I had to recover/update my password, but I'm back.
Earlier last summer, a friend told me about Valvoline Restore and Protect. At the time, I was a confirmed AMSOIL XL user and had even (oh, the horror) stopped changing my own oil, and letting a (trusted) shop charge me twice what an oil change would cost DIY ($145.00 vs $75).
I came to my senses and watched the videos Lake Speed Jr. (The Motor Oil Geek) had on the "New" Valvoline R&P. I was more than a bit interested, since my current vehicle, a 2017 Camaro 2LS, 3.6L V6 (Supercharged), manual trans, 85,000 miles, had recieved questionable, at best, maintenance from the previous owner. The only sticking point was that the R&P was not DEXOS certified. But since any possibility of having a warranty is long gone, I figured no harm, no foul.
My hope was that the R&P would clear out any sludge/varnish in the oil system (including all the micro passages for the oil-pressure controlled VVT system). I figured at worst, it would make no noticable difference and just behave like an upper-level synthetic. So New Year's Day 2025, I was on the frozen concrete, in my unheated garage, dumping the 3 month / <2,000 mile Amsoil into the drain bucket, then topped off the 1st new Fram Ultraguard (Yes, I cheaped out on the filters, as I planned on changing the filter at 500 and 1,000 miles, then switching to a WIX or equivalent), installing the filter, then dumping the 5 qt jug of R&P 5W30 and the remainder of the 1 qt bottle I used to prime the filter into the crankcase.
My FIRST shock, came the instant I started the engine. I am USED to hearing some kind of noise from an engine when it's running, but this time, all I heard was the starter, then the burble from the exhaust. There was no noise from the engine at all. I've been driving since 1983, and have ALWAYS heard some kind of 'normal' engine noise, but from the time of that first start, it has been dead quiet.
My SECOND shock came the next morning. I had driven the car 95 miles on the new oil the first day, and the next morning after going out for breakfast, I went to visit a friend about 40 miles away (highway). I got on the highway, and worked up to 6th gear. As I drove along, I realized the throttle felt WAY different. The only way I could think of to describe it, was that the throttle felt super tight - it felt like I was still in 4th gear, when I actually was in 6th. Continuing to drive, it slowly occured to me that the thottle wasn't exactly tight (even though it felt that way), it was actually significantly more responsive.
Four days later, with a total of 206 miles on the oil, the effects I noticed instantly and at 95 miles are still there. Quiet engine, and enhanced responsiveness. I'm really looking forward to letting this oil do it's thing and getting the first of many used oil analysis' done.
Take this yarn for what it's worth ... since it is only subjective, based on my 58 year old ears, and over-padded butt dyno.
Earlier last summer, a friend told me about Valvoline Restore and Protect. At the time, I was a confirmed AMSOIL XL user and had even (oh, the horror) stopped changing my own oil, and letting a (trusted) shop charge me twice what an oil change would cost DIY ($145.00 vs $75).
I came to my senses and watched the videos Lake Speed Jr. (The Motor Oil Geek) had on the "New" Valvoline R&P. I was more than a bit interested, since my current vehicle, a 2017 Camaro 2LS, 3.6L V6 (Supercharged), manual trans, 85,000 miles, had recieved questionable, at best, maintenance from the previous owner. The only sticking point was that the R&P was not DEXOS certified. But since any possibility of having a warranty is long gone, I figured no harm, no foul.
My hope was that the R&P would clear out any sludge/varnish in the oil system (including all the micro passages for the oil-pressure controlled VVT system). I figured at worst, it would make no noticable difference and just behave like an upper-level synthetic. So New Year's Day 2025, I was on the frozen concrete, in my unheated garage, dumping the 3 month / <2,000 mile Amsoil into the drain bucket, then topped off the 1st new Fram Ultraguard (Yes, I cheaped out on the filters, as I planned on changing the filter at 500 and 1,000 miles, then switching to a WIX or equivalent), installing the filter, then dumping the 5 qt jug of R&P 5W30 and the remainder of the 1 qt bottle I used to prime the filter into the crankcase.
My FIRST shock, came the instant I started the engine. I am USED to hearing some kind of noise from an engine when it's running, but this time, all I heard was the starter, then the burble from the exhaust. There was no noise from the engine at all. I've been driving since 1983, and have ALWAYS heard some kind of 'normal' engine noise, but from the time of that first start, it has been dead quiet.
My SECOND shock came the next morning. I had driven the car 95 miles on the new oil the first day, and the next morning after going out for breakfast, I went to visit a friend about 40 miles away (highway). I got on the highway, and worked up to 6th gear. As I drove along, I realized the throttle felt WAY different. The only way I could think of to describe it, was that the throttle felt super tight - it felt like I was still in 4th gear, when I actually was in 6th. Continuing to drive, it slowly occured to me that the thottle wasn't exactly tight (even though it felt that way), it was actually significantly more responsive.
Four days later, with a total of 206 miles on the oil, the effects I noticed instantly and at 95 miles are still there. Quiet engine, and enhanced responsiveness. I'm really looking forward to letting this oil do it's thing and getting the first of many used oil analysis' done.
Take this yarn for what it's worth ... since it is only subjective, based on my 58 year old ears, and over-padded butt dyno.