Valvoline Restore and Protect

How do you know this?
Because your own tests results show carbon on the pistons "double-length Sequence IIIH test" which is only 180 hours on average is about 6k Miles. Then the next photo you show is a Pickup tube "125K-mile accumulation study on a 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor which had 0% plugging".
Okay that's great, but why not show the pistons like you did in the previous photos out of the Ford at 125k miles?

Plus in my own experience I had a brand new 2009 Acura TSX that used Amsoil SS from day one, did 5k to 6k mile OCI, at around 80k miles I started having oil consumption and by 125k miles it started to burn a quart every 1500 miles. So I did a Berryman B-12 piston soak dramatically cutting oil consumption down proving that it was carbon buildup in the piston ring lands. So yeah, am I saying Amsoil is a bad product? No I'm not, is it a miracle product? Nope, and if it reversed Carbon in the ring lands on pistons Amsoil would screaming from the roof tops talking about it. And by the way in the 6 Speed MT that the TSX had the AMSOIL Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid was by far the best fluid ever for 3rd gear in those cars, There's a sticky on the Acurazine forums with many many people that fluid alone fixed their transmissions, also the rear diff in the Alfa Romeo Giulia/Stelvio has gear whine, the only fluid to fix the gear whine is AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR 75W-90. I am NOT bashing Amsoil I'm just being a realist.
 
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I think the valve cover is probably going to be pretty hot during engine operation.
Relatively speaking, they can be cool compared to other surfaces, this is why they are prone to getting deposits, because oil cools at it lands on it, which, coupled with the dwell time, can trigger precipitation of contaminants that were being held in suspension.

Of course this is not universal, different engines with different cover materials are going to behave differently. There is also the time of year factor, where cooler weather can reduce the valve cover temperature, which is why we also get "oil milk" condensation at the fill cap.
 
A quick google search suggests 2009-2011 Acura TSX models have a known issue of developing oil consumption. It’s an expected outcome.

So, if your vehicle is an outlier to being prone to severe oil consumption, that doesn’t make the oil the problem. It just proves some engines have operating conditions that are a ticking timebomb the way they are built.

Perfect Valvoline R&P candidate because it needs active removal rather than being great at prevention; which Amsoil SS is in fact great at.

Every lube has its limits though. And, before Valvoline R&P, it has never been heard a severe oil consumption condition due to a mechanical issue is fixed by oil choice itself.

EDIT: Other than Premium Blue Restore, an oil not made in the category of PCMOs.

Sure, it can help, but wishing your engine wasn’t poorly built regarding oil control rings doesn’t make it an Amsoil SS problem.
 
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Because your own tests results show carbon on the pistons "double-length Sequence IIIH test" which is only 180 hours on average is about 6k Miles. Then the next photo you show is a Pickup tube "125K-mile accumulation study on a 2025 Ford F-150 Raptor which had 0% plugging".
Okay that's great, but why not show the pistons like you did in the previous photos out of the Ford at 125k miles?

Plus in my own experience I had a brand new 2009 Acura TSX that used Amsoil SS from day one, did 5k to 6k mile OCI, at around 80k miles I started having oil consumption and by 125k miles it started to burn a quart every 1500 miles. So I did a Berryman B-12 piston soak dramatically cutting oil consumption down proving that it was carbon buildup in the piston ring lands. So yeah, am I saying Amsoil is a bad product? No I'm not, is it a miracle product? Nope, and if it reversed Carbon in the ring lands on pistons Amsoil would screaming from the roof tops talking about it. And by the way in the 6 Speed MT that the TSX had the AMSOIL Manual Synchromesh Transmission Fluid was by far the best fluid ever for 3rd gear in those cars, There's a sticky on the Acurazine forums with many many people that fluid alone fixed their transmissions, also the rear diff in the Alfa Romeo Giulia/Stelvio has gear whine, the only fluid to fix the gear whine is AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR 75W-90. I am NOT bashing Amsoil I'm just being a realist.
I didn’t think you were bashing Amsoil in general

Here are some of the tests you speak of

https://www.amsoil.com/performance-tests/?zo=515729

These are the pictures and tests correct?

I cannot account for your Acura. Highly unusual in my opinion in “normal” engines
 
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I do believe the Acura oil consumption story 100% because I remember those problems then. But something to consider is 2009 was what, three Amsoil formula’s ago?

The big keeping pistons clean push was in the 2016 formula change if I remember correctly.
 
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I do believe the Acura oil consumption story 100% because I remember those problems then. But something to consider is 2009 was what, three Amsoil formula’s ago?

The big keeping pistons clean push was in the 2016 formula change if I remember correctly.
Good point. I believe their story, too.

It’s relevance today though or when taken outside of that context; after understanding what occurred, is an important distinction.

I also don’t think it’s accurate to say others should expect piston ring deposits will eventually happen to anyone else running Amsoil SS. 👀
 
Good point. I believe their story, too.

It’s relevance today though or when taken outside of that context; after understanding what occurred, is an important distinction.

I also don’t think it’s accurate to say others should expect piston ring deposits will eventually happen to anyone else running Amsoil SS. 👀
It's inevitable on all engines. There's just some engines are much worse about it than others. Some can go hundreds of thousands of miles before it becomes a problem and most people ditch the car before that even happens.
 
Did you happen to post that analysis or would you mind sharing the results? Curious the ways it was spent at the time of sample. Of course, other oils may have a wide variation of results.
I posted some time back in UOA section - as I recall QSUD 5W20 wear metals were within limits but TBN was low at 4K miles . The Hyundai 2.4L HDI engine was not a good candidate to run on 20 weight oil to appease CAFE nor was it an engine suited for longer drains. Hyundai changed oil recommendation to 30 weight saying if was done to standardize service shops oil for GDI turbo as well as GDI non- turbo Theta II engines … Or was it done to help oil journal bearings buy more time before failure ? We will never know for sure - so using 0W30 , 5W30 or 0W40 full synthetics for shorter OCI’s of 4,000 miles / 6 months , frequent checks to keep oil level full along with a quality Car Quest / Microgard Select oil filter is at least part of the answer for the Theta II engine.
 
Currently being tested in the lab by LSJR!

IMG_7400.webp
 
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