Valvoline R&P Oil Burner Test Results

[tired]

My goal is to see if ESP will keep my now cleaned rings from sticking again. I use ESP in a handful of other vehicles and have been very happy with what I see. If a $27 Walmart oil is capable of keeping low tension oil rings free it’s a win for everyone.

What have you seen so far that you like? How long has you been running it in other cars?

 

[Glenda W.]

What have you seen so far that you like? How long has you been running it in other cars?

Been in some for a couple years now. ESP cleaned up a couple cars I maintain nicely. Actually doing a varnish cleanup test in a friends Forester now, should be posting details by the end of the year. I really like the shear stability, keeps the Subaru engines quiet and smooth through the whole oci. Some other oils only last 2-3k miles before I can hear the difference. In the past I did UOA’s and other oils drop a grade. I hope to do a UOA on ESP this year. My theory is the long timing chains are hard on oil in these boxer engines.

 

[That John dude]

By General Motors the manufacturer per the owners manual for scheduled maintenance or as a GM dealership "recommended" add on?

Idk if it’ll be in your owners manual yet, but BG, and GM partnered together to help fuel systems stay clean longer. They also have a diesel fuel system treatment that they made BG reformulate to meet what GM wanted.
Ford has also partnered with BG recently.

 

[Sequoiasoon]

I have an embarrassing stock of HPL in my storage unit that will be diverted to my TSX if that is the case, once it finished up VRP.

I think we will require pictures of how embarrassing.........

 

[That John dude]

https://bgprod.co.uk/index.php/home/ford-gm-endorse-bg-in-us#:~:text=This groundbreaking announcement followed soon after the,using approved BG fuel system cleaning products.&text=GM/AC Delco now offer enhanced maintenance services,to properly maintain petrol and diesel vehicles".
Next time the BG guy comes in I’ll try to get all the info on paper to show what GM recommends, and at what interval.

 

[melk]

I’ll stick with sale prices of either Techron or Regane …

Yep, same here. I've moved to almost exclusively Regane as it cant be beat for $7/bottle normal price and supposedly has higher concentration PEA

Techron 20-30%
Regane 30-40%
BG 44K 40-50% stronger solvent package
Redline "up to" 50% , includes lubricants

 

[Sequoiasoon]

Yep, same here. I've moved to almost exclusively Regane as it cant be beat for $7/bottle normal price and supposedly has higher concentration PEA

Techron 20-30%
Regane 30-40%
BG 44K 40-50% stronger solvent package
Redline "up to" 50% , includes lubricants

Posted somewhere but Gumout Multi-System is also on the high amount of PEA list IIRC and easily available at Walmart.

My experience was I used a lot of Techron, never noticed a difference so thought all was good. Then I used BG44k and did notice a difference.

Lets equate that to using some really good recommended oils and finding oil burning carboned ring areas and then some VRP and that is reduced a lot.

 

[Wheel366]

So you don't have any oil consumption yet? This is interesting since you and Glenda have the same engine and similar OCIs yet she developed oil consumption, and you didn't. The only variable was she ran Valvoline for a while after M1.

You guys are rapidly changing my opinion of Mobil 1 oils...

Yeah, I don't have an answer. Maybe because the first 3-4 oil changes were short? Just speculation on my part. Could be different driving conditions too. Who knows...

 

[wbwanzer]

To Glenda, thanks for starting this thread. It's now my favorite. I check it multiple times a day. I'm learning from it.

 

[tired]

To Glenda, thanks for starting this thread. It's now my favorite. I check it multiple times a day. I'm learning from it.

Same! Very interesting and extremely useful results.

 

[Glenda W.]

To Glenda, thanks for starting this thread. It's now my favorite. I check it multiple times a day. I'm learning from it.

You’re welcome!

 

[ATex7239]

Yep, Exxon or Mobil or Chevron or Shell …
Costco pumps are a three ring circus for me …

If you mention that though the response is usually, “yeah, well if you go at 3AM or during a blizzard or thunderstorm or something then it’s much better.”

Oh cool. Thanks for the hot tip. I’ll get a Costco card right away.

 

[Bill7]

Just passed 5k miles on my 4th and final oci of Valvoline R&P for a total of 20k miles. It’s been hard to keep my mouth shut but here are the details and results!!

2018 Subaru Outback that I bought new. Started burning oil right at about 60k miles. Before that it only used about a 1/4 quart in a 5k mile oci. It started using 1 quart in 5k miles and steadily increased to almost 3 quarts in 5k miles. I was adding a little over a quart every 2k miles when I started this test. I have done every service myself on this vehicle including the pcv valve on time. I’ve only used a couple high quality full synthetic oils at 5k mile oci’s since new. The internals have always been spotless. I used a borescope and found oil wash on 3 pistons confirming my suspicion of stuck low tension oil rings. Here are the oils I’ve used in detail.

500-35k miles M1 FS 0w40
35k-100k miles Valvoline EP 5w30
100k-110k Amsoil SS 5w30
110k-130k Valvoline R&P 5w30

Results with R&P:

1st oci=no change

2nd oci= no change(almost gave up)

3rd oci=added 1/2 qt at 2k miles, 1/2 qt at 4k miles! Used a little over a quart in 5k mile oci.

4th oci=added 1/2 quart at 3k miles and used a total of less than 3/4 quart in 5k mile oci.

So R&P has improved my oil consumption from almost 3 quarts per 5k miles to less than 3/4 quarts in 5k miles. Not 100% but not to shabby if you ask me. I highly recommend people give R&P a try for at least 4 oci’s.

My plan is to run M1 ESP 0w30 for the foreseeable future. I want to see if this oil will keep my piston rings as is. I will continue to update this thread with any changes.

Very helpful. You've proven that four 5k OCI's with Valvoline R&P can clean very tough to clean piston rings.

Also, you've pointed out 1 key difference between Valvoline R&P and HPL oil.
Valvoline R&P disolves the ring land deposits, while HPL deposits them in the oil filter.

The assumption for your future oil choice of Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 is that it will be able to handle the exteme high heat caused by the "oil ring design defect" significantly better than the Valvoline EP 5W-30. It will be interesting to see if it does. Please keep us posted.

Walmart price for Valvoline R&P : $29.99 minus $5 rebate from Valvoline = $24.99 for 5 quart jug.
If I were in your position, I would just stock up on the Valvoline R&P (before the rebate period expires) and see if another four 5k OCI can reduce your oil consumption to zero.

 

[jxthomps]

Just passed 5k miles on my 4th and final oci of Valvoline R&P for a total of 20k miles. It’s been hard to keep my mouth shut but here are the details and results!!

2018 Subaru Outback that I bought new. Started burning oil right at about 60k miles. Before that it only used about a 1/4 quart in a 5k mile oci. It started using 1 quart in 5k miles and steadily increased to almost 3 quarts in 5k miles. I was adding a little over a quart every 2k miles when I started this test. I have done every service myself on this vehicle including the pcv valve on time. I’ve only used a couple high quality full synthetic oils at 5k mile oci’s since new. The internals have always been spotless. I used a borescope and found oil wash on 3 pistons confirming my suspicion of stuck low tension oil rings. Here are the oils I’ve used in detail.

500-35k miles M1 FS 0w40
35k-100k miles Valvoline EP 5w30
100k-110k Amsoil SS 5w30
110k-130k Valvoline R&P 5w30

Results with R&P:

1st oci=no change

2nd oci= no change(almost gave up)

3rd oci=added 1/2 qt at 2k miles, 1/2 qt at 4k miles! Used a little over a quart in 5k mile oci.

4th oci=added 1/2 quart at 3k miles and used a total of less than 3/4 quart in 5k mile oci.

So R&P has improved my oil consumption from almost 3 quarts per 5k miles to less than 3/4 quarts in 5k miles. Not 100% but not to shabby if you ask me. I highly recommend people give R&P a try for at least 4 oci’s.

My plan is to run M1 ESP 0w30 for the foreseeable future. I want to see if this oil will keep my piston rings as is. I will continue to update this thread with any changes.

I have 2017 Outback 80k. It was using 1/2-1qt every 3k. I’m on my 3rd R&P closing in on 3k and no oil burned.

 

[Glenda W.]

I have 2017 Outback 80k. It was using 1/2-1qt every 3k. I’m on my 3rd R&P closing in on 3k and no oil burned.

Thanks for the update!

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

Just checked the oil.

Had to add oil.

Still burning the same amount, so far.

Keep calm and VRP on for another two oil changes.

Edit: time will tell but I think my engine was already as clean as it could be thanks to using two, top quality engine oils ( Amsoil SS and HPL PP ).

 

[Just a civilian pilot]

I have 2017 Outback 80k. It was using 1/2-1qt every 3k. I’m on my 3rd R&P closing in on 3k and no oil burned.

Can I ask you what oil and Interval you were doing prior to trying VRP?

 

[Averroes]

Interesting, some good info. Thanks for this.

Just picked up Valvoline advanced 5W30 for the Corolla. Will be giving it a shot. Can't find any VOAs or UOAs for this oil, but I heard it does a good job. Been always switching between M1 and Penn.

 

[jxthomps]

Can I ask you what oil and Interval you were doing prior to trying VRP?

3-4k used either Castrol Edge Napa FS or valvoline ep. I have had the car for about 50k miles. It started around 60k I switched to VRP around 70k.

 

[tired]

3-4k used either Castrl Edge Napa FS or valvoline ep. I have had the car for about 50k miles. It started around 60k I switched to VRP around 70k.

Wow, all good oils and short OCIs. Seems that this engine just wants to burn oil with anything except VRP.