Not another Valvoline R&P thread

[Decreppo]

Hi BITOG,

This is my first post so I thought I would share how I ended up here!

Just bought a 2019 Kia Sedona LX with the 3.3L Lamda GDI engine 27,000 miles. These are not known as the most reliable car, but my hope is that with correct maintenance it will last. After reading up on these engines I went down a rabbit hole on here trying to find the best oil to use with these.

I had narrowed it down to Mobil 1 5W-30 ESP after obsessing over VOA/UOA reports. I also thought about spending the money to use HPL oil but I don't have a place to store oil so I couldn't buy it in bulk to save on shipping.

After my oil research journey I heard about Valvoline Restore and Protect. whoops! Now a whole new rabbit hole has opened up. I have now thrown all the reasons why I should choose one oil over another out the window and have fixated on the VRP oil.

Why use this oil on such a low mileage car? to prevent the sludge and build up from ever occurring. Valvoline says this is fine to use as a regular oil. Also, I can get it for $5 a quart at Walmart right now.

I plan on changing the oil on a 5K mile OCI. How does this sound to you guys on here? Any thoughts on the KIA GDI engine?

 

[Furious]

There is no reason to use it on a low mileage vehicle unless it had poor maintenance during that 27,000 miles. Otherwise proper 5K intervals running Mobil 1 will keep it clean.

There is also no reason not to run restore & protect on a clean engine because it is good oil and it is likely going to be available anywhere.

In this case it is literally just pick whatever you want that meets manufacturer specifications and stick to 5,000 mile oil change intervals or below.

 

[Urshurak776]

The issues with these engines has nothing to do with the oil, it’s the design. With my personal history of maintaining several Kia and Hyundai vehicles, you should follow the severe mileage schedule and make sure oil level stays topped off. Use a 5W-30. Doesn’t matter what brand. Dollar tree American XT, Walmart, Costco Kirkland, etc. it won’t make any difference.

 

[Geekhead]

Hi BITOG,

This is my first post so I thought I would share how I ended up here!

Just bought a 2019 Kia Sedona LX with the 3.3L Lamda GDI engine 27,000 miles. These are not known as the most reliable car, but my hope is that with correct maintenance it will last. After reading up on these engines I went down a rabbit hole on here trying to find the best oil to use with these.

I had narrowed it down to Mobil 1 5W-30 ESP after obsessing over VOA/UOA reports. I also thought about spending the money to use HPL oil but I don't have a place to store oil so I couldn't buy it in bulk to save on shipping.

After my oil research journey I heard about Valvoline Restore and Protect. whoops! Now a whole new rabbit hole has opened up. I have now thrown all the reasons why I should choose one oil over another out the window and have fixated on the VRP oil.

Why use this oil on such a low mileage car? to prevent the sludge and build up from ever occurring. Valvoline says this is fine to use as a regular oil. Also, I can get it for $5 a quart at Walmart right now.

I plan on changing the oil on a 5K mile OCI. How does this sound to you guys on here? Any thoughts on the KIA GDI engine?

I use Mobil 1 EP 5w30 in my 2016 Kia with 2 litre GDI and have about 130km/80k miles on it. I change oil every 10K km/6K miles and add about 0.8-1litre between changes which has been quite constant consumption the last few years. I use dealer OEM filters.

 

[Hirev]

I don't see any reason not to use Valvoline Restore and Protect on your 27K KIA sounds like the price is good it is a good oil.... go for it.

 

[Decreppo]

The issues with these engines has nothing to do with the oil, it’s the design. With my personal history of maintaining several Kia and Hyundai vehicles, you should follow the severe mileage schedule and make sure oil level stays topped off. Use a 5W-30. Doesn’t matter what brand. Dollar tree American XT, Walmart, Costco Kirkland, etc. it won’t make any difference.

Question: Doesn't the necessity of following the severe mileage schedule mean that the issues do have something to do with the oil? If it had nothing to do with the oil, it wouldn't matter how often you changed the oil. At least that is my reasoning.

In your history maintaining these vehicles, have you seen anything people are doing right with these engines to keep them running? Is there anything more to do besides following the severe mileage schedule?

 

[RobbS]

I used only Mobil1 EP 5W-30 for both of my cars for 20 years. Almost 200k miles and running strong.
With so many miles, though probably clean, I switched them to VRP, just in case. Just in case there could be 20 years of build-up anywhere. Made the switch mainly for the rings, cleaning the oil rings hidden build up.
After 5 full runs with VRP, I will most likely switch back to good old M1 EP again.

 

[scoot]

Oil won't help a bad design

 

[ChrisD46]

Hi BITOG,

This is my first post so I thought I would share how I ended up here!

Just bought a 2019 Kia Sedona LX with the 3.3L Lamda GDI engine 27,000 miles. These are not known as the most reliable car, but my hope is that with correct maintenance it will last. After reading up on these engines I went down a rabbit hole on here trying to find the best oil to use with these.

I had narrowed it down to Mobil 1 5W-30 ESP after obsessing over VOA/UOA reports. I also thought about spending the money to use HPL oil but I don't have a place to store oil so I couldn't buy it in bulk to save on shipping.

After my oil research journey I heard about Valvoline Restore and Protect. whoops! Now a whole new rabbit hole has opened up. I have now thrown all the reasons why I should choose one oil over another out the window and have fixated on the VRP oil.

Why use this oil on such a low mileage car? to prevent the sludge and build up from ever occurring. Valvoline says this is fine to use as a regular oil. Also, I can get it for $5 a quart at Walmart right now.

I plan on changing the oil on a 5K mile OCI. How does this sound to you guys on here? Any thoughts on the KIA GDI engine?

First , it was been reported that dirty ring packs can take place in as little as 5K miles (even with a mid tier synthetic oil used) You have 27K miles on a KIA 3.3 L GDI engine where you don’t know what oil was used previously or what exact OCI’s were used ? Go ahead and run the VR&P 5W30 for up to 5K miles / 6 months OCI (for a couple of OCI’s) . You could stay with the VR&P or switch it up to the M1 0W30 / 5W30 ESP oils using the same OCI .

 

[facility1]

most any name brand 5w-30 synthetic will be good, run Valvoline R&P.its good oil for your ride, there is nothing special about Mobil1 though it's a ok oil too, use your instincts at Wall mart, Valvoline, Pennzoil, Quaker State ultimate Castrol even Amsoil XL etc,and a good filter,then use decent oci.

 

[Urshurak776]

Question: Doesn't the necessity of following the severe mileage schedule mean that the issues do have something to do with the oil? If it had nothing to do with the oil, it wouldn't matter how often you changed the oil. At least that is my reasoning.

In your history maintaining these vehicles, have you seen anything people are doing right with these engines to keep them running? Is there anything more to do besides following the severe mileage schedule?

Nope. Rings get gummed up, as others posted above. Changing oil.early can help, but still just a bad design.

 

[Decreppo]

First , it was been reported that dirty ring packs can take place in as little as 5K miles (even with a mid tier synthetic oil used) You have 27K miles on a KIA 3.3 L GDI engine where you don’t know what oil was used previously or what exact OCI’s were used ? Go ahead and run the VR&P 5W30 for up to 5K miles / 6 months OCI (for a couple of OCI’s) . You could stay with the VR&P or switch it up to the M1 0W30 / 5W30 ESP oils using the same OCI .

Per carfax, Oil was previously done at a dealer at 5k mile OCI since new. No idea what oil was used and the last oil change was just done at a quickie lube place.

I sent Valvoline an email asking about using VRP in a low mileage engine because someone on another forum said it could be bad for newer engines because it expands seals? They didn’t substantiate the claim. I’ve heard elsewhere that it is good to use as an everyday oil. We’ll see what Valvoline says.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

My thoughts are that VRP is just good oil. If you prioritize clean engines and rings why not run it? This is the quality that BITOG forum members have wanted for as long as it has been around. auto RX- and an affinity to ester containing engine oils prove this.

If it meets your vehicles specifications why not run it? I just started using it on my 25k Corolla cross hybrid. Why? It seems to have desirable qualities to maintain a clean and efficient running engine.

 

[TwoC400s]

Given that the main failure mechanism on the Kia GDI engines seems to originate with stuck ring packs, I would think using an oil that specifically calls out cleaning piston skirt and ring deposits would be a no brainer.

 

[Decreppo]

I’ve seen posts about how people try VRP oil, see amazing results like their car no longer burning oil, then they say “well the problem is fixed now I’ll go back to the same old oil that I was using when this problem started”. It makes no sense. If the oil made your car run cleaner, keep using the oil.

Now that we have UOAs that show it to be a good oil in terms of wear protection, there is no reason not to run this oil to prevent build up and deposits in the first place.

Glad to hear there are others with low mileage cars that see the benefit to using it in their vehicles.

 

[Elmo Howe]

I’ve seen posts about how people try VRP oil, see amazing results like their car no longer burning oil, then they say “well the problem is fixed now I’ll go back to the same old oil that I was using when this problem started”. It makes no sense. If the oil made your car run cleaner, keep using the oil.

Now that we have UOAs that show it to be a good oil in terms of wear protection, there is no reason not to run this oil to prevent build up and deposits in the first place.

Glad to hear there are others with low mileage cars that see the benefit to using it in their vehicles.

I am using it currently in my 2025 Toyota RAV4 that had 7 miles on it at time of purchase. 6100 miles on it currently. I'm using it for the " protect " feature of its chemistry. I previously drove a 2018 Kia Soul 2.0 liter engine with the poorly engineered / designed Hyundai engines they are equipped with. Didn't know about VRP when I had the Kia tho. As others have said, the ring packs are the main problem on these engines. I also agree with the previous poster recommendation of changing the oil and filter as the server service mileage interval .

 

[KCJeep]

The V6 Kia engines have nowhere near the problems the 4 cylinders do. You bought a great van.

 

[4WD]

I’ve seen posts about how people try VRP oil, see amazing results like their car no longer burning oil, then they say “well the problem is fixed now I’ll go back to the same old oil that I was using when this problem started”. It makes no sense. If the oil made your car run cleaner, keep using the oil.

Now that we have UOAs that show it to be a good oil in terms of wear protection, there is no reason not to run this oil to prevent build up and deposits in the first place.

Glad to hear there are others with low mileage cars that see the benefit to using it in their vehicles.

I did the opposite bcs neither EC30 or VRP put anything in my filters - went back to Mobil 1 that had it clean to start with …
Keep in mind the VRP stories will become more engine specific over time - and some folks have pre owned vehicles with no history - or helping friends/family … Or like on my newer engine prefer dexos under warranty … Others want other approvals VRP lacks … or do they make a 40? Don’t like owner etc …
At the end of the day - if I had an older inline 4 ? Perfect for a piston soak …
A boxer? Not as easy …

 

[BrendanC]

i service a 16’ sedona for a friend i graduated college with. i’ve fed it Valvoline EP HM 5w-30, R&P 5w-30 multiple times without issue.

i’ve now moved his whole family over to m1 0w-40. im not a huge mobil fan, but its hard to argue with the approvals FS 0w-40 has with it. if its not my vehicle and i dont see it often, i usually go with M1 0w-40. his family has a 2021 silverado 6.6L L8T, 2008 tahoe that i did an oil pump in, and the sedona.

 

[Bryanccfshr]

i service a 16’ sedona for a friend i graduated college with. i’ve fed it Valvoline EP HM 5w-30, R&P 5w-30 multiple times without issue.

i’ve now moved his whole family over to m1 0w-40. im not a huge mobil fan, but its hard to argue with the approvals FS 0w-40 has with it. if its not my vehicle and i dont see it often, i usually go with M1 0w-40. his family has a 2021 silverado 6.6L L8T, 2008 tahoe that i did an oil pump in, and the sedona.

Nothing wrong with that I run that oil in my Tacoma. VRP fits the hybrid better