Valvoline Restore and Protect

See post 3,153 (LINK). If a 5.0L Coyote V8 can run anything from xW-20 to xW-50 based on just journal bearing clearances, so can your engine. As said earlier, "tight" bearings can run thicker oil, but "loose" bearings don't like thinner oil. Note that the clearance has to be compared by clearance per bearing diameter, which the Coyote has larger diameter journal bearings, so the clearances are just a bit larger but still plenty "tight". I'd run a good xW-30 grade in your engine if it was mine, it's going to provide better MOFT and wear protection.
There is so much imagination about how oils work.
 
If it’s that bad, I highly recommend dropping the lower oil pan and cleaning it.
^This. And I’d definitely change the oil filters on a short schedule. The one posted is caked with a layer as it is! Just because the engine didn’t fail doesn’t mean optimal approach; which the entire purpose of is to reduce risks during cleanup phase. Far better to aggressively remove by hand with oil pan off & valve covers removed, then continue on a gentle cleaning approach only. It will take far longer and can’t be good for the engine to have layers of sludge yet to remove. That’s asking too much of the oil alone, and is a good candidate for very short OCIs until bare metal starts appearing if not manually removing.
 
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You said you feel good about the condition of the engines after running restore and protect. What specific results made you feel good about the condition of these engines?
The engine is running great. Knowing how clean the eternals must look gives me pleasure.
Nothing more nothing less.
There has to be something else to focus on.
Have a good day. Good. Bye.
 
It doesn’t use a drop of coolant. It did go over 60,000km without an oil change though, and has had a terrible OCI history in general hence the sludge.
I'd check the PCV system valve and hoses. If it's not working well, there's going to be a moisture build-up inside the engine over time, especially in cold climates.
 
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If it’s that bad, I highly recommend dropping the lower oil pan and cleaning it.
The engine runs perfectly and I can’t charge her enough to perform manual cleaning. I agree it’s the right thing to do if I had enough spare time but I don’t unfortunately.

^This. And I’d definitely change the oil filters on a short schedule. The one posted is caked with a layer as it is! Just because the engine didn’t fail doesn’t mean optimal approach; which the entire purpose of is to reduce risks during cleanup phase. Far better to aggressively remove by hand with oil pan off & valve covers removed, then continue on a gentle cleaning approach only. It will take far longer and can’t be good for the engine to have layers of sludge yet to remove. That’s asking too much of the oil alone, and is a good candidate for very short OCIs until bare metal starts appearing if not manually removing.
As I said in my OP, I had been doing 5,000km intervals with a cheaper oil to try to help clean it out, but then she didn’t come back for 22,000km. I can’t help that.

You show pics of before the OC. What are the results after the OC, of the km overage?
The pics are all after the 22k km OCI.

I'd check the PCV system valve and hoses. If it's not working well, there's going to be a moisture build-up inside the engine over time, especially in cold climates.
The PCV is fine, and where I am in Australia it’s certainly not a cold climate. The sludge in this engine is a direct result of neglecting oil changes. It once went around 60,000 km without an oil change.
 
The PCV is fine, and where I am in Australia it’s certainly not a cold climate. The sludge in this engine is a direct result of neglecting oil changes. It once went around 60,000 km without an oil change.
She's luck it still runs and didn't destroy itself from lack of lubrication. Someone must check the oil level on this thing, or is there about a cup or two of oil left when the oil change is done. :unsure: 😄
 
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Just had the valve cover gaskets replaced and had the shop take pictures of the valve train and underside of the cam covers; 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with 198,000 miles on the 3.6L Pentastar engine. The engine has had two changes of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30 (10,000 total on Valvoline Restore and Protect) and is on the 3rd.

I bought this vehicle new and have typically changed the oil when the OLM displayed 20% remaining life which converts to changes typically every 6,000 - 7,500 miles. The oil history (after the dealership included 4 initial oil changes) was 5w-20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or 5w-20 Pennzoil Platinum when Ultra was not available. At approximately 140,000 miles I changed viscosity to 5w-30.

Since changing to Valvoline Restore and Protect at about 187,000 miles, this particular engine is mechanically quieter and after 10,000 miles of Valvoline Restore and Protect no longer exhibits cam chain rattle at engine startup. I suspect Valvoline Restore and Protect has done a good job cleaning the variable valve timing parts in addition to the rest of the engine internals.

I notice some cam lobe wear which may be normal after nearly 200,000 miles however I suspect it might have been less if this engine had 5w-30 oil from new. That said I believe both Pennzoil and Valvoline synthetic oil have contributed to the long and trouble-free life of this engine.

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View attachment 317581Just had the valve cover gaskets replaced and had the shop take pictures of the valve train and underside of the cam covers; 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with 198,000 miles on the 3.6L Pentastar engine. The engine has had two changes of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30 (10,000 total on Valvoline Restore and Protect) and is on the 3rd.

I bought this vehicle new and have typically changed the oil when the OLM displayed 20% remaining life which converts to changes typically every 6,000 - 7,500 miles. The oil history (after the dealership included 4 initial oil changes) was 5w-20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or 5w-20 Pennzoil Platinum when Ultra was not available. At approximately 140,000 miles I changed viscosity to 5w-30.

Since changing to Valvoline Restore and Protect at about 187,000 miles, this particular engine is mechanically quieter and after 10,000 miles of Valvoline Restore and Protect no longer exhibits cam chain rattle at engine startup. I suspect Valvoline Restore and Protect has done a good job cleaning the variable valve timing parts in addition to the rest of the engine internals.

I notice some cam lobe wear which may be normal after nearly 200,000 miles however I suspect it might have been less if this engine had 5w-30 oil from new. That said I believe both Pennzoil and Valvoline synthetic oil have contributed to the long and trouble-free life of this engine.

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Looks great!!
 
View attachment 317581Just had the valve cover gaskets replaced and had the shop take pictures of the valve train and underside of the cam covers; 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with 198,000 miles on the 3.6L Pentastar engine. The engine has had two changes of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30 (10,000 total on Valvoline Restore and Protect) and is on the 3rd.

I bought this vehicle new and have typically changed the oil when the OLM displayed 20% remaining life which converts to changes typically every 6,000 - 7,500 miles. The oil history (after the dealership included 4 initial oil changes) was 5w-20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or 5w-20 Pennzoil Platinum when Ultra was not available. At approximately 140,000 miles I changed viscosity to 5w-30.

Since changing to Valvoline Restore and Protect at about 187,000 miles, this particular engine is mechanically quieter and after 10,000 miles of Valvoline Restore and Protect no longer exhibits cam chain rattle at engine startup. I suspect Valvoline Restore and Protect has done a good job cleaning the variable valve timing parts in addition to the rest of the engine internals.

I notice some cam lobe wear which may be normal after nearly 200,000 miles however I suspect it might have been less if this engine had 5w-30 oil from new. That said I believe both Pennzoil and Valvoline synthetic oil have contributed to the long and trouble-free life of this engine.

View attachment 317582

View attachment 317583

View attachment 317584
That is clean! Wow
 
View attachment 317581Just had the valve cover gaskets replaced and had the shop take pictures of the valve train and underside of the cam covers; 2014 Jeep Wrangler Unlimited with 198,000 miles on the 3.6L Pentastar engine. The engine has had two changes of Valvoline Restore and Protect 5w-30 (10,000 total on Valvoline Restore and Protect) and is on the 3rd.

I bought this vehicle new and have typically changed the oil when the OLM displayed 20% remaining life which converts to changes typically every 6,000 - 7,500 miles. The oil history (after the dealership included 4 initial oil changes) was 5w-20 Pennzoil Ultra Platinum or 5w-20 Pennzoil Platinum when Ultra was not available. At approximately 140,000 miles I changed viscosity to 5w-30.

Since changing to Valvoline Restore and Protect at about 187,000 miles, this particular engine is mechanically quieter and after 10,000 miles of Valvoline Restore and Protect no longer exhibits cam chain rattle at engine startup. I suspect Valvoline Restore and Protect has done a good job cleaning the variable valve timing parts in addition to the rest of the engine internals.

I notice some cam lobe wear which may be normal after nearly 200,000 miles however I suspect it might have been less if this engine had 5w-30 oil from new. That said I believe both Pennzoil and Valvoline synthetic oil have contributed to the long and trouble-free life of this engine.

View attachment 317582

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The photos really do looks great. It is so clean that if you opened a poll here, we absolutely would jot have guessed such milage.

I am curious, why did you opened it up though?
 
Do the Pentastars have cam actuator screens or filters you can pull and check? After running EC30 in one of our BMWs, there were tiny hard black pieces to clean off the anti-drainback valve and actuator screens (just like the stuff you'd find in the oil filter). The passages to them are after the oil filter of course. I wonder if Valvoline Restore and Protect would loosen stuff in the block passages and leave hard little pieces the same way or if it would all just dissolve and flow through.
 
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