Valvoline R&P Oil Burner Test Results

[tired]

You know I can “restore” it again, right?
I clearly explained my reasons to test another oil.

Absolutely no reason to avoid Subaru. I currently own two and have had at least one in my fleet since the early 80’s. Most taken over 200k miles on just routine maintenance.

You had great results with one oil so you want to see if another can replicate those results? The results that are already satisfactory? After trying basically all high quality oils? Makes a ton of sense. But your money and your car. Good luck.

How many head gaskets and control arms have you been through?

 

[tired]

My son has a 2002 WRX with almost 400,000 km on it and a 98 Forester with over 300,000 km on it and neither of those engines burns a crazy amount of oil. About a half quart every 3-4k. He uses Castrol 5w40 in both.

Unfortunately burning oil is just one of the many common problems with Subaru. They are not the same car company they were in the 90s to early 2000s and before. But that's great if they are working well for you. And you still have some of the good ones.

 

[Glenda W.]

You had great results with one oil so you want to see if another can replicate those results? The results that are already satisfactory? After trying basically all high quality oils? Makes a ton of sense. But your money and your car. Good luck.

How many head gaskets and control arms have you been through?

Oh jeeze you’re stretching my memory. I remember doing rear control arms on my bug eye wagon at 150k miles. I did have a LL Bean Edition Outback that got the multi layer metal head gaskets around 100k. I drove that to the junkyard around 235k miles due to rust. Nothing major in the last 15 years. Including my current two I maintain 4 more for friends and family currently. Easily one of the most hands off cars to get to 200k. Personally never hit 300k.

 

[Strumpan_]

Just saw a news article yesterday saying that Costco will be extending the hours of operation for their gas stations. The story didn't say if it was due to " customer feedback ". I didn't renew my Costco membership because of not having the time to wait in line for the 20+ cars ahead of me to fuel up. They do sell very good low priced top tier fuel though.

Does gas stations close in the states? Here i just pay at the pump and get how much i want. No need ho go inside.

 

[goblin]

Costco are sometimes specific.

 

[tired]

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.

Did you see any changes or improvement with the AMSOIL SS? It stands out as the lone boutique oil you ran. Just curious.

 

[Glenda W.]

Did you see any changes or improvement with the AMSOIL SS? It stands out as the lone boutique oil you ran. Just curious.

That was going to be my original test until R&P showed up at my local Wally. I don’t think it had enough time to work. The engine did seem smoother and quieter but nothing scientific.

 

[martinq]

That was going to be my original test until R&P showed up at my local Wally. I don’t think it had enough time to work. The engine did seem smoother and quieter but nothing scientific.

It would have been very cool to do 4x OCI on Amsoil and then 4x OCI on R&P. But of course, even then it would not be conclusive. Regardless this was excellent documentation and reporting.

 

[Glenda W.]

Any pics of cutting open oil filters to see what kind of rocks they collected

I did cut every filter open and posted them along the way. Nothing out of ordinary. I think R&P dissolves piston deposits. If my engine was sludgy and dirty I’d imagine the filters would show more.

 

[Glenda W.]

It would have been very cool to do 4x OCI on Amsoil and then 4x OCI on R&P. But of course, even then it would not be conclusive. Regardless this was excellent documentation and reporting.

It’s possible Amsoil started the cleaning process but no way to prove it. Piston deposits are the hardest to clean imo.

 

[Dutchy491]

Amsoil SS 5w30 is a great oil to stick with now…
My 2cents

 

[HondaFarm]

Great results!! This will help quiet down the non believers who still think that this oil is all hype and is bound for the clearance rack

It’s not hype to me. My ‘08 Honda was burning 2-2 1/2 quarts per 5k. Used VR&P and I’m down to 1/2 qt per 5k. I’m on my 4th OCI and I’ve burned just a click over a 1/4 quart in 4k miles. Should finish slightly below 1/2 qt on this 5k run. I’ve also had 1.8 ppm and 1.0 ppm wear metals per 1k miles on UOA. Hard to beat that no matter what boutique oil I try and use. I’ve used Amsoil SS and HM in the past. I’m not switching to another brand after these results. Long term VR&P usage for me!

 

[martinq]

It’s not hype to me. My ‘08 Honda was burning 2-2 1/2 quarts per 5k. Used VR&P and I’m down to 1/2 qt per 5k. I’m on my 4th OCI and I’ve burned just a click over a 1/4 quart in 4k miles. Should finish slightly below 1/2 qt on this 5k run. I’ve also had 1.8 ppm and 1.0 ppm wear metals per 1k miles on UOA. Hard to beat that no matter what boutique oil I try and use. I’ve used Amsoil SS and HM in the past. I’m not switching to another brand after these results. Long term VR&P usage for me!

Thanks for sharing and please keep us posted.

 

[tired]

It’s not hype to me. My ‘08 Honda was burning 2-2 1/2 quarts per 5k. Used VR&P and I’m down to 1/2 qt per 5k. I’m on my 4th OCI and I’ve burned just a click over a 1/4 quart in 4k miles. Should finish slightly below 1/2 qt on this 5k run. I’ve also had 1.8 ppm and 1.0 ppm wear metals per 1k miles on UOA. Hard to beat that no matter what boutique oil I try and use. I’ve used Amsoil SS and HM in the past. I’m not switching to another brand after these results. Long term VR&P usage for me!

How long did you run Amsoil? Did you do 4 changes with it? Any change in oil burning or notice anything else?

These are amazing results! Thanks for sharing.

 

[HondaFarm]

I can’t remember all the details but I ran Amsoil for quite awhile. Also ran Mobil 1 Ext Performance for many oil changes as well. I believe the last 2 or 3 changes just prior to Valv R&P was Mobil 1 Ext Perf High Mileage. The only oil I used but didn’t go with multiple consecutive oil runs was with Pennzoil Ultra Platinum because it was difficult to get on a consistent basis. Amazon or another supplier would be out of stock so I’d go back to Amsoil or Mobil 1.

 

[lakestone]

Interesting, thanks. I’m not dealing with fuel dilution thankfully. The ESP 0w30 still uses the ester formula unlike the 5w30. It’s kept my daughter’s Acura RDX squeaky clean. Just did her oil change on Saturday at 126k miles.

ESP 0W-30 doesn't contain Adipate ester, which is what you want for cleaning, seal swell, solubility, etc. ESP 0W-30 contains TMP ester.

Anyway, have you considered installing an oil catch can to interrupt the cycle of feeding the intake the engine's own oil?

 

[Glenda W.]

ESP 0W-30 doesn't contain Adipate ester, which is what you want for cleaning, seal swell, solubility, etc. ESP 0W-30 contains TMP ester.

Anyway, have you considered installing an oil catch can to interrupt the cycle of feeding the intake the engine's own oil?

Source for your TMP ester claims? LSJR says otherwise. Plus Rislone uses TMP ester for cleaning.

I have no oil in my intake track.

 

[BrendanC]

Even if Shell decides to stop paying to use the TT branding I have full confidence in them as they have really promoted their V Power fuels ability to clean up engines really well. Shell is a very reputable company that I trust not to make such a statement if they didn’t have the test results to prove that

i only buy shell gasoline. being able to pay through the app is a big plus for me aswell.

 

[buster]

Source: XOM

 

[Glenda W.]

Source: XOM

View attachment 269653

Exactly. LSJR covered ESP’s use of ester for cleaning and other advantages. Also the move to AN’s in EP and Truck and SUV, thus the drop in virgin oxidation.