Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF

[tired]

Just go for the Valvoline Restore and Protect and forget about Frankenblends. I don't get trying these mixes. Drain a pan full of any Dexron licensed fluid and put in any Valvoline licensed Dexron VI or Valvoline recommended for Dexron VI fluid and it'll mix with what's still in the pump, torque converter, and cooler without any problem. No need to fret, just put in Valvoline Restore and Protect to get the cleaning. Mixing doesn't make it more betterererer.

Agree. Everyone looking a gift horse in the mouth here. Reports have been good with Valvoline Restore and Protect ATF. If I had an automatic transmission, I'd run it.

 

[Boge60]

I just did a 'spill 'n fill" to the tune of approx. 3.5 qts. in my 2009 Toyota Corolla with Valvoline Restore and Protect today. I will do it again in a few thousand miles per mechanic suggestion.

 

[FDT09]

Just go for the Valvoline Restore and Protect and forget about Frankenblends. I don't get trying these mixes. Drain a pan full of any Dexron licensed fluid and put in any Valvoline licensed Dexron VI or Valvoline recommended for Dexron VI fluid and it'll mix with what's still in the pump, torque converter, and cooler without any problem. No need to fret, just put in Valvoline Restore and Protect to get the cleaning. Mixing doesn't make it more betterererer.

Fair point.

And I figure even if my transmission doesn't like it, it's not like it's going to cause any catastrophic failure. I can just do a drain and fill with Dexron VI and hopefully get things back to normal.

And if I'm not mistaken R&P ATF is supposed to be fine to use for standard change interval, not necessarily need to change it soon to remove anything it dissolved.

 

[BeepBeep2]

I'm back - 2016 Chevy Cruze LT. Second drain and fill at 99895 miles. First was at 89500 on the dot.

Prior to the (first ever) change on February 23rd, 3rd gear was slipping and I experienced a pulsating shudder in multiple gears when accelerating, including inclines at highway speeds. Shortly before, one hard downshift and harsh / jerky upshifts every once in a while. Stabilitrak (ESC) warning once while accelerating hard.

After changing, the 3rd gear slipping pretty much completely went away, but there was an issue with torque converter lockup after downshifts at slow speeds around 800 miles in. That "resolved" itself, but on the instant mpg meter, it was reading ~75-88mpg coasting in that gear only versus a fuel cut (99 mpg, max read) in all other gears. Seems the car is giving very slight throttle to help it stay engaged. Whatever works, I guess.

It has gotten warmer, and in the last 1500 miles or so, that gear began slipping again with harder acceleration. The pulsating shudder when loaded at lower RPM also returned. No harsh shifts to note.

5.5 qts drained (~60% capacity) today at my buddy's house (apartment life), drove it 25 miles home. The pulsating is gone, 3rd gear did not slip. We'll see how it lasts.

The fluid was extremely dark and opaque again, smelled much more strongly than the first time around. Much less sparkly looking. The car had original fluid previously, and at this point, 80-85% has been replaced with R&P, some 10K miles old.

We are going to do one more change at 110K miles, and then it will go to 150K barring any other circumstances.

By the way, the R&P 5W-30 was visually fantastic for being in the car for 10.4K (80% highway) miles. 2 changes, 15.5K total now. It also had probably 80 hours of idle time, bad habit of lunch naps in the work parking lot. Surprisingly, or unsurprisingly, my varnished orange dipstick looked brand new today. Had a FRAM Synthetic Endurance on it, I have two more left that I snatched up before they disappeared.

I'll give another update if it's warranted prior to the next change.

 

[FDT09]

I'm back - 2016 Chevy Cruze LT. Second drain and fill at 99895 miles. First was at 89500 on the dot.

Nice. Thanks for the post. We probably have similar transmissions (Chevy Malibu 2014). So good to know R&P ATF is doing good stuff in yours. I'm going to give it a go and see.