I was trying to figure out what this additive might be. I looked into the patents filed by Aramco, the research they did at KAUST (a university in Saudi Arabia), then I looked at patents filed by Afton. I picked Aramco and Afton because I figured it wouldn't use an additive sold or controlled by Shell or Exxon, and I figured since VRP came out after the Aramco acquisition of Valvoline (2023), that Aramco might start using a patented process in its own oils vs letting someone else use it on a licensing basis.
Searching for terms like deposits, piston rings, cleaning, additives, oil consumption, IIIH test parameters -- I looked at the last 15 years of patents. There are hundreds, if not thousands. I don't have the technical background to parse this in detail or really much at all, so I can only offer the most low level summary of what I think might be possible candidates for this cleaning agent.
There were several patents specifically dealing with nanoparticle additives, physical abrasives in other words, and some patents regarding dispersants specifically to disperse carbon particles. The nanoparticle patents discussed uniquely shaped atomic arrangements to manufacture gentle abrasives for removing engine deposits that would remove engine deposits over time. Several patents looked at the friction reducing properties of them, but a few patents looked specifically at chemical additives that were specific to reducing deposits.
So it makes me wonder if the "gentle cleaning" and "up to 4 oil changes" thing discussed in the marketing isn't using something like a uniquely formed abrasive compound that doesn't increase friction and wear on relatively smooth metal surfaces, but in the right combinations of heat and pressure, when in contact with relatively rough surfaces (like carbon deposits) forms a scrubbing action. This, paired with some sort of dispersant specific for microscopic carbon particles, allows these sooty bits to remain in suspension. The nanoparticle size is extremely small, so it won't get caught by the filter, but if it can break off pieces of carbon and gunk, that will get captured by the filter if it cannot remain suspended in the oil.
All of this stuff, these additives, work in concert with the overall additive package of the oil. Because this isn't a Dexos approved oil, which would require submission of the full ingredient list, suggests there's some key synergy between the total additive package beyond just throwing some nanoparticles into the oil. Hence why I think Valvoline / Aramco hasn't requested Dexos certification. They don't want the secret to get out.
