Valvoline R&P 5w30- 3,017 mi- 2022 Subaru Wrx UOA

[Fa24wrx]

Factoring out the 1.6% fuel dilution, the resulting viscosity is 9.32 cSt. (assuming the KV100 is exactly 8.90 and fuel exactly 1.6%, could be rounded figures) The VOA showed a KV100 of 10.7 so the oil sheared -1.38 cSt. (-12.9%) It's still in grade but barely. With the fuel, it's obviously out of grade.

Otherwise, the report looks good. Given that this oil is designed to clean rather well, I would keep the intervals short for the next couple runs. Check the filter for carbonaceous material to base your OCIs going forward.

Considering the wear metals are not significant, I think the reduced viscosity is tolerable. Especially since this motors calls for 0w-20

 

[wpod]

0W-20 is good for arctic temperatures.

 

[Fa24wrx]

0W-20 is good for arctic temperatures.

Yea don't think Georgia counts as Arctic until my wife gets ahold of the Thermostat for bed time

 

[twX]

Although, I think I read viscosity wouldn't keep dropping? Is that true?

It's true for most oils. There are some oils that use less common types of VII that will shear more gradually, but this Valvoline isn't one of them, or it wouldn't have sheared so much so quickly.

Factoring out the 1.6% fuel dilution, the resulting viscosity is 9.32 cSt. (assuming the KV100 is exactly 8.90 and fuel exactly 1.6%, could be rounded figures) The VOA showed a KV100 of 10.7 so the oil sheared -1.38 cSt. (-12.9%) It's still in grade but barely. With the fuel, it's obviously out of grade.

HTHS drops by around half as much as KV100 does after shearing, so it would drop by around 12.9% / 2 = 6.45%. The initial HTHS of this oil is 3.2 cP, so it would be sheared down to around 2.98 cP. This is still well within grade for a 5W-30, and much higher than the ~2.4 cP of a typical shear-thinned 0W-20 that the engine was designed for.

An oil temperature of 230F isn't very extreme. I wouldn't be at all worried about this oil being too thin.

 

[Fa24wrx]

It's true for most oils. There are some oils that use less common types of VII that will shear more gradually, but this Valvoline isn't one of them, or it wouldn't have sheared so much so quickly.


HTHS drops by around half as much as KV100 does after shearing, so it would drop by around 12.9% / 2 = 6.45%. The initial HTHS of this oil is 3.2 cP, so it would be sheared down to around 2.98 cP. This is still well within grade for a 5W-30, and much higher than the ~2.4 cP of a typical shear-thinned 0W-20 that the engine was designed for.

An oil temperature of 230F isn't very extreme. I wouldn't be at all worried about this oil being too thin.

Good info. Thank you!

 

[ATex7239]

I’d stick with 3-4K miles OCI just for the breathing room on the viscosity. Otherwise it’s working for you.

 

[Fa24wrx]

I’d stick with 3-4K miles OCI just for the breathing room on the viscosity. Otherwise it’s working for you.

Only other thing I was considering is Mobil 1 ESP 5W30

 

[buster]

That would be a good choice too.

 

[Bonz]

As has been said, frequently for decades, just because a vehicle calls for one weight here in the United States, and allows different weights in the rest of the world, does not mean the different weights are unsuitable for the same engine here in the United States. Simply not logical. There are no differences in the engine construction, only USA CAFE numbers.

 

[Fa24wrx]

As has been said, frequently for decades, just because a vehicle calls for one weight here in the United States, and allows different weights in the rest of the world, does not mean the different weights are unsuitable for the same engine here in the United States. Simply not logical. There are no differences in the engine construction, only USA CAFE numbers.

Yep. That's why I went to 5w30

 

[YZJB]

Keep running this oil. Looks perfect for your application.

 

[Fa24wrx]

Keep running this oil. Looks perfect for your application.

Thanks! What specifically makes you say that? The low wear metals? Again, I'm new to this stuff. Thank you

 

[YZJB]

Thanks! What specifically makes you say that? The low wear metals? Again, I'm new to this stuff. Thank you

Wear looks great, oil has held up well in terms of TBN, yes its viscosity has dropped a bit but it’s still on the high side of a 20 weight, which is perfectly fine in your engine. I see no reason to change what you’re doing.

 

[Fa24wrx]

Wear looks great, oil has held up well in terms of TBN, yes its viscosity has dropped a bit but it’s still on the high side of a 20 weight, which is perfectly fine in your engine. I see no reason to change what you’re doing.

Awesome. Thank you

 

[OutFr0mUndr]

I came across your thread and wanted to share results from my '17 WRX with the FA20 motor running Restore and Protect. My car is tuned on an e60 ethanol blend, but is otherwise stock.

My wear rate per 1000 miles was significantly less than when it was using Pennzoil 5w40. Overall very happy.

I started running an upper cylinder lube in my fuel during this OCI, so that could also be contributing to the improvements.

 

[Fa24wrx]

I came across your thread and wanted to share results from my '17 WRX with the FA20 motor running Restore and Protect. My car is tuned on an e60 ethanol blend, but is otherwise stock.

My wear rate per 1000 miles was significantly less than when it was using Pennzoil 5w40. Overall very happy.

I started running an upper cylinder lube in my fuel during this OCI, so that could also be contributing to the improvements.

View attachment 253080

Awesome. Thanks for sharing!

 

[kschachn]

I came across your thread and wanted to share results from my '17 WRX with the FA20 motor running Restore and Protect. My car is tuned on an e60 ethanol blend, but is otherwise stock.

My wear rate per 1000 miles was significantly less than when it was using Pennzoil 5w40. Overall very happy.

I started running an upper cylinder lube in my fuel during this OCI, so that could also be contributing to the improvements.

View attachment 253080

Interesting, but a random spectrographic analysis such as this is unable to determine comparative wear rates between two oils. Far too many uncontrolled variables here.

 

[buster]

I came across your thread and wanted to share results from my '17 WRX with the FA20 motor running Restore and Protect. My car is tuned on an e60 ethanol blend, but is otherwise stock.

My wear rate per 1000 miles was significantly less than when it was using Pennzoil 5w40. Overall very happy.

I started running an upper cylinder lube in my fuel during this OCI, so that could also be contributing to the improvements.

View attachment 253080

"Would you look at that"...anemic little R&P putting up better numbers than a magical Euro oil...while cleaning too which the Pennzoil can't do.

 

[4WD]

"Would you look at that"...anemic little R&P putting up better numbers than a magical Euro oil...while cleaning to, which the Pennzoil can't do.

View attachment 253129

Ain’t that a kick in the ILSAC

 

[2.7ecoboostFordBronco]

It seems like all the API resource conserving/ILSAC GF-6A 30 grade oils slip to the 8.8-9.3 range within a short time (<2000 miles) even when starting over 10 and with less than 1% fuel dilution at UOA. They tend to stay in the high 8's or low 9's over very high OCI's though, even out to 10k miles unless fuel dilution gets really egregious.

I think they're engineered that way intentionally to meet the "resource conserving" requirements of API and ILSAC GF-6A. I asked folks on here about this as well as Lake Speed Jr. in an email exchange after SpeeDiagnostix did a UOA for me. Everyone assured me that this is normal and nothing to be concerned about, espcially in OP’s case since your vehicle is authorized to run 20 grade.