Time to switch from Valvoline Restore and Protect back to high mileage oil?

[AltMann3012]

We have a 2010 Impreza (144,000 miles, 2010) driven by a teen. It hasn't been using significant oil, but I've had to add about 2 1/2-3 quarts since the last oil change (3000 mi ago). I've already done four changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect, and am wondering if this could have anything to do with that, and if I should go to a high mileage synthetic. I haven't noticed any leaks, but I haven't been looking. After four changes, has it done what it's going to do, or should I do one more, and just monitor more closely?

 

[MrBubba]

Check for leaks, keep running it.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

have a 2010 Impreza (144,000 miles, 2010) driven by a teen. It hasn't been using significant oil, but I've had to add about 2 1/2-3 quarts since the last oil change (3000 mi ago). I've already done four changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect

According to Valvoline themselves, the four oil and filter changes need to add up to a minimum of 16,000 miles to see the possible benefit of cleaning up the engine internals and possibly deposits on your piston rings causing oil consumption (if ring deposits is even the cause of your oil usage). According to Valvoline themselves, you haven't even gone the minimum use needed for Restore & Protect to possibly help your oil consumption issue. Keep in mind Valvoline R&P doesn't repair or replace worn out parts or worn-out valve seals which could be the cause of what seems to me to be fairly high oil consumption. You haven't gone long enough of the R&P to determine if it is going to help. 16,000 miles of usage is the minimum where it may start to show improvements, if it helps at all. Hang in there a while, if there is no improvement in oil consumption after you have run it at least to the minimums required, there are other issues causing the high oil consumption. I am curious, what viscosity oil are you using?

 

[Japanese]

I've already done four changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect, and am wondering if this could have anything to do with that, and if I should go to a high mileage synthetic.

Nope, I wound't.

I haven't noticed any leaks, but I haven't been looking. After four changes, has it done what it's going to do, or should I do one more, and just monitor more closely?

Well, it depends how long were the oil intervals. Did you do 20K miles total? That's the minimum recommended by Valvoline.

 

[melk]

“Not using significant oil”
“Had to add 3 quarts over 3000 miles”

 

[GI_GRIFF]

Did you do 20K miles total? That's the minimum recommended by Valvoline.

Not a big difference @Japanese, but last I knew the minimum on the V&P was four changes at 4,000 miles each, which adds up to 16,000 miles total use milage before you may notice an improvement. Either case, not a big difference.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

“Not using significant oil”
“Had to add 3 quarts over 3000 miles”

Yeah, sure looks like excessive oil consumption to me!

 

[Japanese]

Not a big difference @Japanese, but last I knew the minimum on the V&P was four changes at 4,000 miles each, which adds up to 16,000 miles total use milage before you may notice an improvement. Either case, not a big difference.

There is really no minimum because each engine has different level of dirtiness depending on myriad variables like mileage, OCI, driving habits, etc.
However, consistency is the key.

 

[4wd]

We have a 2010 Impreza (144,000 miles, 2010) driven by a teen. It hasn't been using significant oil, but I've had to add about 2 1/2-3 quarts since the last oil change (3000 mi ago). I've already done four changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect, and am wondering if this could have anything to do with that, and if I should go to a high mileage synthetic. I haven't noticed any leaks, but I haven't been looking. After four changes, has it done what it's going to do, or should I do one more, and just monitor more closely?

10W-40 MaxLife …

 

[wlk]

VRP is not a cleaning oil to just use for a short period of time. It is a fully formulated oil that can be used indefinitely. Keep running for the life of the car

 

[Clarkbug]

We have a 2010 Impreza (144,000 miles, 2010) driven by a teen. It hasn't been using significant oil, but I've had to add about 2 1/2-3 quarts since the last oil change (3000 mi ago). I've already done four changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect, and am wondering if this could have anything to do with that, and if I should go to a high mileage synthetic. I haven't noticed any leaks, but I haven't been looking. After four changes, has it done what it's going to do, or should I do one more, and just monitor more closely?

Pull the under tray off and look around to see if anything is leaking. Have you changed the PCV at any time in the recent past?

Is the 2+ quarts you had to add what you were seeing before the Restore and Protect, or only since you started using it?

 

[Patman]

I don’t recall Valvoline ever stating the total number of miles that they recommend for total cleaning to be done. So those 16,000 mile and 20,000 mile numbers are pulled out of thin air here. It would definitely depend on just how much cleaning needs to be done. Some engines might only need 5000 miles and some might need 30,000 miles.

 

[MiKn67]

I ran VRP in my 2012 Liberty with the 3.7 liter V6 for 5 5K OCI's. After about 25,000 miles on Valvoline Restore & Protect 5W-20, the engine was clean and showing excellent oil analysis results. I switched to Valvoline Extended Protection MaxLife High Mileage 5W-30 to focus on long-term protection, seal conditioning, and improved high-temperature durability for my high-mileage, mostly highway-driven 3.7L PowerTech.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I don’t recall Valvoline ever stating the total number of miles that they recommend for total cleaning to be done. So those 16,000 mile and 20,000 mile numbers are pulled out of thin air here. It would definitely depend on just how much cleaning needs to be done. Some engines might only need 5000 miles and some might need 30,000 miles.

I think originally it was minimum of 4 intervals. That may be following maintenance minder as probably most people do these days.

The BITOG community is a special group where we tend to over analyze everything. My intervals are about 4-5k miles but that is also based on my UOA’s.

 

[JohnnyO]

Maybe apples and oranges but my mother (now age 90) has a low-mile '99 Cadillac that's an oil burner, especially with any synthetic.
If I use Max Life in the recommended 10w-30 weight it burns much less oil.

 

[Japanese]

I don’t recall Valvoline ever stating the total number of miles that they recommend for total cleaning to be done. So those 16,000 mile and 20,000 mile numbers are pulled out of thin air here. It would definitely depend on just how much cleaning needs to be done. Some engines might only need 5000 miles and some might need 30,000 miles.

That comes from the required 4 consecutive oil changes. And assuming a synthetic oil change is 4,000-5,000 miles, that equals 16K-20K miles. But that's individual to every engine, depending on its oil burning and cleanliness.

 

[GI_GRIFF]

I don’t recall Valvoline ever stating the total number of miles that they recommend for total cleaning to be done. So those 16,000 mile and 20,000 mile numbers are pulled out of thin air here. It would definitely depend on just how much cleaning needs to be done. Some engines might only need 5000 miles and some might need 30,000 miles.

I got the minimum of four oil changes of at least 4000 miles each before you could START to see a difference between using it and not using it. The guy was a Valvoline tech support rep that told me this on the telephone. It adds up to a minimum of 16,000 miles of use before you MIGHT BE ABLE TO SEE A DIFFERENCE. He also let me know Valvoline doesn't replace worn out parts and worn valve or oil seals. It won't cause an engine that needs overhauled to stop burning oil. Valvoline R&P is their top gasoline engine oil, and the cleaning thing is nothing but a side effect of using it. It has a slow cleaning side effect but doesn't do engine overhauls and replace worn out seals all by itself! LOL! Anyhow, I got the 16,000-mile use number directly from a Valvoline Tech guy employee, along with the rest this stuff I just typed on a rather long phone discussion I had with him. I am thinking if you bought a brand-new car, especially one that is prone to getting ring deposits, maybe you could avoid the problems to begin with? And yes, the cleanup could take 100,000 miles or more, depending on how dirty the insides are, I guess. That still doesn't mean it will reduce oil consumption on that engine; it depends on the cause of the oil consumption to begin with.