Same message for me.
Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF
- Thread starter Atalane
- Start date
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
It says delivery in Feb or next week if I pay an extra $25.99 shipping. Nope.
I just ordered 2 gallons from Amazon. Says it will be here tomorrow. $29ea. Now I am thinking I need an inline filter added before I use it in my 2012 Nissan Frontier with 152k. I have recently changed the fluid when I replaced the valve body. So it is really clean. But having seen the videos of the oil filters clogged up using the Valvoline Restore and Protect oil, I am a little concerned. I guess I could just use a magnefine inline filter. But would want to change it pretty quickly to make sure it doesn’t clog up.
Anyway, here is a link to the ATF on Amazon.
https://a.co/d/0wx9bkP
BTW I just bought a 6 pack of 1qt Valvoline Extended Protection ATF bottles for $46. So it is a much better deal than the gallon jugs for $40.
https://a.co/d/1jZ6HrG
Anyway, here is a link to the ATF on Amazon.
https://a.co/d/0wx9bkP
BTW I just bought a 6 pack of 1qt Valvoline Extended Protection ATF bottles for $46. So it is a much better deal than the gallon jugs for $40.
https://a.co/d/1jZ6HrG
Since many/most people don't have a transmission fluid filter that gets changed with any regularity, I really doubt they'd design a fluid that is going to grenade transmissions if you don't change it. Do they recommend more filter changes with it? I can't imagine anyone is adding filters to the transmission fluid lines. They can't expect people to do that. It's got to be dummy proof. BITOGers must represent a tiny fraction of people who do their own car maintenance.
But that is really impressive you're thinking about adding your own in-line filter.
If you have a cooler up front that’s easy to access, just add a remote spin on filter base. I had a local hydraulic shop make me a pair of lines to tie into it for something like $150. I used a Canton billet mount but there’s plenty available for far less.
This allowed me to use a filter in FL1A or XG8A size.
When I need a new car or truck, I could only be so lucky to buy one from a BITOGer. Won't find one better maintained.
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2026
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- 4
I think I had some happy luck with the timing of my renewed interest in DIY service right when some fun developments show up in the fluid space. Ordered both the quarts and two large jugs from amazon. Quarts should be here in a few weeks and Amazon says tomorrow on the jugs. I’ll report on what I find and run a change on my new to me sorento in need of a fluid swap.
I’m curious if anyone has seen or heard of recommended change interval guidelines being that this product is supposedly removing deposits. Surely they aren’t suggesting to follow manufacturer’s intervals when most everything I see on modern transmissions is lying through their teeth about “lifetime” fluids or begrudging suggesting 60,000 if you operate in extreme conditions…
Also of note is all the ways I had of viewing this on Valvoline’s website don’t work anymore. It seems strange that it would be publicly viewable and acknowledged for months before being hidden again all while you can find it listed for order on stores.
I’m curious if anyone has seen or heard of recommended change interval guidelines being that this product is supposedly removing deposits. Surely they aren’t suggesting to follow manufacturer’s intervals when most everything I see on modern transmissions is lying through their teeth about “lifetime” fluids or begrudging suggesting 60,000 if you operate in extreme conditions…
Also of note is all the ways I had of viewing this on Valvoline’s website don’t work anymore. It seems strange that it would be publicly viewable and acknowledged for months before being hidden again all while you can find it listed for order on stores.
I haven't dug into the info on their ATF because I don't have any cars that have an automatic transmission (one with a CVT), but I imagine that they claim it keeps them in suspension like the Valvoline Restore and Protect does. I'd just follow whatever they recommend with changes. A short interval change might not be a bad idea to get a sense of what it looks like and cleans out. Fortunately it's not priced like the liquid gold that is some OEM ATF/CVT fluids (thinking of you Nissan CVT fluid...)
CleanSump
Site Donor 2026
I'd just put a new filter in when changing the fluid and not worry about it for another 40k miles. That's what I do with Valvoline's other fluids + Lubeguard changes.
MolaKule
Staff member
The advertising claims removal of 97% of deposits in the wet clutches.
I assume they mean a cleaning of the clutch discs in the clutch pack, which can see glazing from overheated clutch disc material.
If they mean it can remove the glazed material on the clutch discs, that in my view is a big order.
In any case, I would assume this means frequent oil changes, as they did with their VPR engine oil.
Perhaps Valoline will further explain what they mean by these claim(s).
I assume they mean a cleaning of the clutch discs in the clutch pack, which can see glazing from overheated clutch disc material.
If they mean it can remove the glazed material on the clutch discs, that in my view is a big order.
In any case, I would assume this means frequent oil changes, as they did with their VPR engine oil.
Perhaps Valoline will further explain what they mean by these claim(s).
- Joined
- Jan 11, 2026
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- 4
Ditto on the delivery! It smells slightly different than any transmission fluid I’ve used before and is red in color. Might try to do the fluid swap this week if the weather allows!
None of the QR codes go anywhere other than the generic transmission landing page on Valvoline’s website.
QR Code on the front: https://l.ead.me/bg0pLD
QR Code on the back: https://l.ead.me/bcvvRx
None of the QR codes go anywhere other than the generic transmission landing page on Valvoline’s website.
QR Code on the front: https://l.ead.me/bg0pLD
QR Code on the back: https://l.ead.me/bcvvRx
- Joined
- Oct 12, 2025
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Mine got delivered today as well.
It's going to go into my 4L80-E Jag XJ12 on Friday along with a new filter. It's been a hair slow to go into reverse on occasion, I think it's varnish on one of the valve body check balls... We'll see if this changes anything. It's never been serviced before (as far as I know) and is at 120k miles. I'll post an update after I put a couple hundred miles on it.
It's going to go into my 4L80-E Jag XJ12 on Friday along with a new filter. It's been a hair slow to go into reverse on occasion, I think it's varnish on one of the valve body check balls... We'll see if this changes anything. It's never been serviced before (as far as I know) and is at 120k miles. I'll post an update after I put a couple hundred miles on it.
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- Jan 11, 2026
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Just did the swap in our 8spd 2019 sorento and the 6spd 2014 Crosstour and two jugs was the perfect amount. Other than spilling like crap on the sorento (why would you design a fill port with a flow restriction…), it was uneventful. Test drives afterwards showed little to no difference in shifting behavior on the Honda and what seems like ever so slightly (probably placebo) smoother shifting on the Kia. Kia was already smoother than the Honda as the 6spd has a tendency to pick the opposite gear of what you want every time you do anything.
I also performed the first change to Valvoline Restore and Protect Motor oil in both cars and will run the ATF for the full (4 intervals) motor oil cleaning cycle and report back on both the ATF and the Oil.
Also learned the “specialists” at the Honda dealer overfilled my transmission by about a quart…
I also performed the first change to Valvoline Restore and Protect Motor oil in both cars and will run the ATF for the full (4 intervals) motor oil cleaning cycle and report back on both the ATF and the Oil.
Also learned the “specialists” at the Honda dealer overfilled my transmission by about a quart…
4wd
$50 site donor 2026
Perhaps they want to hook people on “change it often” like Valvoline Restore and Protect oil has done here - and the Valvoline quick lubes will promote that narrative … (does not matter who owns them) …
Even Valvoline Extended Protection is deceptive bcs it’s not meaning ESI.
I say this as someone using several of their products …
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- Oct 12, 2025
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Did the fluid change. Old fluid was still nice cherry red; small amount of clutch material in the pan, but nothing unusual for a healthy transmission with 120k miles.
After 4-5 heat cycles (while working on other issues) and ~10 miles of driving to circulate the fluid, the 4L80E's delay/slow engagement into reverse is completely gone. All gears now engage immediately, and reverse feels stronger than it ever has during my ownership.
Is this from Restore And Protect, or just fresh fluid? I don't know, but it's a data point.
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The QR codes now work. Wish they had some information for us on like how to use it to achieve what they say it will do. Like do we have to completely exchange our ATF for Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF, or is a drain and fill effective? With the motor oil, they tell us that you need to do 4 oil changes to see the full effect…
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- Jan 11, 2026
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Fluid can't fix terrible transmission logic but the engagements are more consistent and the Honda is definitely shifting better now. Manual mode begrudgingly slushes into gears better than it did when we got it and what used to feel like either excessive clutch slip or torque converter unlock on gear changes is greatly reduced to gone on every gear change except the 3-4 transition.
I now know the 6spd is known for needing more consistent fluid changes than is called for in the manual so whether this improvement is because of fresh fluid or some special sauce I can't say. On the next oil change I may attempt to gather a sample of the fluid for a blackstone report unless someone knows of a better way to see what's going on in there.
I now know the 6spd is known for needing more consistent fluid changes than is called for in the manual so whether this improvement is because of fresh fluid or some special sauce I can't say. On the next oil change I may attempt to gather a sample of the fluid for a blackstone report unless someone knows of a better way to see what's going on in there.
Skip Blackstone for one. They're the worst. Oil Analyzers, Wear Check, or Polaris labs.
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