So I have a 2021 Ram 1500 5.7 that's about to rollover 50k miles. I've used Pennzoil ultra plat since around 20k and was seeing a lot of buzz about Valvoline restore and protect. Any reason to switch? not sure why I'm so interested in this oil because I've been a diehard PUP user for at least 9 years. Just curious to see your opinions!
PUP or VRP
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BrendanC
$100 site donor 2024
i hold them very similar in my personal ranking. however, the Valvoline will make for a quieter valve train and make sure your piston rings stay clean.
Which one is cheaper? 
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Ultra is a better oil overall, Restore & Protect is better in cleaning. Run Restore & Protect for 20,000 miles and then permanently switch to Ultra. My humble opinion.
I'm in a similar situation. I bought my vehicle with 19,988 miles on it and dealer oc's by the previous owner. I've been running PUP for 4 oc and am at 43,300 miles and about due for another oc.
VRP is tempting, but it uses about 3/4 of a quart in about 3,500 miles, so it's not excessively bad re oil consumption, so I bought another 5qt jug of PUP.
If oil consumption Increases significantly then I'll do 20k miles of VRP.
VRP is tempting, but it uses about 3/4 of a quart in about 3,500 miles, so it's not excessively bad re oil consumption, so I bought another 5qt jug of PUP.
If oil consumption Increases significantly then I'll do 20k miles of VRP.
Please check out UOA’s for Valvoline R&P as it turns out very good wear numbers . Valvoline R&P should therefore be considered a great cleaning as well as reduction in wear oil . I’d look for signs of increased oil consumption first before using R&P - if I had been keeping my OCI’s at or below 5K miles with PUP and do not see any oil burning then why switch from PUP ? In my opinion - VR&P’s target customers should be : 1) Hyundai / Kia engine owners 2) Vehicles where the OCI’s were regularly extended beyond 5K miles 3) Buying a used vehicle and unsure of past oil changes by previous owner or who may have used quick lube auto places 4) If you notice oil consumption beginning .
Give R&P a try! Both contain some GTL, who knows how much? R&P removes piston deposits left from other oils so it’s safe to say you won’t have stuck oil control rings. Not sure if thats even a concern on a Hemi.
This is anecdotal, no scientific basis at all.
We have two Ford Escapes with 2.5L engines. The 2017 has PUP 5W-30 in it right now. The 2019 has VRP 5W-30 in it right now. The one with VRP idles quieter and just runs a bit smoother.
Our Ram HEMI has Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40 in it right now, after having M1 0W-40, PUP 5W-30 in it. So far the 5W-40 is the quietest and smoothest. I am thinking of putting in VRP 5W-30 in the fall for the winter OCI.
PUP is generally my go to oil. I have no hesitation of running VRP either.
We have two Ford Escapes with 2.5L engines. The 2017 has PUP 5W-30 in it right now. The 2019 has VRP 5W-30 in it right now. The one with VRP idles quieter and just runs a bit smoother.
Our Ram HEMI has Pennzoil Platinum Euro 5W-40 in it right now, after having M1 0W-40, PUP 5W-30 in it. So far the 5W-40 is the quietest and smoothest. I am thinking of putting in VRP 5W-30 in the fall for the winter OCI.
PUP is generally my go to oil. I have no hesitation of running VRP either.
A few previous threads on this exact topic, plus a few more about R&P in general. Some are quite lengthy as it is a popular question here on Bitog:
Walmart carries both for $30.
What one are your getting and why?
What one are your getting and why?
We bought a new 2024 Ford edge with the 2.0 ecoboost. I always do an early change before 1000 miles. I always say I'm gonna try mobil one esp 5w30 but I always back out when I see it doesn't have the Ford wss m2c 961 a1 approval. Then I saw the new Valvoline on the shelf. I have not seen a voa on it but it seems the old Valvoline advanced and extended were always well regarded and this is suppose to be better. Ill prolly be putting it in, in the next week with a Fram endurance filter. if anyone has any experience with it let me know if worked good for your application.
That seems pretty excessive to me, frankly. You'd have to add oil for a 5000 mile OCI.
VRP has clear evidence of cleaning piston deposits and reducing oil consumption, which it appears you'd benefit from. Allegiances to oil companies are interesting.
Valvoline Restore and Protect
For me they're about the same price, if I can get the PUP.Which one is cheaper?
This is tough. I would like to see the high temperature high shear number values along with what oil weights are available. If they still even make Ultra Platinum in a 10w30 that would get my attention especially with the little bit of seeping and consumption I have with all the miles in my car. There's been a lot of suggestions on here that people should use their restore and protect to help clean up a motor, but I don't know in a brand new vehicle if you had essentially from the beginning or even after the first three oil changes that most car companies give to new car buyers if one would be significantly better to the other. Pennzoil was marketing their Ultra Platinum in their commercials as nothing keeps a motor closer to factory clean then they're oil. I would say the biggest difference from any of the premium over the counter Box Store oils would be how does the owner operate the vehicle. If it sees a lot of highway miles and not a lot of stop and go and other things that are considered severe operation, I don't know if one over the lifetime of an engine would be night and day different from another. As far as keeping things clean I think the three and maybe four that I would recommend would be... VRP, M1 EP/ESP, PUP & honorable mention to QS Ultimate Protection.
Your truck is low mileage and not really an known oil burner, so I doubt you'll see much of a change with VRP. But the temptation is real. I did it on my truck with 30k on it. The oil came out nearly as clean as going in, but I got to experience the anecdotal side affects. Quieter running, a little pep, etc.
Next change, I might try a blend of stuff to clean out the random oil I have left. Or maybe stick with VRP. Not sure.
I can tell you from experience: its a little less exciting knowing that you are cleaning an already clean engine. It would have been much more satisfying to run this in a 300k mile Honda that was burning a quart a day.
Next change, I might try a blend of stuff to clean out the random oil I have left. Or maybe stick with VRP. Not sure.
I can tell you from experience: its a little less exciting knowing that you are cleaning an already clean engine. It would have been much more satisfying to run this in a 300k mile Honda that was burning a quart a day.
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OP, remember one thing going forward with your decision. Do not get impressed by the high Moly in Valvoline, and the high ZDDP. There is a reason it needs all that Moly. Toyota is the king of Moly, almost 800 ppm of Moly, but we know Toyota is an average oil. First, that Moly is not the more potent version used By Mobil 1 and Pennzoil. Second, Ultra has a superior base oil. Valvoline is similar to Quacker State. It is good oil but Ultra is better. You can watch Oil Geek on Youtube make a comparison. Having said that, R&P cleans which Ultra doesn't. Ultra only keeps a clean engine clean.
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They are not the same price right now, Ultra is $71 on Amazon for three jugs
Did LSJR analyze PUP base oil at HPL’s lab? I can’t remember.
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Not sure but he did use the machine to tell the GTL
Any guess at GTL percentage? I know originally it was a lot.
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No idea.
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