Valvoline "Engine Protector"

MolaKule · Jul 15, 2003

Valvoline Engine Protector (Sample purchased by Molecule with elemental Analysis by Terry Dyson).

Al 3
Silicon (Si) 0
Sodium (Na) 12
Potassium (K) 11
Molybdenum (Mo) 489
Phosphorus (P) 567
Zinc (Zn) 625
Calcium (Ca) 240
Magnesium (Mg) 57

Physical

Viscocity At 40 C (V40) NA
Total Acid Number (Tan) 0.9
Total Base Number (Tbn) 8
Viscosity At 100 C (V100) 15.3

This is Valvoline's latest entry into the after-market add world.

The base fluid is an Amber-Dyed olefin copolymer, polyisobutylene, and a surfactant with a hefty dose of AW/EP and FM adds - note the moly content. The moly content should boost the moly in an oil by 100 ppm for a 4.5 Qt. sump. The calculated boron level is 40 ppm. No defoament is present in the form of silicons or siloxanes.

The TBN is nice but the TAN starts out a bit high. I would prefer to see it at 0.5 or lower.

IMO, the price per oz. of $0.33, is a bit high for an OTC aftermarket add.

The base fluid thickness will fool you. It sure appears heavier than an SAE middle 40 weight. If you're going to add this to your oil, make up a batch and send to TDyson for viscosity analysis at 100 C. Adding this product to your oil may bring it up and out-of-grade.

[ July 15, 2003, 03:30 PM: Message edited by: MolaKule ]

Hirev · Jul 15, 2003

MolaKule, Thanks for the info. Kind of interesting. Seems like it might be ok to beef up a 5w-30 dino oil.

Bror Jace · Jul 15, 2003

"... with a hefty dose of AW/EP and FM adds - note the moly content. The moly content should boost the moly in an oil by 100 ppm for a 4.5 Qt. sump. The calculated boron level is 40 ppm."

Odd that Valvoline would acknowledge the benefits of these additives ... and then formulate their own oils with little or none of them.

--- Bror Jace

MolaKule · Jul 15, 2003

I know, I found that odd as well.

IMO, it's marketing, i.e., buy an extra $5.00 bottle of additive to boost your own weak oil add package.

MNgopher · Jul 15, 2003

Glad the irony here didn't go unnoticed - formulate your own oil without, but sell it in an oil treatment. Weird! I'd be curious what this does to plain old All Climate - make it look similar to most other oils these days?

Pablo · Jul 15, 2003

Mola - thanks for taking the time to do this.

Please explain: Calculated B

MolaKule · Jul 15, 2003

quote:

Please explain: Calculated B

Since the sample wasn't tested for the boron element, I used a formula to calculate the boron from the Sodium and Potassium levels.

Pablo · Jul 15, 2003

So by assuming it has X amount trace Na and Y amount trace K - you can assume/interpolate/extrapolate/dead reckon a B amount???

Interesting.

Terry · Jul 15, 2003

Don't give away any secrets Mola !

wlkjr · Jul 16, 2003

I guess when they figure their regular oil will get you 200k easy that they can conjure up some special snake oil for the uneducated and sell it at a premium price.
Excluding the oil junkies on this board, how many commom folk really look at the additive packages? I know before I wandered over here I never checked that close. And I've been doing my own oil changes for over 32 years.
I've had great success using Havoline and have a car now with 245k miles with no problems and had another with 300k miles and no oil problems. Based on that along with other vehicles over 100k miles makes Havoline my choice. Everything else wears out, but the motors just keep on going. Can't see where synthetic or any extra additive would help in my case.
Only oil problem I've ever had was using Castrol 20w50 in a 78 Chevy 305. Gummed up bad before 75k miles, so I'll never use that stuff again. Could have been the engine but after rebuild and going back to Havoline I never had another problem.

pscholte · Jul 16, 2003

wlkjr,

Interesting you should point out the two oils you did...my dad swore by Havoline and I don't ever recall any lubrication problems with his cars...back when I was a major Castrol fan, I worked for a guy who had a Saab Turbo and used Amsoil in it (and did UOAs); I talked to him about Castrol and he said he talked to a guy who told him he knew of some drag racers that used it and it "gummed up their engines." Incredible coincidence...or is it...dododdo dodododo (that's supposed to be the theme from "Outer Limits"

Last_Z · Jul 17, 2003

So, my question is:
-Would this add be helpful to an oil like M1 to maybe boost the moly content a bit (M1 is about 80 ppm) and would it be cost effective? What's the name of this product and where to find it?
Thanks Mola for the study

Rick

MolaKule · Jul 18, 2003

Last_Z,

IHO, the product would not be cost effective for use with Mobil 1.

Last_Z · Jul 18, 2003

Thanks Mola!
Rick

csandste · Jul 26, 2003

Havoline-- Wouldn't the new Chevron based Havoline be a completely different oil than the old Shell/Equilon stuff? That's why I'm not too big on brand loyalty.

Last_Z · Jul 29, 2003

quote:

Originally posted by MolaKule:
Last_Z,

IHO, the product would not be cost effective for use with Mobil 1.

Bringing this topic back.
What about with a good dyno oil like Chevron? How does this compare to Schaeffers Moly EP #132? Do you see any negative side effects? I think I saw this at Wal-Mart....does it come in a red bottle?
Thanks.
Rick

MolaKule · Jul 30, 2003

I don't see any problems with adding 50 mL of #132 per quart of oil.

I have only the Chevron 10W30 and it comes in a mostly blue/grey bottle.

If you're speaking of the Vavoline add, yes it comes in red bottle and costs about $5.00 US.

pinoy99 · Jul 31, 2003

quote:

Originally posted by MolaKule:
Last_Z,

IHO, the product would not be cost effective for use with Mobil 1.

Why? #132's price seems comparable to the 'protector' if one order the Schaeffer in small qty and factor in the shipping cost and this product have more additives than #132.

[ July 31, 2003, 03:09 PM: Message edited by: pinoy99 ]

MolaKule · Jul 31, 2003

Well, I was basing that response on the fact that I order the #132 in 24 bottle cases and the cost is about half that of the Valvoline.

pinoy99 · Jul 31, 2003

quote:

Originally posted by MolaKule:
Well, I was basing that response on the fact that I order the #132 in 24 bottle cases and the cost is about half that of the Valvoline.

Ok, I guess for occasional or experimenting user, this product does have its value. Thanks for the report; I might try this one on my next OCI. I'm assuming this is not as thick as the #132?

Valvoline "Engine Protector"

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