Can’t decide between Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30, Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30, and Mobil 1 Advanced Clean 5W-30. My primary goal is internal engine cleaning, not extended OCI. Vehicle: 2017 Subaru Impreza FB20D, 60k miles. Previous owner appears to have stretched oil changes by 3–4k miles according to Carfax, so I’m prioritizing detergency and deposit control. Planning shorter OCIs initially. Between these three, which would you choose strictly for cleaning effectiveness, and why?
Best Oil for Engine Cleaning 2017 Subaru FB20D
- Thread starter papang
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wemay
Site Donor 2023
Valvoline Restore and Protect. Enough people have validated Valvoline's claims to convince me it's not just a valvetrain cleaner, but a piston deposits cleaner as well.
Maybe Mobil 1 Advanced Clean will show similar results in time.
Maybe Mobil 1 Advanced Clean will show similar results in time.
Valvoline Restore and Protect!
For cleaning, easy to get and very reasonably priced, Valvoline Restore and Protect.
Valvoline Restore and Protect . You will appreciate the quality of the lubricity and the engine cleaning. Use a quality extended service oil filter. Change at 5k miles.
Out of curiosity, how did you quantify lubricity to be able to appreciate it?
This is what i would do.
Ha!
It is a high quality synthetic oil equal to or better than most. Appreciate the lubricity.
Have you looked at the SDSs?
Valvoline Restore and Protect for at least 4 oil changes about 4,000 miles each at least the first two. Then Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30.
That's what I would do.
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
How many BITOG anecdotes does it take to equal a quantitative data trend?
Looking at other website forums and reviews, Valvoline Restore and Protect and HPL aren't just BITOG's flavors of the month.
Valvoline's SDS from NAPA link. You won't see much until you get to page 12.
https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/312118867pdf
Valvoline's Product Information Sheet
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...379f19f8/ffdb3f9b-e06d-ee11-b828-48df379f19f8
Looking at other website forums and reviews, Valvoline Restore and Protect and HPL aren't just BITOG's flavors of the month.
Valvoline's SDS from NAPA link. You won't see much until you get to page 12.
https://media.napaonline.com/is/content/GenuinePartsCompany/312118867pdf
Valvoline's Product Information Sheet
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...379f19f8/ffdb3f9b-e06d-ee11-b828-48df379f19f8
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This! I don’t own a Subie (though I’ve always had a soft spot for those Blue STIs!) but I’d listen to @Glenda W. or @SubieRubyRoo on any Subaru engine stuff on BITOG. They may have owned one or two of them, lol.
Exactly this.
Everyone have their favorite oil at various grades. We could argue weather Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or Mobil 1 ESP is better at 20 or 30 grade. But when it comes to cleaning, Valvoline really made an overwhelmingly successful product, I don't think there is any room for doubt at this point.
Assuming you are after 5w30, i would run Restore and protect for a considerable while. Valvoline says 4 OCI, but it would not hurt to go even further. At that point you know you have a pristine cleanliness, and then you could stay with it or move to a different product.
Glenda has a good point, as always. Subaru is not an extended drain friendly engine. My manual says 7500 miles for regular service ( or 3750 if driven hard or short trips). 4k mile is sensitive,.can be pushed to 5k, but definitely not 10k miles. I would consider keeping the first interval 3 to 4k miles with a cleaning oil. If you are using oem filter, that has a high bypass valve pressure and made out of cellulose media. That filter also is not extended oci friendlly
Mobil 1 Extended Performance or Pennzoil Ultra Platinum
This. Though depending on how dirty, I would stick with normal changes. My manual calls for 6k/6m intervals and that is what I have been doing throughout the life of both of my Subarus. Never extended and honestly my Legacy has had the first few changes with short miles; probably 2-3 k due to not driving it a lot. Since then, it has been right around both 6k and 6m. My Impreza is a different story. Almost always 6 months with once or twice going to 8 months but always love 1200-3k miles until recently. I think I actually may get to 5k this oci.
I'll be moving my Legacy to Valvoline Restore and Protect after my next 2 changes. 95% of changes have been Mobil 1 Extended Performance.
I just had to..............................Valvoline Restore and Protect.
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