Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 engine cleaning results

[FTTSHO]

The vehicle is my 2001 Chevy Blazer 4x4 with the 4.3 Vortec. The truck has about 120,000 miles as of Oct 20.


So the first picture shows the inside of the oil filter adapter area before using Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30. Taken on June 13, 2025, after draining Valvoline Restore and Protect. But the inside still looked the exact same, after Valvoline Restore and Protect. Its always looked just like this since 3 years ago.

As you can see there was lots of varnish and what almost looked like stuck on sludge in some areas. It’s been just like this since I got the truck almost 3 years ago. This truck has seen nothing but regular API SP spec 5w30 oil changes, and maybe 2 or 3 oil changes with Mobil 1 Full Synthetic0w40 in 2024.


Now the second picture is after running Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 for about 5500 miles, from June 13, 2025 through October 20, 2025.

The difference actually surprised me yesterday when I took the filter off. Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 did such a good job with cleaning out a lot of the varnish and sludge that other API SP spec oils such as Valvoline Restore and Protect, Pennzoil, Rotella T6 MV, and others didn’t.

I ended up putting in Pennzoil Platinum HM 5w30 API SQ in the truck this time, because I got 5 quarts for $22, and did not realize ESP did this good until I bought the pennzoil and did the oil change. If I knew I probably would have got the ESP, but maybe on the next oil change.

Pretty impressed with ESP! ESP 0w20 is going in my 2016 Lexus ES350 when it needs an oil change. I’m sold.

 

[GW.]

I’m actually cleaning up a friend’s Subaru I maintain. It had an orangish varnish left from a life of Quaker State Full Synthetic 0W-20. ESP 0W-30 is cleaning it up nicely. It only gets 2 oil changes per year so I have been taking pics of the progress. Hopefully by year end I’ll post a full report.

 

[JavierH19]

Oil with stricter than regular pcmo cleanliness approvals like euro or diesel does a great job in cleaning. 15w-40 did the same to my 5.3 and 6.0. Used mostly pcmo 10w-30 and 10w-40 depending on the season and some 20w-50 a few times in the hot summer during road trip season and it looked like that. Before I switched to 15w-40 permanently it was a bit less darker and dirtier looking than yours but after the first run it was noticeably cleaner. After the second run it was a lot cleaner. After the third it looked almost like new. I remember it being the old CJ rotella T but then used other brands after the 4th or 5th oil change with it.

In the last change on the mitsubishi at 107k using Quaker State 5w40 now Castrol 0w-40 the oil filter adapter looked completely spotless and new. At 100k neither the sierra or yukon looked anywhere close as clean.

Before then I only used 15w-40 a few times when it was much lower mileage and cleaner since I sometimes got it for free from a friends diesel repair shop but after I saw how clean it was at that higher mileage I never stopped using it. Helped to reduce the oil consumption in them gradually with every change and now my yukon burns almost nothing and the sierra only burns a little but not enough to where I top off anymore.

At worst I used to burn a quart every 2 gas tanks in my sierra so about 800 miles and in my yukon every 3 tanks so a quart every 1100-1200 miles and since I would top the engine off regularly I figured that since i'm replenishing the oil so much I can do close to 10k before draining the oil and changing the filter so I did that. I also topped the oil off with atf, power steering fluid, and even used hydraulic oil if I had nothing else on hand. I once stopped at autozone to buy oil but saw a used oil jug by the bin and saw that the oil only looked brown and not black when I sloshed the inside with the cap off and figured it was good enough so I topped it off with that and left the rest in the back. I have no idea how those two engines have gone over 600k together since new without being torn into still running like new today. Such durable engines. No way I could get away with that in my 2021.

 

[loneryder]

I don't know how you can come to any serious conclusions when you use a different oil in every OC.

 

[ltslimjim]

Not to play devil’s advocate, but what would stop a person from simply cleaning the pictured area by hand? It’s right there.

 

[travis8352]

I don't know how you can come to any serious conclusions when you use a different oil in every OC.

When it looks the same with every oil change and is suddenly clean the first time using this oil, how can you not come to a serious conclusion?

 

[ltslimjim]

I don't know how you can come to any serious conclusions when you use a different oil in every OC.

IMO, it could’ve likely been cleaned by running Valvoline Restore and Protect a couple more times; as it’s a slower cleaner by design.

The ESP appears to be no slouch though. Good results from other posters as well.

I personally couldn’t let that area stare at me in the face and do nothing. Seems easy enough to clean by hand.

 

[jghall00]

I don't know how you can come to any serious conclusions when you use a different oil in every OC.

I think the conclusion was that the Mobil 1 ESP removed a lot of the gunk and buildup that was present after using other oils.

 

[Brian123]

The vehicle is my 2001 Chevy Blazer 4x4 with the 4.3 Vortec. The truck has about 120,000 miles as of Oct 20.


So the first picture shows the inside of the oil filter adapter area before using Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30. Taken on June 13, 2025, after draining Valvoline Restore and Protect. But the inside still looked the exact same, after Valvoline Restore and Protect. Its always looked just like this since 3 years ago. View attachment 306072
As you can see there was lots of varnish and what almost looked like stuck on sludge in some areas. It’s been just like this since I got the truck almost 3 years ago. This truck has seen nothing but regular API SP spec 5w30 oil changes, and maybe 2 or 3 oil changes with Mobil 1 Full Synthetic0w40 in 2024.


Now the second picture is after running Mobil 1 ESP 0w30 for about 5500 miles, from June 13, 2025 through October 20, 2025. View attachment 306076

The difference actually surprised me yesterday when I took the filter off. Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30 did such a good job with cleaning out a lot of the varnish and sludge that other API SP spec oils such as Valvoline Restore and Protect, Pennzoil, Rotella T6 MV, and others didn’t.

I ended up putting in Pennzoil Platinum HM 5w30 API SQ in the truck this time, because I got 5 quarts for $22, and did not realize ESP did this good until I bought the pennzoil and did the oil change. If I knew I probably would have got the ESP, but maybe on the next oil change.

Pretty impressed with ESP! ESP 0w20 is going in my 2016 Lexus ES350 when it needs an oil change. I’m sold.

How many OCI's did you use Valvoline Restore and Protect 4?
You purchased this vehicle 3 years ago, what was the Mileage it had when you purchased it?
I am guessing you used Valvoline Restore and Protect for 1 OCI when it actually takes 4 OCI's to see results.

I am also guessing this car had subpar oil that is not up to my standards before your purchased this car.

2 to 3 oil changes with Mobil 1 FS 0W-40, and then onto Valvoline Restore and Protect for maybe 1 OCI, and then Mobil 1 ESP, what oil gets the credit?

 

[travis8352]

How many OCI's did you use Valvoline Restore and Protect 4?
You purchased this vehicle 3 years ago, what was the Mileage it had when you purchased it?
I am guessing you used Valvoline Restore and Protect for 1 OCI when it actually takes 4 OCI's to see results.

I am also guessing this car had subpar oil that is not up to my standards before your purchased this car.

2 to 3 oil changes with Mobil 1 FS 0W-40, and then onto Valvoline Restore and Protect for maybe 1 OCI, and then Mobil 1 ESP, what oil gets the credit?

It should get the credit because if the other oils were cleaning, im sure the OP would notice less buildup each time but he says it was the exact same

 

[CleanSump]

An anecdote by itself is not proof, but it is a valid data point for the study.

 

[JohnnyG]

Maybe they just work really well together, one in the hot piston ring area, the other on the rest of the engine.
Just imagine what using both together would do!

 

[BC1]

I personally couldn’t let that area stare at me in the face and do nothing. Seems easy enough to clean by hand.

That would have been hosed with brake cleaner and scrubbed the first time I saw it.

 

[FTTSHO]

That would have been hosed with brake cleaner and scrubbed the first time I saw it.

I could have done that, but it never really bothered me enough to clean the inside by hand.

 

[FTTSHO]

An anecdote by itself is not proof, but it is a valid data point for the study.

I’m sure results will be different depending on many different variables and conditions, but I just thought I would share the photos because I’m really impressed, and hopefully it’s just one more “proof” that can show why so many of us love ESP.

 

[CleanSump]

I’m sure results will be different depending on many different variables and conditions, but I just thought I would share the photos because I’m really impressed, and hopefully it’s just one more “proof” that can show why so many of us love ESP.

That was aimed at the poo-pooers, not you. You posted a useful and valid data point.

 

[Brian123]

It should get the credit because if the other oils were cleaning, im sure the OP would notice less buildup each time but he says it was the exact same

So, Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 is the quick cleaner and should get most of the credit if not all of the credit. 1 thing to realize is if you have buildup with cheaper oils and then you use good oil's it will take time to clean things up. If you use sup par oil's for 100K things will not clean up in 1 OCI with a good oil. The OP bought a car that probably had the cheapest oil put into it for 100K or so and the previous owner maybe never checked the oil.

The picture you saw with the before and after point to so many variables that I will touch on, the only thing I can say is that this vehicle before the OP purchased it did not have 5000-mile OCI's with a quality synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil. All the other variables are speculative.

 

[FTTSHO]

So, Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 is the quick cleaner and should get most of the credit if not all of the credit. 1 thing to realize is if you have buildup with cheaper oils and then you use good oil's it will take time to clean things up. If you use sup par oil's for 100K things will not clean up in 1 OCI with a good oil. The OP bought a car that probably had the cheapest oil put into it for 100K or so and the previous owner maybe never checked the oil.

The picture you saw with the before and after point to so many variables that I will touch on, the only thing I can say is that this vehicle before the OP purchased it did not have 5000-mile OCI's with a quality synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil. All the other variables are speculative.

Im guessing the previous owner got the oil changed about every 7500 miles at a shop, which is what GM recommends in the owners manual. I know this from looking at the carfax report, but who knows if it’s legit. Don’t know what oil was used, but it’s gotta be some off the shelf API type of oil. The 7500 mile OCI from the previous owner clearly didn’t keep the engine clean enough. The 4.3 vortecs are known to be pretty easy on oils, even though it only holds 4.5 quarts in the sump.

 

[travis8352]

So, Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 is the quick cleaner and should get most of the credit if not all of the credit. 1 thing to realize is if you have buildup with cheaper oils and then you use good oil's it will take time to clean things up. If you use sup par oil's for 100K things will not clean up in 1 OCI with a good oil. The OP bought a car that probably had the cheapest oil put into it for 100K or so and the previous owner maybe never checked the oil.

The picture you saw with the before and after point to so many variables that I will touch on, the only thing I can say is that this vehicle before the OP purchased it did not have 5000-mile OCI's with a quality synthetic oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil. All the other variables are speculative.

I am well aware of all of this. Just because it did not have 5000 mile OCIs with a quality oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil does not make this any less impressive. To me its impressive knowing the OP used quality oils when he purchased this vehicle such as Mobil 1 FS 0w-40 (I assume the SP version, I dont believe the SP version has the cleaning power like the old SN version) and after 3 years we see the result we see with ESP 0w-30. However like you said, had the vehicle lived its life with oils like Mobil 1 and Amsoil from new, and changed at reasonable OCIs, this would not have happened.

 

[FTTSHO]

I am well aware of all of this. Just because it did not have 5000 mile OCIs with a quality oil like Mobil 1 or Amsoil does not make this any less impressive. To me its impressive knowing the OP used quality oils when he purchased this vehicle such as Mobil 1 FS 0w-40 (I assume the SP version, I dont believe the SP version has the cleaning power like the old SN version) and after 3 years we see the result we see with ESP 0w-30. However like you said, had the vehicle lived its life with oils like Mobil 1 and Amsoil from new, and changed at reasonable OCIs, this would not have happened.

Yeah. I believe I used the API SN version of FS 0w40 once, then they changed it to SP then I used that twice.


The engine still runs perfect. Still does lots of city stop and go driving, and I still take it on long road trips and all that. Still has factory spec oil pressure so all is well. Gotta love the 4.3 vortec, “Like a rock”