MaxLife Users

[Danh]

Questions for Valvoline MaxLife users. Put MaxLife red bottle 5w/20 into my 2005 Ford Escape 3.0 to try to help an oil leak from the timing chain cover ($$$). The leak became lots worse after a run of Pennzoil Ultra (maybe this stuff really is different!) and MaxLife seems to have helped a lot. I'm wondering now if the improvement is more related to going from a GTL synthetic to a more-conventional oil.

In any event, two things about MaxLife concern me a bit:

Some seem to think that MaxLife will condition or swell all seals, whether they need it or not and the result could eventually be more leaks as otherwise good seals are compromised. Has anyone seen this?

Some seem to think once seals have been conditioned with MaxLife, going back to a conventional, non-HM oil will result in shrinking seals and again, more leaks than there were at the beginning. Again, has anyone seen this?

MaxLife seems to be a pretty robust, readily available oil that lots of people use. The car in question has only 70,000 miles though, and I would like to be sure I've chosen the right path.

Thanks!

 

[John_K]

Maxlife stopped my old truck when it was leaking, drove it for several years no additional leaks appeared.

John

 

[Lead Shoes]

Max life worked well for me, but I found M1 HM to stop my VC leak and nearly stop my rear main leak on my old D16.

 

[KCJeep]

Maxlife is excellent and probably Valvoline's best product (which is saying something). You can run Maxlife for the life of your vehicle if you want to, no problem, but if you use it you won't be married to it by any means you can switch later without issue as well.

 

[bullwinkle]

Maxlife apparently is now a 60/40 syn/dino blend, and "meets/exceeds" dexos1 in some weights, I'm using it in a 4.6 Ford van with 16K on it, seems good so far.

 

[2KBMW]

I remember reading some time ago that the seal conditioner
Valvoline was using in Maxlife was grp V ester. This is why
they later changed and started calling Maxlife a semi-synthetic.
I hope this is true. I'd rather have a grp V ester than some
chemical swelling the seals.

 

[TallPaul]

You can't go wrong with Maxlife. I have used it in my motorhome since I bought it at 9700 miles and it now has 35,000 miles. No problems. I always add a zddp boost though. Have used it in old cars too with no problems.

 

[BobsArmory]

I have run Maxlife from time to time in my wifes Chevy Impala. The last 2 changes have not been maxlife and no leaks have appeared since.

 

[buster]

I've done a lot of research on MaxLife lately and think it's a unique product that absolutely has it's advantages.

I had a timing chain case leak on the Honda a few months back. I don't know what caused it (I have my theories), but it was expensive to fix.

All motor oils today, especially the GF-5 oils, contain seal conditioners and are compliant with OEM seal materials. Over time, engine seals degrade and this can be from multiple reasons such as - OEM quality seals, hot/cold cycles, extended drains, engine flushes used etc.

Valvoline created the "High Mileage" oil and is said to use the most advanced seal conditioners on the market. They do work and they do serve a purpose.

I'd stick with MaxLife as long as you can until you have to replace the seals.

MaxLife is essentially a boosted synthetic blend with higher detergency & seal conditioning agents.

*For those that have used nothing but a high quality oil and don't have any signs of leaks, pass on the HM oils.

MaxLife can be used and beneficial for new/rebuilt engines though. They are very clear about that.

 

[garlicbreadman]

it's an outstanding oil. I used maxlife 5w30 nextgen. i have a magnetic drain plug and for the first time ever i did not see any debris on the drain plug. Then i gave pennzoil highmileage a shot and found debris again on the magnetic drain plug. was blown away

 

[Ayrton]

MaxLife and other oils like the discontinued Mobil Clean High Mileage *always* temporarily stopped a leak I have.

However, for me, it only ever lasts about 500 miles. Then it becomes a really really tiny leak. Then after about 2000 miles, it becomes pretty much normal size leak again.


The improvement you saw is not only about going from synthetic to semi/conventional. It's the high mileage additives that truly help, well the ones that target seals at least.

However, not being full synthetic helps too. I know this because I have tried the full synthetic high mileage products like Valvoline's and M1 HM, and my leak doesn't slow down at all!

 

[The Critic]

Originally Posted By: Ayrton


The improvement you saw is not only about going from synthetic to semi/conventional. It's the high mileage additives that truly help, well the ones that target seals at least.

However, not being full synthetic helps too. I know this because I have tried the full synthetic high mileage products like Valvoline's and M1 HM, and my leak doesn't slow down at all!


I would like to hear the science behind this one.

 

[CharBaby]

I have had reasonable success with ML 5W30 slowing way down the oil useage(3 drips to 1 drip) in my '80 Firebird FORMULA V8 that has leaked/dripped for over 20 years. And I like the way the engine idled and ran.

I used the ML for 3 OCI/summers but, this summer I tried QS DEFY just because of the FAR on 5qts. I think that I may in fact like the DEFY juuuuust a tiny bit more for it's engine smoothness/quietness(both oils, ML & DEFY being 5W30)

But, although the ML didn't completly stop the drips on the garage floor, it did slow them down to a respectable quarter(.25cent) size from a mans fist size.

They were never puddles of oil, just drips!

 

[tommygunn]

Originally Posted By: Danh
Questions for Valvoline MaxLife users. Put MaxLife red bottle 5w/20 into my 2005 Ford Escape 3.0 to try to help an oil leak from the timing chain cover ($$$). The leak became lots worse after a run of Pennzoil Ultra (maybe this stuff really is different!) and MaxLife seems to have helped a lot. I'm wondering now if the improvement is more related to going from a GTL synthetic to a more-conventional oil.

In any event, two things about MaxLife concern me a bit:

Some seem to think that MaxLife will condition or swell all seals, whether they need it or not and the result could eventually be more leaks as otherwise good seals are compromised. Has anyone seen this?

Some seem to think once seals have been conditioned with MaxLife, going back to a conventional, non-HM oil will result in shrinking seals and again, more leaks than there were at the beginning. Again, has anyone seen this?

MaxLife seems to be a pretty robust, readily available oil that lots of people use. The car in question has only 70,000 miles though, and I would like to be sure I've chosen the right path.

Thanks!


The PU has some serious cleaning additives, so it removes all of the buildup in the engine that also stops the leaks. I used PP in my 1996 Dodge Ram to clean it out and ended up with a small valve cover leak, then I had to use Maxlife to later stop it up. Going back to Maxlife should fix your issue.

 

[Danh]

Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Ayrton


The improvement you saw is not only about going from synthetic to semi/conventional. It's the high mileage additives that truly help, well the ones that target seals at least.

However, not being full synthetic helps too. I know this because I have tried the full synthetic high mileage products like Valvoline's and M1 HM, and my leak doesn't slow down at all!


I would like to hear the science behind this one.


Not sure I know the science behind it, but Valvoline's website does not recommend synthetic oils in engines with seal leaks. I interpret this to mean synthetics leak more easily.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: Danh
Originally Posted By: The Critic
Originally Posted By: Ayrton


The improvement you saw is not only about going from synthetic to semi/conventional. It's the high mileage additives that truly help, well the ones that target seals at least.

However, not being full synthetic helps too. I know this because I have tried the full synthetic high mileage products like Valvoline's and M1 HM, and my leak doesn't slow down at all!


I would like to hear the science behind this one.


Not sure I know the science behind it, but Valvoline's website does not recommend synthetic oils in engines with seal leaks. I interpret this to mean synthetics leak more easily.


Yet they make a synthetic high mileage oil,very strange indeed

 

[buster]

...more detergents and extra seal conditioners. Some of them contain more ZDP (Mobil 1 HM). That's it.

 

[buster]

I think changing oil brands, as often was many of us do, is not really a good thing.

 

[friendly_jacek]

Originally Posted By: buster
I think changing oil brands, as often was many of us do, is not really a good thing.


I see that you are a hard core Mobil 1 fanboy, but you could be right here.

 

[Merkava_4]

I'm thinking of buying a MaxLife top up quart to go with the 5 quart bottle fill I put in last week.
I already have 3 quarts of Chevron in the same rated viscosity though. Decisions decisions......