I've been using Valvoline Restore and Protect 5W-30 in my Toyota with the 2AZ-FE and I'm almost 3000 miles into the second interval. I changed the first at 3000 miles and I'm questioning whether to change again at 3000 miles or go to 4000. The reason for thinking it can go to 4000 miles is it still looks fresh. The first round, it got dark quickly and 3000 miles looked dark whether I checked it cold or warm. This round, it is light brown when cold and golden yellow when I check it warm.
That it looks cleaner after the same miles is just one observation. I switched to this Valvoline when I saw the first Oil Geek video about it. It had been consuming 1/2 quart of STP 5W-30 synthetic every 800 miles and had some rattle on cold starts. The cold start rattle stopped immediately with the Valvoline. Right before I made the switch, I checked compression, fully warmed up, and got 180 psi on each cylinder and that's exactly spec. About a month ago, I checked compression again, fully warmed up, and got 200 psi. That was hard to believe so I did each cylinder twice and it repeated.
Another observation is the improvement in idle. That engine would visibly shake at idle and I could see it in the battery hold down, wiper arms, hoses. Now, I no longer see the vibrations. I even tried to measure vibration for a before and after, but all I could get with a pulse sensor was that I get even pulses out of the dipstick tube at 25Hz at idle. The dipstick itself is another observation. It wasn't varnished up before, but it is sparkly shiny now. Looking in the oil fill hole and I really haven't seen anything different.
The final observation is the consumption which is really why I switched. 1/2 quart in 800 miles before the Valvoline and 6000 miles later, that has improved to 1/2 quart in 1400 miles. I check it before every cold start and if I go into the grocery store or anywhere it will sit for 10 minutes. This seems to be improving. The first interval I saw it improve to 1/2 quart in 1000 miles. I'd like to see it just stop but I'll take a 43% improvement.
Almost forgot, my driving is mixed highway and country roads some city. On very long trips before the Valvoline I got 35MPG, AC blasting, 70 MPH. That will be hard to beat, but my next long trip will be an opportunity to see. And I'm at 90,000 miles on the odometer.
That it looks cleaner after the same miles is just one observation. I switched to this Valvoline when I saw the first Oil Geek video about it. It had been consuming 1/2 quart of STP 5W-30 synthetic every 800 miles and had some rattle on cold starts. The cold start rattle stopped immediately with the Valvoline. Right before I made the switch, I checked compression, fully warmed up, and got 180 psi on each cylinder and that's exactly spec. About a month ago, I checked compression again, fully warmed up, and got 200 psi. That was hard to believe so I did each cylinder twice and it repeated.
Another observation is the improvement in idle. That engine would visibly shake at idle and I could see it in the battery hold down, wiper arms, hoses. Now, I no longer see the vibrations. I even tried to measure vibration for a before and after, but all I could get with a pulse sensor was that I get even pulses out of the dipstick tube at 25Hz at idle. The dipstick itself is another observation. It wasn't varnished up before, but it is sparkly shiny now. Looking in the oil fill hole and I really haven't seen anything different.
The final observation is the consumption which is really why I switched. 1/2 quart in 800 miles before the Valvoline and 6000 miles later, that has improved to 1/2 quart in 1400 miles. I check it before every cold start and if I go into the grocery store or anywhere it will sit for 10 minutes. This seems to be improving. The first interval I saw it improve to 1/2 quart in 1000 miles. I'd like to see it just stop but I'll take a 43% improvement.
Almost forgot, my driving is mixed highway and country roads some city. On very long trips before the Valvoline I got 35MPG, AC blasting, 70 MPH. That will be hard to beat, but my next long trip will be an opportunity to see. And I'm at 90,000 miles on the odometer.
