Valvoline MaxLife Semi-Synthetic - Anyone Using?
- Thread starter BobNeas
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Patman
Staff member
I’m sure that Restore & Protect will do a better job in this regard. IMO there isn’t much of a need for MaxLife now that Valvoline has come out with Valvoline Restore and Protect. It’s their best oil.
No
Valvoline MaxLife semi-synthetic does an okay job of reducing oil dripping and some blow by.
But as mentioned, Restore & Protect will do what you’re looking for.
Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage Full Synthetic is on the market. IDK if it has any Valvoline Restore and Protect benefits.
But as mentioned, Restore & Protect will do what you’re looking for.
Valvoline Extended Protection High Mileage Full Synthetic is on the market. IDK if it has any Valvoline Restore and Protect benefits.
I've used it many times. As stated it does a good job of preventing/controlling leaks. It never sludged up any of my engines. Valvoline Restore and Protect is just $10 more at Wmart. Just changed over from Maxlife to Valvoline Restore and Protect today in my Suzuki.
Red bottle maxlife isn't known for cleaning but i'd use it. Valvoline Restore and Protect is valvoline's cleaning oil but the new mobil 1 advanced clean is hitting walmart shelves and is a buck under RP so you could try the new cleaning oil or use whats existed for a while. Planning on buying their 20w-50 again since it came back from its hiatus. What engine and how much does it burn and what oil are you using now. What has the maintenance history been like.
I used tons of it years ago. I just think there are other, perhaps better, choices out now. For low price, I like the Costco Kirkland or Quaker State brews, otherwise it is Mobil 1 and more recently Valvoline Restore and Protect.
I run that in 10W-40 in a 22R-E. It cured the start-up puff of oil smoke I had been seeing. The head and bell housing had been a bit wet here and there for years, but I haven’t seen the oil level move in 3k miles running this particular Valvoline.
If Valvoline Restore and Protect were available in a grade heavier than 5W-30, I’d run it instead.
If Valvoline Restore and Protect were available in a grade heavier than 5W-30, I’d run it instead.
What about the black bottle (150K+ miles) that’s sold on Amazon ?
I wonder how this MaxLife formula cleans.
I don't imagine any high mileage oil cleans. I only imagine the 150k version having more plasticizers. Although my engines don't leak beyond a very slow seepage and burn very little I still like the the nice warm and fuzzy thought of lots of film thickness and a constant 40+ psi hot idle pressure but I know 4+ hths is already plenty.
I believe the black bottle formulation is similar to the red, but with higher moly content. The highest grade is 5W-30, IIRC.
If your engine really needs sludge removal, you could try using Maxodyne Flushing Oil Concentrate and some cheap store brand engine oil. I did this with a 20 year old turbo diesel engine and the amount of sludge removed in 30 minutes was remarkable. Afterwards, I refilled the engine with Castrol Tecton, which has remained clean for several weeks so far. Previously new engine oil would be black within a day.
Used a lot of 20w-50 in my old 1991 R100gs Beemer. Used it for 40k in my 2008 Toyota Tacoma in 5w-20 grade. Excellent oil.
I always used MaxLife in engines that had oil leaks. It did a fairly good job of slowing/stopping them when cost prohibitive to replace seals. Not sure how much it would do for sludge -- I feel Valvoline Restore and Protect would do a better job in that case.
I have red-bottle MaxLife 10W-40 in my '98 currently. It has virtually eliminated the rear main leak. As others mentioned, its wheelhouse is seal conditioning, not gunk cleaning. The Valvoline Restore and Protect excels for that purpose.
I've had 2 Honda Accords with high mileage. The first on had just over 200k on it and used 1 quart in 1500 miles. Also had a minor drip at the rear main seal. I switched to Castrol High Mileage 5W-30 and over the next 6-7000 miles (2 oil changes) the consumption had stopped and the rear seal dried up.
The second Accord had 120k on it when I switched. It didn't have any consumption or leaks and I put another 150,000 miles on it. When I sold it at 270,000 miles it was still dry and used zero oil.
The second Accord had 120k on it when I switched. It didn't have any consumption or leaks and I put another 150,000 miles on it. When I sold it at 270,000 miles it was still dry and used zero oil.
I like their products..and in high mileage engines I never liked synthetics..or even blends.
I have the red bottle 5W-30 in my Matrix. It is good oil and meets spec, and the combined sale/rebate at O'Reilly made it a few $$ less than any others (about $11/5 qt net cost), so it was the obvious choice.
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