So I just switched to Valvoline Maxlife Syn Blend due to consuming 1qt every 3k miles. I have previously tried VRP with no reduction in oil consumption. The vehicle is a 2015 F150 5.0. If I keep my intervals to 3k-5k, is there any reason to step up to their full syn high mileage blend? I know their syn blend is quite stout, and am leaning towards thinking the full syn would be a waste. Thanks.
I used the Valvoline Maxlife Synthetic for many years in my 97 Buick Park Ave that has 105K miles on it. I'm sure it was good oil for lubricating, but it leaked past my valve cover gasket and possibly also from a seal. It was a minor leak(s) that lost about ½ quart every 800 miles.
It wasn't a big deal mechanically, but it was staining the concrete floor of my parking spot in a shared condo garage. I put cardboard under my car to protect floor, but that was another eyesore. It was embarrasing because most of my neighbors parked all around me have newer cars. I like my old luxury car, but the oil leak(s) were bothering me.
Several months ago, I switched from Maxlife Synthetic to Maxlife Blend and the leak was greatly reduced. Instead of leaking a small puddle, it then leaked only a few drops. Much improvement from Blend.
Earlier this week my valve covers gaskets were replaced. Hopefully no more leaks. Time will tell. I still have Maxlife Blend in it.
If you want to use a Valvoline high mileage synthetic, then I suggest using
Valvoline Full Synthetic Extended Protection High Mileage (VFSEPHM) because it's slightly thicker viscosity than Maxlife Synthetic. So (in theory) the VFSEPHM should leak less than Maxlife Synthetic.
However, Maxlife Blend is the best of the 3 for not leaking because its viscosity at KV100 (100C or 210F) is same as VFSEPHM, but the Blend is part (half?) conventional oil. Conventional oil leaks less because it's less slippery. i.e. - Conventional has less slipping past gaskets and seals.
Maxlife Blend has 2 advantages over Maxlife Syn in regard to less leaking. Blend is slightly higher viscosity and partially conventional oil.
Maxlife Blend has 1 advantages over VFSEPHM in regard to less leaking. Blend is partially conventional oil.
VFSEPHM has 1 advantage over Maxlife Syn, which is VFSEPHM has slightly higher viscosity than Maxlife Syn.
There are other high mileage synthetic oils with higher viscosity than Maxlife Syn and VFSEPHM, but I don't know how good they are because I don't know enough about them other than they have higher viscosity.
Castrol Edge High Mileage (synthetic) has higher viscosity than any Valvoline HM product. Castrol Edge High Mileage is better than Castrol GTX High Mileage (Blend). In tests I've seen online, GTX flows very poorly at cold temps. Probably Edge flows better than GTX at cold temps.
Pennzoil Platinum High Mileage has a thicker viscosity than any Valvoline HM oil. I don't know anything else about this oil.
Those two (Edge & Platinum HM oils) are the only HM Syn oils that have higher viscosity than VFSEPHM (as far as I know).
The above are all higher viscosity than Maxlife Syn. In theory, higher viscosity oils would leak less.
Quaker State and Mobil One HM oils are much thinner than all the above oils according to the published data/spec sheets of all oils mentioned.
I don't know anything about Amsoil or Supertec HM oils. If anyone could post their specs for 5w20 the OP might appreciate that. I'd appreciate seeing their specs for 5w30.