Varnish Clean up (3MZ-FE under valve cover pic)

[DV0993]

Hi all - Picture attached of my RX330 front valve cover. I was surprised to see this varnish. Previous owner had a history of taking it to the dealer every 6 months. I have been changing oil every 4-5months which has included 4 oil changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect.

Thinking of running Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 to clean up this varnish - its unclear if Valvoline Restore and Protect has helped but we can be sure its helped the rings.

I know this is relatively harmless, but would love it squeaky clean. Is Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 the way to go?

130k miles on the vehicle.

 

[ClutchDisc]

That looks really clean to me. I hope mine is just as spotless as yours. Great engine. Personally I wouldn’t worry about it but Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 wouldn’t be a bad choice for that engine either. I am currently running AMSOIL High Mileage in mine and will be switching to the AMSOIL Signature Series in about 3k miles.

 

[Mainia]

View attachment 335954

Hi all - Picture attached of my RX330 front valve cover. I was surprised to see this varnish. Previous owner had a history of taking it to the dealer every 6 months. I have been changing oil every 4-5months which has included 4 oil changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect.

Thinking of running Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 to clean up this varnish - its unclear if Valvoline Restore and Protect has helped but we can be sure its helped the rings.

I know this is relatively harmless, but would love it squeaky clean. Is Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 the way to go?

130k miles on the vehicle.

Time or date to date is almost irrelevant on a passenger car, It give a person NOTHING to go by. Hour time would be a step up from time/date. What was your mileage on the oil for those changes?

 

[oldcodger]

Nothing wrong with that. No clumps or loose stuff. I consider that just discoloration. Keep doing what you been doing.

 

[DV0993]

Time or date to date is almost irrelevant on a passenger car, It give a person NOTHING to go by. Hour time would be a step up from time/date. What was your mileage on the oil for those changes?

In my ownership (30k miles) I would change the oil every 2000-3000 miles. A little excessive, but cleaning the unknown was the objective and plan on extending these intervals out.
Currently running my second last bottle of Mobil 1 0w40 SN and intend to leave this in for 4000-5000 miles

 

[Mainia]

I would run Mobil 1 Advanced Clean I would run Mobil 1 ESP 0w-30. Then Valvoline Restore and Protect.(Valvoline Restore and Protect) I ran Mobil 1 ESP 5w-30 backin the day when it had Ester in it and it did very little to clean my varnish or my badly jammed rings. For varnish, I bet Mobil 1 Clean would do a faster varnish clean the Valvoline Restore and Protect. Since they advertise it doing a clean in one oil change.

 

[CleanSump]

Looks like a typical BMW with 130k miles of Castrol. Nothing to worry about and that gold is the slowest thing to get to fade/dissolve away.
If you stayed with Valvoline Restore and Protect for 5k mile OCIs it would go away.

 

[burbguy82]

Hi all - Picture attached of my RX330 front valve cover. I was surprised to see this varnish. Previous owner had a history of taking it to the dealer every 6 months. I have been changing oil every 4-5months which has included 4 oil changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect.

Thinking of running Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 to clean up this varnish - its unclear if Valvoline Restore and Protect has helped but we can be sure its helped the rings.

I know this is relatively harmless, but would love it squeaky clean. Is Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 the way to go?

130k miles on the vehicle.

View attachment 335954

no, since you have no before pic of the Valvoline Restore and Protect try another 4 with Valvoline Restore and Protect or Mobil 1's new clean formula

 

[ClutchDisc]

If you stayed with Valvoline Restore and Protect for 5k mile OCIs it would go away.

Bold claim. Source?

 

[ka9mnx]

I think it looks pretty.

 

[f355spider]

In my ownership (30k miles) I would change the oil every 2000-3000 miles. A little excessive, but cleaning the unknown was the objective and plan on extending these intervals out.
Currently running my second last bottle of Mobil 1 0w40 SN and intend to leave this in for 4000-5000 miles

Valvoline Restore and Protect needs more contact time to work. Each run should have been 5k to get the full benefit. At 2k to 3k you probably need 8 runs to equal the four runs at 5k. Or just stay with Valvoline Restore and Protect forever and it may continue to clean...

 

[OVERKILL]

That's not awful, I'd probably just continue using the Valvoline Restore and Protect.

 

[Revving2Redline]

Hi all - Picture attached of my RX330 front valve cover. I was surprised to see this varnish. Previous owner had a history of taking it to the dealer every 6 months. I have been changing oil every 4-5months which has included 4 oil changes with Valvoline Restore and Protect.

Thinking of running Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 to clean up this varnish - its unclear if Valvoline Restore and Protect has helped but we can be sure its helped the rings.

I know this is relatively harmless, but would love it squeaky clean. Is Mobil 1 ESP 0W30 the way to go?

130k miles on the vehicle.

View attachment 335954

4 and it looks like this? I would just buy a boutique and try that. I was really excited to see the Valvoline Restore and Protect do what it does, but this is not what I had in mind. Id like more input from members of the guild with more schooling and brain cells remaining to give you options.

 

[Japanese]

Hi all - Picture attached of my RX330 front valve cover. I was surprised to see this varnish.

Without before pics we really don't have any bench mark for comparison. It might have been much worse before you used Valvoline Restore and Protect. Also, how many miles total did you do with Valvoline Restore and Protect?

Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 may clean it too. You can add to it HPL 30 grade Engine Cleaner. Or you can go completely to HPL oil or Amsoil, depending on your finances.

 

[Sam_Julier]

We all love spotlessly clean engines. I wouldn’t loose sleep over the tiny amount of varnish shown here.

I’d run Mobil 1 ESP 0W-30 or HPL Euro 0W-30 at 10k OCI’s.

 

[CleanSump]

Bold claim. Source?

Source: BiTOG. Not a bold statement and there are several threads on it already. No point in starting the arguing again.

 

[maraakate]

Source: BiTOG. Not a bold statement and there are several threads on it already. No point in starting the arguing again.

Give me the part where you say to search the forum instead of just posting direct links.

 

[ClutchDisc]

Source: BiTOG. Not a bold statement and there are several threads on it already.

I have yet to see one proving that Valvoline Restore and Protect will remove all engine varnish. Post up a link if there are so many. Otherwise I will stand with my bold claim comment. No argument just looking for proof to back up such claims. Claims that Valvoline doesn’t even make themselves.

 

[maraakate]

I have yet to see one proving that Valvoline Restore and Protect will remove all engine varnish. Post up a link if there are so many. Otherwise I will stand with my bold statement comment. No argument just looking for proof to back up such claims. Claims that Valvoline don’t even make themselves.

There's also the fact that light oil varnish under a cam cover means absolutely nothing.

 

[ClutchDisc]

There's also the fact that light oil varnish under a cam cover means absolutely nothing.

Exactly! I would have no complaints with an engine that clean inside.