I'm wondering if the valvoline high mileage and its supposed cleaning/conditioning capabilities could start a leak on my mom's E150 van with the 4.6l V8(95k miles). I don't want to use it and a couple of weeks later have it leaking oil even if it cleaned some sludge blocking the leak it could have much later on, as we wouldn't really have the money to fix it. It does not leak now, and I don't think the seals even have seepage, however i'm not 100% certain as I haven't looked at the underside real good. What do you think though? I was gonna use it and see if it helped with the slightly moderate oil consumption(about 2 quarts or so between 3-4k mile changes) after it was cleaned up and conditioned some.
Could Valvoline high mileage formula start a leak?
- Thread starter Schism
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Hmm.. I guess after some more reading the supposed cleaning properties of these high mileage oils are maybe inflated, maybe I will go with a 5w40 or 10w40 HDEO. So much freaking info on these forums.
Well, a HDEO will have good cleaning ability, but no seal conditioners like the MaxLife (or any High Mileage oil) have. I personaly would go with the MaxLife over HDEO if your worried about leaking. Many here would also recomend using Auto-RX first, it is supposed to be a much better cleaner and seal conditioner than any High Mileage oils. I have no personal experience, so I can't really say.
I have been useing valvoline maxlife dino in my 1996 taurus with 156k mile and my 1995 cavalier with 139 k miles and i have had no problems with the maxlife causing a leak.
The taurus has some seepage from the oil pan that has slowed after using the maxlife.
I still need to remove the oil pan and replace the gasket but the leak did slow down after using the maxlife so i would not worry about any leaks and go ahead and use it if you want valvoline maxlife is great oil
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The taurus has some seepage from the oil pan that has slowed after using the maxlife.
I still need to remove the oil pan and replace the gasket but the leak did slow down after using the maxlife so i would not worry about any leaks and go ahead and use it if you want valvoline maxlife is great oil
Triple_Se7en
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Replace one quart of Maxlife with one quart of HDEO Valvoline 15w40. Different additive properties in the HDEO will still maintain pretty good cleaning -- but in a little different package. Doing this will thin the sealing effects of straight Maxlife.... but that's a trade-off for reduced leak risk. If no leaks occur during this "mixologist" OCI, use straight Maxlife in your next OCI... meaning late summer/early fall.
[ May 07, 2005, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]
[ May 07, 2005, 12:00 PM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]
It is very unlikely. Maxlife is a conventional oil with additional seal swelling compounds, higher viscosity and with more anti-wear additives then their normal oil. THeir is nothing in it that would cause a seal to leak.
Gaskets leak due to hardening,cracking,tear or shrinkage.
Gaskets leak due to hardening,cracking,tear or shrinkage.
that's an understatement!!!
Too much swelling of the seals or gaskets will cause them to split or distort and that will cause a leak. I'm leary of seal conditioners...sometimes they do more harm than good. Just use HDEO and forget about it.
Triple_Se7en
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The seal conditioner in oils like Maxlife may not cause cracks in the seals. The cracks may of been there prior to the Maxlife - covered by a layer of crud now removed due to cleaning.
So yes... these high mileage oils could create a leak without doing any actual damage. Alot of times, the leak is only temporary... dependent on what caused it.... cracked seals/gaskets which means there's no cure or crud ring now removed... ending the leak.
[ May 07, 2005, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]
So yes... these high mileage oils could create a leak without doing any actual damage. Alot of times, the leak is only temporary... dependent on what caused it.... cracked seals/gaskets which means there's no cure or crud ring now removed... ending the leak.
[ May 07, 2005, 05:36 PM: Message edited by: Triple_Se7en ]
Ok I knew it was possible for it to start a leak with it's conditioners. Now that one person has confirmed a leak, i'll probably use 3 quarts(maybe 2) of regular valvoline, Havoline or tropartic depending on price, and 3(maybe 4) quarts of maxlife. Unless I can find some hdeo(this stands for "heavy duty engine oil" correct?) of a lesser weight at Walmart.
Thanks guys.
[ May 07, 2005, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: Schism ]
Thanks guys.
[ May 07, 2005, 05:42 PM: Message edited by: Schism ]
HDEO is Diesel Oil. For some reason or another people here call it HDEO to maybe make it more politically correct, but it's just Diesel Oil.
"Too much swelling of the seals or gaskets will cause them to split or distort and that will cause a leak. I'm leary of seal conditioners...sometimes they do more harm than good. Just use HDEO and forget about it."
I believe people overestimate how much seal swelling is possible with these high mileage oils. The seals are not going to double in size...maybe increase 5% or less. So I don't think your leak is occurring due to seal swell.
"The seal conditioner in oils like Maxlife may not cause cracks in the seals. The cracks may of been there prior to the Maxlife - covered by a layer of crud now removed due to cleaning."
I think this is the only practical way that the High Mileage oils could cause oil leaks. It also may be a coincidence that your oil leak started around the same time you started using High Mileage oils. IF you would have switched to a good synthetic, you would probably have the same oil leak as using your High Mileage oil, therefore it's a little unfair to blame Maxlife. It will be interesting to see if the leak goes away over time when you switch back to a conventional oil.
[ May 08, 2005, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: ryansride2017 ]
I believe people overestimate how much seal swelling is possible with these high mileage oils. The seals are not going to double in size...maybe increase 5% or less. So I don't think your leak is occurring due to seal swell.
"The seal conditioner in oils like Maxlife may not cause cracks in the seals. The cracks may of been there prior to the Maxlife - covered by a layer of crud now removed due to cleaning."
I think this is the only practical way that the High Mileage oils could cause oil leaks. It also may be a coincidence that your oil leak started around the same time you started using High Mileage oils. IF you would have switched to a good synthetic, you would probably have the same oil leak as using your High Mileage oil, therefore it's a little unfair to blame Maxlife. It will be interesting to see if the leak goes away over time when you switch back to a conventional oil.
[ May 08, 2005, 07:59 AM: Message edited by: ryansride2017 ]
99, All modern motor oil has seal conditioner/swell additives in it.It is usualy in the form of an ester I belive. THe difference is how much. They do not load a high milage oil full of seal swell but it does have more then a regular oil has. Their is no way Maxlife can cause an other wise healthy seal to leak! Their is not an oil marketed for passenger cars or diesels that will cause an other wise healthy seal to leak! He needs to look some place other then the Maxlife for the casue of the leak!
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