (gasoline, diesel, and racing formulations), Fuel Additives, Greases, Gear Lubricants, Hydraulic Fluids, Metalworking Fluids, Motorcycle Lubricants, Food Grade Lubricants, and Specialty Products. Key product sub-brands include the Supreme 7000 Synthetic Plus and Supreme 9000 Full Synthetic racing oil lines, Micron Moly Racing Oils, and Silver Streak open gear and wire rope lubricants. The company also offers specialized niche products like the Penetro line of penetrating oils, Citrol citrus-based degreasers, Wet-Sol dust control surfactants, and Machine Kleen industrial cleaners. Schaeffer's differentiates through proprietary additives like Micron Moly (molybdenum disulfide) and Penetro friction modifiers blended into their formulations. Products are distributed through factory-trained representatives, retail partners, and an online direct-to-consumer store.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Schaeffer Manufacturing Co. Parent company and legal entity name

Products and services

• Engine Oils Synthetic and conventional engine oils providing engine durability and fuel economy benefits for gasoline and diesel engines, including API SQ upgraded grades and hybrid/high-mileage formulations.
• Fuel Additives Fuel additives that keep fuel systems and fuel tanks clean for optimal performance, including stabilizers and fuel system cleaners for gasoline, ethanol-blended gasoline, diesel, and biodiesel fuels.
• Greases Heavy-duty greases formulated to outlast conventional greases and resist thinning or running off in severe operating conditions.
• Gear Lubricants Gear lubricants that protect gear boxes and differentials against oxidation, corrosion, wear, and bearing distress.
• Transmission and Tractor Hydraulic Fluids Lubricants designed to withstand higher operating temperatures and reduce wear in transmissions and tractor hydraulic systems, extending equipment life.
• Hydraulic Fluids Hydraulic fluids offering stay-in-grade performance for better equipment protection and reduced lubricant consumption.
• Metalworking Fluids Metalworking fluids including honing oils, cutting oils, and semi-synthetic coolants that improve surface finish and prolong tool life in machining and grinding operations.
• Food Grade Lubricants Food-grade lubricants meeting stringent industry regulations while maintaining equipment durability for food processing applications.
• Motorcycle Lubricants Synthetic and conventional motorcycle lubricants including V-Twin specific formulations that meet Harley-Davidson V-Twin specifications, designed for smoother and more responsive bike operation.
• Specialty Products Specialty lubricants including chain lubes, penetrating oils, degreasers, heat transfer oils, and dust control solutions for unique industrial and consumer needs.
• 116BC Bar and Chain Lube Rapidly penetrating chain and bar lubricant that protects saw chains and bars against wear and deposit buildup, intended for chainsaw and similar cutting equipment.
• 190 Penetro 90 Penetrating Oil Penetrating oil that frees moving parts that have become difficult to operate and triples protection against corrosion, leveraging the Penetro additive system.
• 233 Wet-Sol Concentrate Biodegradable, non-ionic surfactant concentrate for dust control on dirt race tracks and crop enhancement applications.
• 319 Hi-Visc Boom Lube Highly adhesive aerosol lubricant for crane booms and aerial lifts, formulated to spray on easily and stay in place under field conditions.
• 298 Smokeless Hi-Temp Chain Lube Full synthetic, smokeless chain lubricant with soluble moly for high-temperature chains rated for continuous operation up to 450F and spot temperatures to 600F.
• Supreme 7000 Synthetic Plus Racing Oil (Grades 705, 708, 709) High zinc, multi-grade para-synthetic racing oils for high-performance gasoline engines, including those with flat tappet cams and turbocharged or supercharged engines.
• Supreme 9000 Full Synthetic Racing Oil (Grade 9001) Full synthetic racing oil for high-performance gasoline engines with flat tappet cams or those that are supercharged or turbocharged.
• Micron Moly Racing Oil (Grades 110, 171, 191) High zinc racing oils available in straight-grade and multi-grade formulations, designed for high-performance gasoline and alcohol-based fuel engines using Micron Moly additive technology.
• 706 Supreme 7000 Synthetic Plus 2-Cycle NMMA TC-W3 Oil Advanced synthetic blend, ashless 2-cycle oil for water-cooled two-cycle engines that meets and exceeds NMMA TC-W3 performance requirements.
• 9006 Supreme 9000 Full Synthetic 2-Cycle Racing Oil Premium top-tier ashless, full synthetic 2-cycle engine oil for carbureted, electronic fuel injected, and direct injection 2-cycle engines, meeting NMMA TC-W3.
• 170 Extreme Performance Full Synthetic 75W-140 Gear Oil Full synthetic gear oil for Harley-Davidson V-Twin transmissions and high-performance differentials, providing smoother shifting and reduced gear noise.
• 240 Extreme Performance V-Twin Primary Lube Lubricant designed for the primary chain case of Harley-Davidson Big Twin Models and wet clutches sharing the same sump as transmission gears.
• 707 Extreme V-Twin Synthetic Plus 20W-50 Engine Oil Advanced para-synthetic engine oil for V-Twin engines and most motorcycles with separate engine compartments, meeting Harley-Davidson V-Twin specifications.
• 131 Neutra Fuel Stabilizer Highly concentrated, multi-functional, ashless fuel stabilizer for gasoline, ethanol-blended gasoline, diesel fuel, and biodiesel blends, formulated to optimize fuel economy up to 5%.
• 131C SoyUltra Fuel Additive Ashless soybean-oil-based fuel additive with friction-modifying and detergency properties for gasoline and ethanol blends in two-stroke and four-stroke engines.
• 311 Synkool SS Metalworking Fluid Water-soluble, semi-synthetic, biostable, low-foaming metalworking fluid for grinding and high-speed machining operations.
• 411 MaxKool SS Metalworking Fluid Semi-synthetic micro-emulsion metalworking fluid for machining a wide variety of alloys, with excellent biostatic control to extend sump life.
• 511 UltraKool SS Metalworking Fluid Multi-purpose semi-synthetic, very low foaming, biostable metalworking fluid for machining and grinding ferrous and non-ferrous metals.
• 611 Machine Kleen Water-soluble, low-foaming, high-alkaline blend of surfactants and biostatic additives designed to remove debris, process oils, deposits, and bio-films from machining tool sumps.
• 199 Silver Streak Wire Rope Lubricant Lubricant that extends service life of wire ropes in high or low ambient temperatures, forming a non-tacky surface that resists dirt and abrasives.
• 200 Silver Streak Multi-Lube Spray Heavy-duty, highly adhesive, semi-synthetic lubricant that remains soft and pliable across a wide temperature range, forming an indestructible adhesive film.
• 200S Silver Streak Special Para-synthetic, heavy-duty, extreme pressure lubricant for open gears, dipper sticks, house rails, and rollers.
• Specialized Industrial Oils Specialized lubricants recommended for a wide range of industrial applications beyond the standard product categories.
• Surfactants Surfactant products for various industrial and agricultural applications, including crop enhancement and dust control.
• Open Gear, Wire and Thread Fluids Heavy-duty lubricants for open gears, wire ropes, and wire threads using advanced adhesive and film-forming additives for long-lasting performance in adverse conditions.
• Oil Analysis Services Laboratory oil analysis services accessed via schaeffer.theoillab.com to help customers monitor equipment health and optimize drain intervals.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced engine wear and extended component life through Micron Moly and Penetro friction modifiers
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Valvoline: Valvoline is a major US-headquartered lubricant brand and quick-lube operator with significantly broader scale. Overlaps with Schaeffer's across engine oils, racing products, and industrial fluids but operates at a much larger national retail and OEM footprint.
• ExxonMobil (Mobil 1): ExxonMobil's Mobil 1 is a dominant global synthetic engine oil brand with major OEM factory-fill positions. Sets the competitive ceiling for Schaeffer's in synthetic engine oils, gear lubricants, and industrial product categories.
• TotalEnergies Lubricants: TotalEnergies is a global integrated lubricants player serving automotive and industrial markets worldwide. Comparable to Schaeffer's in industrial and metalworking fluid offerings but at significantly larger scale and broader international footprint.
• Shell Lubricants: Shell is a global integrated lubricants major with the Rotella, Pennzoil, and Helix brands. Competes with Schaeffer's in heavy-duty engine oils, industrial lubricants, and racing sponsorships but with vastly greater global scale and OEM relationships.
• Citgo Petroleum (Mystik Lubricants): Citgo's Mystik lubricants line serves automotive, agricultural, and industrial markets through a US wholesale network. Comparable product breadth to Schaeffer's but distributed primarily through mass wholesale and big-box channels at commodity positioning.

Direct peers

• Lucas Oil: Lucas Oil is a specialty lubricants and additives manufacturer with strong presence in racing, automotive performance, and industrial markets. Highly comparable to Schaeffer's in additive technology branding, racing sponsorships, and multi-channel US distribution.
• Lubrication Engineers: Lubrication Engineers is a privately held specialty industrial lubricants manufacturer serving heavy industry, mining, manufacturing, and food-grade applications. Closely matches Schaeffer's industrial vertical mix, food-grade line, and direct sales rep model.
• Amsoil: Amsoil is a US-based specialty synthetic lubricant manufacturer with a similar direct-sales-plus-dealer distribution model. The two compete most directly in synthetic engine oils, racing oils, and motorcycle lubricants with comparable premium-positioning strategies.
• Royal Purple: Royal Purple (now part of Calumet) is a specialty synthetic lubricants manufacturer focused on high-performance automotive and industrial applications. Competes with Schaeffer's in synthetic engine oils, gear lubes, and racing products with similar premium positioning.

Emerging players

• RSC Bio Solutions: RSC Bio Solutions is a smaller specialty player focused on bio-based and environmentally acceptable lubricants for marine, oil & gas, and industrial applications. Competes with Schaeffer's in the metalworking and specialty industrial segments with an emerging sustainability angle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SchaefferOil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Schaeffer's Oil