Valvoline Restore & Protect

[ndarkside93]

Just wanted to throw in a couple findings from my 3rd run of VRP. It came out much lighter from the plug this time with around 5500 mile oci but I noticed the oil draining from the filter was still extremely dark with a carbony sludge that took a long time to drain.

The lighter stain is oil as it came out of the drain pan and the darker stain is from the oil filter drainage. The sludge was thick and viscous and smelled pretty nasty when I let it puddle up at the top of the drain pan. I wiped a thick layer for visual reference.

 

[ZeeOSix]

What if your vehicle specs 10w30 per owners manual like my 02’ Dakota?

10W is the Winter grade. A 5W will do even better in cold weather start-ups. The hot 30 grade is still the same. I'd run 5W-30 in any engine "specifying" a 10W-30.

 

[4WD]

Just wanted to throw in a couple findings from my 3rd run of VRP. It came out much lighter from the plug this time with around 5500 mile oci but I noticed the oil draining from the filter was still extremely dark with a carbony sludge that took a long time to drain.

The lighter stain is oil as it came out of the drain pan and the darker stain is from the oil filter drainage. The sludge was thick and viscous and smelled pretty nasty when I let it puddle up at the top of the drain pan. I wiped a thick layer for visual reference.

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Simple but interesting comparison of sump vs filter effluents

 

[ndarkside93]

Simple but interesting comparison of sump vs filter effluents

Thanks. I am planning on pulling the valve cover after this run of vrp to see what it looks like under there. Engine was heavily neglected prior to purchase based on fluid conditions when I first changed them and the maintenance minder.

 

[CoachRoss07]

Thanks. I am planning on pulling the valve cover after this run of vrp to see what it looks like under there. Engine was heavily neglected prior to purchase based on fluid conditions when I first changed them and the maintenance minder.

Do you have a picture of under valve cover before you started the VRP journey?

I would love to see the difference!

 

[ndarkside93]

Do you have a picture of under valve cover before you started the VRP journey?

I would love to see the difference!

Unfortunately not. From looking through the filler cap it was heavily varnished but not sludged up

 

[Bill7]

Unfortunately not. From looking through the filler cap it was heavily varnished but not sludged up

But how does the filler cap view look after using Valvoline Restore & Protect?

 

[ltslimjim]

Then 5w30 can still replace it. The warranty is long over (not that 5w30 would have voided it anyway) and 5w30 is just as good if not better than 10w30. As I have said before here, 10w30 is basically an obsolete viscosity these days.

I have a separate question related to “W” ratings when it comes to choosing an oil for Extended Intervals. It may be overthought for the average OCI, but when extending intervals what at the Pros & Cons to “0W” vs “5W”?

Obviously, if you really need the colder rated version, but if you don’t see 0F or below is it ever advisable one or the other?

I’ve heard seemingly contradictory statements such as the “0W” oil uses a better base oil overall to achieve the rating with a caveat that it could be more prone to thickening and ultimately deposit formation compared to the “5W”? Is that a somewhat true dynamic? Is it related to lower Noack? And of course this could be different conclusions based on different formulated oils. Cheaper synthetics may have this more as a “thing” to consider, if splitting hairs but I think for extending intervals it’s worth the question for clarification and improved understanding. Thanks.

 

[Patman]

I have a separate question related to “W” ratings when it comes to choosing an oil for Extended Intervals. It may be overthought for the average OCI, but when extending intervals what at the Pros & Cons to “0W” vs “5W”?

Obviously, if you really need the colder rated version, but if you don’t see 0F or below is it ever advisable one or the other?

I’ve heard seemingly contradictory statements such as the “0W” oil uses a better base oil overall to achieve the rating with a caveat that it could be more prone to thickening and ultimately deposit formation compared to the “5W”? Is that a somewhat true dynamic? Is it related to lower Noack? And of course this could be different conclusions based on different formulated oils. Cheaper synthetics may have this more as a “thing” to consider, if splitting hairs but I think for extending intervals it’s worth the question for clarification and improved understanding. Thanks.

One really good reason to use a 0w oil for extended intervals is the fact that an oils cold performance can deteriorate with more miles on it so eventually a 5w would become a 10w oil. Therefore if you live in a colder climate and you start out with a 0w, at least you know that it will still have the cold performance of a 5w after you have put some miles on it.

 

[ndarkside93]

But how does the filler cap view look after using Valvoline Restore & Protect?

Nice and shiny silver. Very little to no varnish the last time I looked through. Will try and pickup a borescope this week to inspect

 

[Bill7]

Nice and shiny silver. Very little to no varnish the last time I looked through. Will try and pickup a borescope this week to inspect

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Wow. Valvoline R&P really works on Varnish. Thanks for that photo.

 

[JAG]

ndarkside93, your engine went from heavily varnished as seen through the oil fill hole to how it looks in those photos? What oils did you use prior to VRP and roughly how many total miles were done with those oils? Thanks.

 

[ndarkside93]

ndarkside93, your engine went from heavily varnished as seen through the oil fill hole to how it looks in those photos? What oils did you use prior to VRP and roughly how many total miles were done with those oils? Thanks.

Heavily varnished when I bought it. I cannot comment as to what oils specifically were used but they were definitely being pushed to the limit based upon visual inspection of all fluids when I bought the car and changed them. Oil was gritty, pitch black with a grayish undertone.

Bought at 234k miles now has 254k. Had one super tech oil change to flush the old oil out and then 3 runs of VRP and am now on the 4th run.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Heavily varnished when I bought it.

Seems like a big change based on your before description and the photos now.

 

[JAG]

ndarkside93, that is impressive enough that I think it warrants a thread dedicated to it, since it is now buried on Page 76 of this monster thread.

 

[ndarkside93]

Seems like a big change based on your before description and the photos now.

How many times does the earth need to be proven to be round before people actually believe it's round?

I get that every vehicle is different and results will vary but I’ve had good luck in this vehicle. And am using it for my moms RAV4 but it had impeccable maintenance so it was done for curiosity sake. And it came out looking similiar in look and feel to the ESP that I’ve been using it since she got it. Maybe a tad darker and definitely thinner.

Will say it has a very unique smell imo when drained compared to my previous experiences.

 

[OilStainedNapkin]

That’s snake oil

Nah, rislone has a good slug of esters in it.

 

[ndarkside93]

I haven't been active lately since the holidays have me out of town for a good while. I did drained the oil around December 12 with the dipstick looking pretty good with greatly reduced oil consumption as the level since the last photo show little change. The oil was in service for 5064 miles in the span of 6 months.

Put in back the same combo of 1 quart of HPL EC30 with 4 quarts of VRP for a second run. As a sneak peak the oil filter came out really good this time, hardly any deposits on the bottom of the can compared to the last filter it ran, will post a full photo gallery of that sometime later this weekend.

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Looks like it’s working. Can’t wait to see the next change on that combination.

 

[53' Stude]

Nah, rislone has a good slug of esters in it.

No it doesn’t

 

[demarpaint]

Nice and shiny silver. Very little to no varnish the last time I looked through. Will try and pickup a borescope this week to inspect

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Varnish has been a tough one for many cleaning products members tried over the years here. This looks great.