Valvoline Restore and Protect

[f355spider]

it's been at least ( I was going to type ten years!) 2009 since the last time I crossed the canada/USA border by vehicle. That was the year Canadians could no longer just show a valid driver's license as proof of entry. USA border guards demanded a passport or refused entrance. I think I last went to Washington state in 2008, to Point Roberts , where many metro Vancouver shoppers would drive over for cheaper groceries, milk, gasoline....and the taverns.
I never bothered to get a passport, so I cannot travel to the USA .
Otherwise i'd drive down to Bellingham, like I did at least 4-5 times between 1987 to 2005 .
Something refreshing about visiting Bellingham.
I just looked up the stats: in 2008 the population was nearing 80,000.
In 2023 : 94,720.
My city of Vancouver Canada is about 3.3 million population.

It was a nice change for me, to go to a small American city with friendlier people, way less traffic , lots of variety, very nice downtown that was walkable, lots of free or cheap parking, plenty of places to eat, lots of greenery, heritage homes.....more, but i've forgotten.
I recently saw a travel YouTube video on Bellingham. Lots of new low rise developments, the city seems even nicer then in 2005.
Happy to see they have not gotten over run by high rise apartment towers, such as my city and the suburbs. Or by gang violence/by homelessness /junkies, street disorder.
In fact, after watching that YouTube video, I'd consider getting my passports and revisiting Bellingham. But for now I doubt I will, the Canada -usa dollar exchange sucks for Canadians. Makes everything too pricey for us.
But I tell you, of all the places I might consider relocating to in the USA, might just be Bellingham.
Of course, never having lived there, I could be fantasizing about some utopia / grass is always greener fantasy land.
What are your thoughts on Bellingham?

I'm up in Bellingham once or twice a month...that is some careful colored filtering and editing. There are homeless and street people...not nearly like East Hastings or DT Seattle..but they are there, just in smaller numbers. But I still love the area and checking out horse properties outside of Bellingham...mostly to the North and South.

 

[Huskyguy68]

Yes, my Canadian friends have PO boxes in Sumas and PT Roberts. Duty free Amazon and eBay shopping...

During the corona virus years, Point Roberts was in big trouble as many Canadians , mostly from metro Vancouver, stopped going there.
Even by 2024, things did not pick back up, their local economy was really suffering.
I recall watching our local News and the Point Robert's mayor was being interviewed and he looked so distressed, almost begging Canadians to return and shop, help the local businnesess recover.
Im guessing Blaine was in a similar situation.
It's been since before 2007 ive visited either american towns, i hope their economies have recovered and the people are prospering once again.
Nice little towns, especially Blaine.

 

[Huskyguy68]

I'm up in Bellingham once or twice a month...that is some careful colored filtering and editing. There are homeless and street people...not nearly like East Hastings or DT Seattle..but they are there, just in smaller numbers. But I still love the area and checking out horse properties outside of Bellingham...mostly to the North and South.

Smaller numbers is the key here.
I would not expect some North West paradise free of problems, but something a city of 100,000 can deal with and not outta control.
I watch and read a lot of news from all over north america, and you tube many of the cities, go to the City Reddit forums, etc.
Bellingham is really never mentioned as far as crime, gangs, gun violence, etc.
So i just assumed it is a pretty decent place to live.
I should look up some city stats .

 

[martinq]

I got some VRP 5w30 from Walmart for $40-something as well when they had a sale a month or two ago. It was an in-store price, online still showed $50.

I did see a $44 price from Walmart recently ($1 more than CanTire) but only on the Xw20 oils, not the 5w30. I will never be buying Xw20 engine oils, only 5w30 or 5w40 if it becomes available here (still hoping for 0w options).

 

[CANADADIY]

I did see a $44 price from Walmart recently ($1 more than CanTire) but only on the Xw20 oils, not the 5w30. I will never be buying Xw20 engine oils, only 5w30 or 5w40 if it becomes available here (still hoping for 0w options).

It was 5w30 I bought at that price when the sale was on. As people are seeing now, it’s getting harder to find in that grade.

 

[adam_reith]

Valvoline reduced zinc and phosphorous in Restore & Protect? Please confirm by comparing older PSDs.

Valvoline Restore and Protect
zinc 720 ppm
phosphorous 650 ppm
Wasn't the first one in the 800s and the second in 700s before?
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...379f19f8/ffdb3f9b-e06d-ee11-b828-48df379f19f8
Updated: 8/19/2025

Here is Valvoline Advanced Protection
zinc 900 ppm
phosphorous 780 ppm
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Publ...3793b338/31d6eae3-48fd-ea11-b7fc-48df3793b338
Updated: 3/11/2026

I had previously saved two copies of Valvoline Restore & Protect 0W20 data sheet, one dated 8/19/2025 and the other 10/1/2024.
2024: Zinc (Zn) 850 ppm, Phosphorous (P) 770 ppm.
2025: Zn 720 , P 650.

Significant reductions in Zn and P.
Zn & P are widely recognized as reducing wear on high load metal-metal contact points, eg flat tappet cams in older design OHV engines, especially starts after car's been sitting for a few days.
Supposedly newer roller cam designs are less susceptible, nevertheless it's concerning.
Maybe Valvoline believes Zn & P can inhibit or compromise "cleaning" ability ?? But maybe not a good tradeoff if engine wear also increases.

I've been mainly been using Valvoline 0W20 "Extended Protection" in my low mileage 2018 Toyota Tundra (3UR-FE gas V8 engine) and 2022 Lexus (2GR-FKS gas V6 engine).
From this oil's data sheet,
2025: Zn 900 ppm , P 780 ppm.
Not much different than 2024 Restore & Protect 0W20.

 

[Japanese]

I had previously saved two copies of Valvoline Restore & Protect 0W20 data sheet, one dated 8/19/2025 and the other 10/1/2024.
2024: Zinc (Zn) 850 ppm, Phosphorous (P) 770 ppm.
2025: Zn 720 , P 650.

Significant reductions in Zn and P.

Thanks a lot!
So, I was not mistaken. I was looking often at the oil's PDS before I bought it (like a year ago) and I remember higher values as you mentioned, but I was not sure. That's why I wanted somebody to confirms.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Significant reductions in Zn and P.

Think that's been going on with many motor oils over the last few years to reduce emissions and protect catalytic converters. They may increase the boron and molybdenum to compensate for the reduction of ZDDP. The oils still need to meet the wear specs of the latest test requirements.

 

[CleanSump]

Wear numbers don't appear to indicate it's a concern at all. As @ZeeOSix stated, it meets the wear requirements of the specifications it meets. Trying to out chemist the company chemists is a waste of time.

 

[adam_reith]

Wear numbers don't appear to indicate it's a concern at all. As @ZeeOSix stated, it meets the wear requirements of the specifications it meets. Trying to out chemist the company chemists is a waste of time.

Yes, agree. I'm an engineer but not a "real" tribologist.
ZDDP additives and such are a fairly big concern on "muscle cars" that nearly always had OHV, flat tappet cams, and high valve spring pressures. Including late 1980s Buick turbo V6 cars (GNX, Grand National, etc) where there are many anecdotal reports of premature wear, especially on modified engines and cars running 1/4 miles in 10-11 second range.
Whereas, most "modern" cars since mid-2000s are roller cams with lower peak pressures on cam lobes.

 

[Japanese]

Valvoline Restore & Protect 4-stroke 10W-40 motorcycle oil is officially on the Valvoline website. It's API SP and JASO MA/MA2. However, I haven't see it for sale yet.
https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/4-stroke-restore-and-protect-full-synthetic-motorcycle-oil-sae-10w-40/

PDS
https://sharena21.springcm.com/Public/Document/18452/b64b7f53-2d12-4eb3-8ec8-a08efbeb5cd3/54f94e18-6916-f111-b824-9440c99ff6c1

 

[ZeeOSix]

Yes, agree. I'm an engineer but not a "real" tribologist.
ZDDP additives and such are a fairly big concern on "muscle cars" that nearly always had OHV, flat tappet cams, and high valve spring pressures. Including late 1980s Buick turbo V6 cars (GNX, Grand National, etc) where there are many anecdotal reports of premature wear, especially on modified engines and cars running 1/4 miles in 10-11 second range.
Whereas, most "modern" cars since mid-2000s are roller cams with lower peak pressures on cam lobes.

There are motor oils specifically made for applications like that, so guys who have those older muscle cars just need to seek out those specific oils.

 

[adam_reith]

I had previously saved two copies of Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W20 data sheet, one dated 8/19/2025 and the other 10/1/2024.
2024: Zinc (Zn) 850 ppm, Phosphorous (P) 770 ppm.
2025: Zn 720 , P 650.

Significant reductions in Zn and P.
Zn & P are widely recognized as reducing wear on high load metal-metal contact points, eg flat tappet cams in older design OHV engines, especially starts after car's been sitting for a few days.
Supposedly newer roller cam designs are less susceptible, nevertheless it's concerning.
Maybe Valvoline believes Zn & P can inhibit or compromise "cleaning" ability ?? But maybe not a good tradeoff if engine wear also increases.

I've been mainly been using Valvoline 0W20 "Extended Protection" in my low mileage 2018 Toyota Tundra (3UR-FE gas V8 engine) and 2022 Lexus (2GR-FKS gas V6 engine).
From this oil's data sheet,
2025: Zn 900 ppm , P 780 ppm.
Not much different than 2024 Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W20.

Replying to my own post.
Yesterday, I online ordered and received from Walmart, 3x 5-qt jugs of Valvoline Restore and Protect 0W20, front labelled part # 904582, for $30 each + sales tax.
There was also a tiny, faint, date code on front: 2026-02 (?) suggesting jug was filled or packaged in early 2026.

The jugs' back labels listed only API "SP" and ILSAC "GF-6A" certifications, matching the older product sheet dated 2024-10-01.

The newest product sheet, dated 2025-08-19, lists "SQ" and "GF-7A" certification.

Even though Walmart has enormous volume of oil sales, apparently there's still plenty of "old" stock working its way through inventory and distribution.

I don't mind, I get the higher Zn & P levels this time around. It will probably be new formulation at next oil change in 6 mos. My cars are very low mileage, mostly short trips, model years 2018 and 2022.