Valvoline R&P Oil Burner Test Results

Why do you think your car burns oil and hers doesn’t?
This is not the Honda ( mine….I own a Fit & Civic ) that burns oil, even though it has almost twice the mileage.

The only car that uses oil is the Fit.

My Honda Civic has 335,000 miles on it ( with low quality gas ) , and the Fit has 188,000 miles on it.

3 cars in the family: 2012 Civic, 2013 Civic & 2015 Fit.
 
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You won't get timing chain issues, excessive bearing wear, and other problems. What you get are some varnish deposits here and there, usually on plastic parts, if your engine has those, like plastic oil filter housings. It's like the oil warms up, and it makes those deposits on the first cold surface it can find. But no, nothing to worry about, as long as you change the oil and run fuel system cleaner. And I wouldn't run any high-dolar boutique oils either. Mobil 1, Pennzoil, Castrol, the usual suspects, in non-Euro form, are the best choice for that kind of driving, in my experience.
My recommendation is do what I do, don’t waste your time changing the oil every 3000 miles and use only Top Tier oils.

It’s “ high dollar” to be changing any oil too early unless UOA says. I don’t smell my dipsticks but I bet they smell the same.

Like they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Top Tier oils and follow the OLM
 
My recommendation is do what I do, don’t waste your time changing the oil every 3000 miles and use only Top Tier oils.

It’s “ high dollar” to be changing any oil too early unless UOA says. I don’t smell my dipsticks but I bet they smell the same.

Like they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

Top Tier oils and follow the OLM
Just curious on what experience you base the recommendation to follow the OLM on? By your report, you've followed the OLM using the best oils available, and it appears you need a new short block based on the amount of oil you're burning.

Just my take, but I think if I were looking for advice, I'd look at someone who has no engine issues.
 
Just curious on what experience you base the recommendation to follow the OLM on? By your report, you've followed the OLM using the best oils available, and it appears you need a new short block based on the amount of oil you're burning.

Just my take, but I think if I were looking for advice, I'd look at someone who has no engine issues.
I am the type of person that minds my own business and doesn’t give other people advice. That said, I gave the other member advice because he gave me unsolicited advice on what I should be doing even though he never provided any proof throwing out oil early would benefit me and would cost me more money and time.

What’s the purpose telling someone you don’t need those expensive oils if you are going to use slightly cheaper ones and change them 3-4 times more often.?

I can’t help anyone with oil anxiety or OCD but I can help them with math and common sense which would prove why I don’t need a new short block ( in order to stop oil consumption to save money ) and why I saved a lot more money not doing 3-4 more frequent oil changes.

I drive a lot, around 4000 miles per month in the FIT ( didn’t drive nearly as much until 2 years ago when I switched to using this car, versus my Civic , as my long distance commuter car ) and if I changed the oil every 3000 miles, I would have to change the oil every month , and 3 to 4 times more often than the OLM says ( which was verified accurate many years ago just like the Motor oil geek OLM video….I don’t have fuel dilution issues ).

The FIT has stable oil consumption, 1 quart every 3000 miles ( lowest with HPL 0w30 …. a lot more when using VRP ). So, even if the cause of my oil consumption was because I didn’t change the oil every month/3000 miles , it’s only costing me 3 quarts of oil extra burned until the OLM says 0%. If I changed it 3-4 more often, it would mean 14 quarts of oil to go as far as 1 oil change following the OLM ( total 6.5 quarts used with consumption ).

I wouldn’t change a thing except pay less attention to people who obsess over 3000 mile oil changes swearing it will prevent these problems with zero proof.

The only proof is I would have spent a lot more on oil changes and time so I won’t be doing ridiculous 3000 mile oil changes, or need a new block which would make even less financial sense.

Car runs & sounds great. No smoke, fantastic fuel economy.

Honda doesn’t even consider the oil consumption excessive , so why would anyone spends $thousands on a new short block? To save the extra 3 quarts I am burning versus the 14 quarts if I changed it 3-4 times more often?

The other two Honda’s ( Civic ) don’t burn a drop and one has 335,000 miles on it following the OLM. Imagine how many extra oil changes would have been required if I changed it every 3000 miles?

That’s just my take also.

Maybe it’s time I take up fishing also.
 
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I am the type of person that minds my own business and doesn’t give other people advice. That said, I gave the other member advice because he gave me unsolicited advice on what I should be doing even though he never provided any proof throwing out oil early would benefit me and would cost me more money and time.

What’s the purpose telling someone you don’t need those expensive oils if you are going to use slightly cheaper ones and change them 3-4 times more often.?

I can’t help anyone with oil anxiety or OCD but I can help them with math and common sense which would prove why I don’t need a new short block ( in order to stop oil consumption to save money ) and why I saved a lot more money not doing 3-4 more frequent oil changes.

I drive a lot, around 4000 miles per month in the FIT ( didn’t drive nearly as much until 2 years ago when I switched to using this car, versus my Civic , as my long distance commuter car ) and if I changed the oil every 3000 miles, I would have to change the oil every month , and 3 to 4 times more often than the OLM says ( which was verified accurate many years ago just like the Motor oil geek OLM video….I don’t have fuel dilution issues ).

The FIT has stable oil consumption, 1 quart every 3000 miles ( lowest with HPL 0w30 …. a lot more when using VRP ). So, even if the cause of my oil consumption was because I didn’t change the oil every month/3000 miles , it’s only costing me 3 quarts of oil extra burned until the OLM says 0%. If I changed it 3-4 more often, it would mean 14 quarts of oil to go as far as 1 oil change following the OLM ( total 6.5 quarts used with consumption ).

I wouldn’t change a thing except pay less attention to people who obsess over 3000 mile oil changes swearing it will prevent these problems with zero proof.

The only proof is I would have spent a lot more on oil changes and time so I won’t be doing ridiculous 3000 mile oil changes, or need a new block which would make even less financial sense.

Car runs & sounds great. No smoke, fantastic fuel economy.

Honda doesn’t even consider the oil consumption excessive , so why would anyone spends $thousands on a new short block? To save the extra 3 quarts I am burning versus the 14 quarts if I changed it 3-4 times more often?

The other two Honda’s ( Civic ) don’t burn a drop and one has 335,000 miles on it following the OLM. Imagine how many extra oil changes would have been required if I changed it every 3000 miles?

That’s just my take also.

Maybe it’s time I take up fishing also.
I thought you had much more significant oil burning. 1 qt per 3000 miles isn't too bad. More than I'd like, but probably within spec according to Honda. The "3000 mi OCI" straw man is doing overtime work here though. There is a big difference between 3000 miles and the 10-12k you are running (IIRC; I might be off). There is a middle ground.
 
I thought you had much more significant oil burning. 1 qt per 3000 miles isn't too bad. More than I'd like, but probably within spec according to Honda. The "3000 mi OCI" straw man is doing overtime work here though. There is a big difference between 3000 miles and the 10-12k you are running (IIRC; I might be off). There is a middle ground.
Yes, anyone who is on BITOG probably hates any oil consumption , including me, but I try to put things into perspective and deal with the fact that this car uses oil ( unlike any Honda I have ever owned ) ,who knows if changing the oil every 3K would have prevented but I wasn't willing to waste my time ( more than money ) changing it more than once a month.

Some people like changing their oil, I hate it. I don't like even bringing it in for an oil change but I look after my cars and do it.

I fill up my car twice a week, I am o.k adding some oil once a week.

The only advice I would give people is to check your oil levels and don't assume they will be o.k until the next oil change.
 
Yes, anyone who is on BITOG probably hates any oil consumption , including me, but I try to put things into perspective and deal with the fact that this car uses oil ( unlike any Honda I have ever owned ) ,who knows if changing the oil every 3K would have prevented but I wasn't willing to waste my time ( more than money ) changing it more than once a month.

Some people like changing their oil, I hate it. I don't like even bringing it in for an oil change but I look after my cars and do it.

I fill up my car twice a week, I am o.k adding some oil once a week.

The only advice I would give people is to check your oil levels and don't assume they will be o.k until the next oil change.
I’m in the same boat as you, I don’t enjoy changing my oil like I used to, and it’s not as convenient for me anymore since I live in a condo now and need to drive over to my dad’s place to use his driveway. So I’m glad to just follow my oil life monitors, which means two oil changes a year in my Civic (about 10k intervals each) and once every 9-10 months in my Corvette (around 7k intervals each) I abandoned doing 3k intervals over 20 years ago and could never go back to that again. I’ve saved so much money over the years and not a single engine issue at all and none of them having any serious oil consumption either.
 
I’m in the same boat as you, I don’t enjoy changing my oil like I used to, and it’s not as convenient for me anymore since I live in a condo now and need to drive over to my dad’s place to use his driveway. So I’m glad to just follow my oil life monitors, which means two oil changes a year in my Civic (about 10k intervals each) and once every 9-10 months in my Corvette (around 7k intervals each) I abandoned doing 3k intervals over 20 years ago and could never go back to that again. I’ve saved so much money over the years and not a single engine issue at all and none of them having any serious oil consumption either.
I am the opposite, my first home was a Condo and we just moved into a family home 2 years ago. People were strictly ( my wife, former max security prison guard, was the condo president and she made sure people followed the bylaws ) forbidden from working on their cars in the parking lot ( I never, ever saw anyone even check , or add, oil to their cars except me ….lots of leaking oil in parking spots though ).

I thought about doing my own oil changes now but it’s a pain getting rid of the used oil and I can’t be bothered ( change it in my power equipment ).

I just bring my own oil and ask for the empties back to make sure they put it in plus the correct amount because it’s hard to read on my dipstick at first.


I have always been a high mileage driver and following the OLM just makes sense with higher quality oil and checking the level once a week.
 
Gear oil— the thickest you can find— is the best chain lube.
HHS2000

viscous seepage, turns to grease, no fling, takes 5 seconds to apply with a centre stand. Used it for years on pretty much everything. Not cheap, but you need so little to make a difference on things that need it.
 
For the record, the most boutique oils available are ACDelco, in a cute boutique shop with sweaters and hats and stickers, with insane boutique prices that make Amsoil and HPL look like clearance products!

But I do use their gear and transfer case oil... held up for 11+ years in the ATS tiny hot front diff.

Now about that sunflower smelling VRP!? :cool:
 
For the record, the most boutique oils available are ACDelco, in a cute boutique shop with sweaters and hats and stickers, with insane boutique prices that make Amsoil and HPL look like clearance products!

But I do use their gear and transfer case oil... held up for 11+ years in the ATS tiny hot front diff.

Now about that sunflower smelling VRP!? :cool:
Wish my R&P smelled like sunflowers! 🤣 obvious trolling.

I got more of a gear oil smell…Valvoline themselves said its an additive.
 
Please explain how fuel deposits made their way from the top of the piston, past the compression rings, half way down the piston to collect in the oil control rings??
For those that were curious the answer is blow-by. Very common when I started turning wrenches in the days of carburetors, cylinder wash, and ridge reamers.
 
I am the type of person that minds my own business and doesn’t give other people advice. That said, I gave the other member advice because he gave me unsolicited advice on what I should be doing even though he never provided any proof throwing out oil early would benefit me and would cost me more money and time.

What’s the purpose telling someone you don’t need those expensive oils if you are going to use slightly cheaper ones and change them 3-4 times more often.?

I can’t help anyone with oil anxiety or OCD but I can help them with math and common sense which would prove why I don’t need a new short block ( in order to stop oil consumption to save money ) and why I saved a lot more money not doing 3-4 more frequent oil changes.

I drive a lot, around 4000 miles per month in the FIT ( didn’t drive nearly as much until 2 years ago when I switched to using this car, versus my Civic , as my long distance commuter car ) and if I changed the oil every 3000 miles, I would have to change the oil every month , and 3 to 4 times more often than the OLM says ( which was verified accurate many years ago just like the Motor oil geek OLM video….I don’t have fuel dilution issues ).

The FIT has stable oil consumption, 1 quart every 3000 miles ( lowest with HPL 0w30 …. a lot more when using VRP ). So, even if the cause of my oil consumption was because I didn’t change the oil every month/3000 miles , it’s only costing me 3 quarts of oil extra burned until the OLM says 0%. If I changed it 3-4 more often, it would mean 14 quarts of oil to go as far as 1 oil change following the OLM ( total 6.5 quarts used with consumption ).

I wouldn’t change a thing except pay less attention to people who obsess over 3000 mile oil changes swearing it will prevent these problems with zero proof.

The only proof is I would have spent a lot more on oil changes and time so I won’t be doing ridiculous 3000 mile oil changes, or need a new block which would make even less financial sense.

Car runs & sounds great. No smoke, fantastic fuel economy.

Honda doesn’t even consider the oil consumption excessive , so why would anyone spends $thousands on a new short block? To save the extra 3 quarts I am burning versus the 14 quarts if I changed it 3-4 times more often?

The other two Honda’s ( Civic ) don’t burn a drop and one has 335,000 miles on it following the OLM. Imagine how many extra oil changes would have been required if I changed it every 3000 miles?

That’s just my take also.

Maybe it’s time I take up fishing also.
Correction….even better, only burns 1 quart every 4000 miles ( HPL), not every 3000 miles.

Just checked my oil log in the car.
 
Final short term update:

Just finished my first 5k oci with ESP 0w-30. Another 1/4 quart low for a total of a 1/2 quart in 5k miles. From here on out I’ll only post updates if a major change happens with oil consumption.
Thank you for your thorough journey. It was eye opening and provided a lot of valuable data and insight into this oil and vehicle specific oil consumption.
 
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