Valvoline Restore & Protect

[ltslimjim]

Not really. They discovered this new detergent by accident. Testing showed that it took 4 OCIs minimum to complete cleaning. This is confirmed by multiple reports here.

It could take 4 or more for complete cleaning, but that may depend on the level of cleaning needed. Going in expecting it’s going to take several oil changes is the more reasonable understanding from the outset.

They actually used to say it may take up to 4 oil changes. Now they are more clear saying a minimum of 4 or more for the complete cleaning it’s capable of.

 

[tired]

Correction: May take up to 4 OCIs.

That's not correct.

https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/restore-protect/

"With continuous use, Restore & Protect Motor Oil removes up to 100% of deposits and prevents future deposit formation, restoring engines to run like factory clean.

*Piston deposit removal when used as directed for four or more consecutive oil changes at standard maintenance intervals based on adapted sequence IIIH testing."

 

[ltslimjim]

That's not correct.

https://www.valvolineglobal.com/en/restore-protect/

"With continuous use, Restore & Protect Motor Oil removes up to 100% of deposits and prevents future deposit formation, restoring engines to run like factory clean.

*Piston deposit removal when used as directed for four or more consecutive oil changes at standard maintenance intervals based on adapted sequence IIIH testing."

I misread your post. My bad. Yes, for complete removal they state 4 or more. I’ll go back and edit.

EDIT: They changed their marketing actually. It used to say “may take up to 4 OCIs”…now it reads a minimum of 4. I knew I wasn’t gaslighting myself.

 

[tired]

I misread your post. My bad. Yes, for complete removal they state 4 or more. I’ll go back and edit.

EDIT: They changed their marketing actually. It used to say “may take up to 4 OCIs”…now it reads a minimum of 4. I knew I wasn’t gaslighting myself.

I used to think the same thing! Until another member showed me it was minimum 4.

I could have sworn it used to say "up to 4," until I was pointed to the website. Them changing it makes sense.

 

[Elmo Howe]

This is exactly like the shampoo industry. That ol' lather, rinse and repeat gag. They doubled their sales by adding that line to the bottle. Just like "ask your Doctor if new poison X is right for you".

At least it was the shampoo industry and not the company selling preparation H !

 

[ltslimjim]

I used to think the same thing! Until another member showed me it was minimum 4.

I could have sworn it used to say "up to 4," until I was pointed to the website. Them changing it makes sense.

Yeah, 4 or more is new from when it was first released. That’s what threw me off. I tried going to the website you linked before your response and sure enough it said 4 or more. I think that’s better. It might take longer for some vehicles.

At the same time, we’ve also seen users try it once or twice and report on the site here reduced oil consumption; down to a negligible amount, without doing the entire 4 or more.

So, it just depends on the engine in question, that was really what I was attempting to get at.

 

[WiskyBadger]

Yes, that is what I meant by “here.”

My bad. Reading comprehension isn’t my strong suit. Lol

 

[ChrisD46]

Best advice for short tripper + wanting to try VR&P ? … I believe if you are a constant short tripper with the oil often not coming up to temp - that cleaning results of VR&P will perhaps be less than desirable . At least every one to two weeks take the vehicle out on a nice interstate drive of at least 30 minutes to get the oil up to operating temp so it can do more active cleaning.

 

[oilstained]

I’m joining the VRP party.
2007 RAV4 2.4L engine currently at 241,900 miles. I have the oil consumption issue. It goes through 1qt every 500 miles. At 242,000, I’ll be dumping the old oil and go with 5W-30 VRP.
View attachment 277649

I have to make a correction on my original post/announcement. The mileage should have been 141,900 and 142,000 respectively.

Today (5/14/25) @ 142,026, I dumped out the old and in with the new, VRP 5w-30 with an STP S4967. Filled 4-1/2 qts to reach the top mark.

 

[CEHepp]

So here’s where I am in my current journey with VRP: I’m an idiot and bought a car with a bad piston ring design. Avoid the 2016 XC90 if you’re looking. They fixed the oil control rings in 2017. I thought I was doing okay at first but it’s actually burning 1 quart every 1000 miles. I changed to VRP 2000 miles ago and have already killed two quarts of the stuff.

I have a small powertrain warranty that I’m going to see if they’ll pay for replacement of my pistons and rings before it runs out. I won’t be surprised if they find a way to refuse it but hopefully VRP will help.

The odd thing I noticed is that the engine burned the first quart in almost exactly 1000 miles. The next quart was slightly quicker around 800 miles. This time around my oil level indicator seems to be dropping even quicker! I’ve read people saying it gets worse before it gets better with this oil. Hopefully that’s the case for me
If this warranty company finds a way to get out of replacing these rings.

Since I’m not doing the ring job (I don’t have time and the warranty will pay for a loaner vehicle from the dealership), I’m going to have the local Volvo dealer do the replacement for me. I’m going to ask to keep the pistons so I can inspect the ring packs. I know it will be hard to see changes since we don’t have a baseline on ring condition but maybe we will see something interesting with it.

 

[YZJB]

So here’s where I am in my current journey with VRP: I’m an idiot and bought a car with a bad piston ring design. Avoid the 2016 XC90 if you’re looking. They fixed the oil control rings in 2017. I thought I was doing okay at first but it’s actually burning 1 quart every 1000 miles. I changed to VRP 2000 miles ago and have already killed two quarts of the stuff.

I have a small powertrain warranty that I’m going to see if they’ll pay for replacement of my pistons and rings before it runs out. I won’t be surprised if they find a way to refuse it but hopefully VRP will help.

The odd thing I noticed is that the engine burned the first quart in almost exactly 1000 miles. The next quart was slightly quicker around 800 miles. This time around my oil level indicator seems to be dropping even quicker! I’ve read people saying it gets worse before it gets better with this oil. Hopefully that’s the case for me
If this warranty company finds a way to get out of replacing these rings.

Since I’m not doing the ring job (I don’t have time and the warranty will pay for a loaner vehicle from the dealership), I’m going to have the local Volvo dealer do the replacement for me. I’m going to ask to keep the pistons so I can inspect the ring packs. I know it will be hard to see changes since we don’t have a baseline on ring condition but maybe we will see something interesting with it.

Which viscosity R&P are you using?

 

[CEHepp]

Which viscosity R&P are you using?

5w30

I thought it might help slow consumption a little more than the w20 the manual calls for.

 

[SumGuy]

Is the deposit-cleaning effect of VRP dependent on

a) just having VRP in the engine (ie infrequent car use, oil not circulating most of the time, oil film just coating internal surfaces at ambient temperature when car not in use)

b) mostly city driving, not many miles rolling over on the odometer, but lots of hours are being put on the engine, low speed city driving, stop signs, stop lights, nothing over 45 mph).

c) extended hiway driving (60 - 70 mph) but in overdrive gear with engine RPM generally 2k - 2.2k ?

In other words, if I put VRP into a car that was my DD workhorse but for the next 6 months will see very little use, will VRP be active to some degree in doing it's cleaning thing? (and I would likely go an entire year in this car before the next oil change).

 

[buster]

Is the deposit-cleaning effect of VRP dependent on

a) just having VRP in the engine (ie infrequent car use, oil not circulating most of the time, oil film just coating internal surfaces at ambient temperature when car not in use)

b) mostly city driving, not many miles rolling over on the odometer, but lots of hours are being put on the engine, low speed city driving, stop signs, stop lights, nothing over 45 mph).

c) extended hiway driving (60 - 70 mph) but in overdrive gear with engine RPM generally 2k - 2.2k ?

In other words, if I put VRP into a car that was my DD workhorse but for the next 6 months will see very little use, will VRP be active to some degree in doing it's cleaning thing? (and I would likely go an entire year in this car before the next oil change).

Hard to say. Many additives need some heat to activate. That's a question you'd have to ask Valvoline.

 

[Patman]

Is the deposit-cleaning effect of VRP dependent on

a) just having VRP in the engine (ie infrequent car use, oil not circulating most of the time, oil film just coating internal surfaces at ambient temperature when car not in use)

b) mostly city driving, not many miles rolling over on the odometer, but lots of hours are being put on the engine, low speed city driving, stop signs, stop lights, nothing over 45 mph).

c) extended hiway driving (60 - 70 mph) but in overdrive gear with engine RPM generally 2k - 2.2k ?

In other words, if I put VRP into a car that was my DD workhorse but for the next 6 months will see very little use, will VRP be active to some degree in doing it's cleaning thing? (and I would likely go an entire year in this car before the next oil change).

I doubt VRP would be all that effective if it was used in scenario A here because how will it clean the carbon buildup on the rings?

I would think that you probably don’t want to be doing lots of short trips where the oil doesn’t get up to temperature for very long. But it probably doesn’t matter if you do lots of city driving or lots of highway driving. The more important thing is to just get out there and drive it.

 

[Hohn]

Is the deposit-cleaning effect of VRP dependent on

a) just having VRP in the engine (ie infrequent car use, oil not circulating most of the time, oil film just coating internal surfaces at ambient temperature when car not in use)

b) mostly city driving, not many miles rolling over on the odometer, but lots of hours are being put on the engine, low speed city driving, stop signs, stop lights, nothing over 45 mph).

c) extended hiway driving (60 - 70 mph) but in overdrive gear with engine RPM generally 2k - 2.2k ?

In other words, if I put VRP into a car that was my DD workhorse but for the next 6 months will see very little use, will VRP be active to some degree in doing it's cleaning thing? (and I would likely go an entire year in this car before the next oil change).

My anecdotal experience with VRP is very much it needs heat and oil circulation to do its thing. If you are a short trip only user, it might take 8-10 OCIs to see a full effect.

 

[StarCaller]

If you are a short trip only user, it might take 8-10 OCIs to see a full effect.

I'll probably be dead before that.... /

 

[StarCaller]

edit ^
I wasn't 'dead serious' (sic), it's just that right now I drive like 40 miles per month, so 10 OCI's are very far in the future for me.... /

 

[YZJB]

5w30

I thought it might help slow consumption a little more than the w20 the manual calls for.

Absolutely the right move. It’s incredible how much quieter these Volvo VEA engines are with 5W-30 in the sump compared to 0W-20.

 

[ChrisD46]

We primarily focus on VR&P’s cleaning abilities for ring packs while also taking care of sludge and hoping it removes varnish as well . *Somewhat surprising is the low wear numbers being reported in most UOA’s of VR&P !