Thread: Interesting find with Valvoline Oil

I was reading thru a bunch of gear oil threads (recent, and older), and got to thinking about motor oils again. While reading, something dawned on me, so I ran outside to check the oil in my car.

My findings were actually pretty amazing vs. Mobil 1 10w30!!!

First and foremost, I checked my catchcan for oil, and it was EMPTY. This caught me by surprise because while using Mobil 1 that damn thing would fill up pretty quickly. Checking around the area of the catchcan for leaks, I found no traces of oil that could have leaked from the catchcan, throwing off my results.

Then, I checked the oil level with the dipstick: Still FULL. The motor isn't eating oil. I have around 1K miles on it since my last oil change, and by now I'd have had to put another quart of M1 in, at a minimum.

I'm starting to think that M1 and my rings were not happy with eachother. The divorce seems to be working well for the motor.

I may have found a new favorite oil.

What weight valvoline oil are you using?
Are you using the synthetic?

I would not use the Mobil1 10w30 in my car either way, too thin for my likings.
I use the Mobil 1 15w-50 and it works well. Ive always had a bit of blowby no matter what oil i used, i had it on breakin using regular 10w30 conventional oil, Valvoline btw. and i have it now.

But it doesnt burn any oil either. I think its the difference between the thickness of the oils. I know on the tests that were run against the mobil 1 about how it was lacking in the anti wear aspect was against the 5w-30 and 10w-30 oil. People who have used the 10w-40 or 15w-50 have not had problems. Matter fact the tests i believe also stated those two higher weights met qualifications for anti wear protection.

Ive been using the 15w50 since the very start of my built motor other than breakin and soo far no complaints and i love it.

I do however like the valvoine gear oil. haha

I found very similar results when I switched over to supertech from m1. I seemed to get less oil consumption. Then supertech prices went up and valvoline down so I went with the valvoline eventually. I sold the car with the valvoline in it but it seems to be the same as the supertech. No considerable oil loss. I now use valvoline in my new car. So far very happy with it.

Ashton, I'm using Valvoline 10w30 synthetic.

Thats what i figured. Does Valvoline make a heavier weight synthetic oil. like in the 15-50 range? I havent really noticed anything.

Yep. 5/40, 20/50, SAE 0/20,

Then they have the racing VR1 10/30 and 20/50.

maybe i will give it a shot and see how it goes. But soo far im happy with the mobil 1. So ill kick myself for changing. hahahaha.

Nice! You should give German Castrol a try too. I currently have it in my car and consumption is nonexistent. Thought it did expose some leaky gaskets

Now any reason why you guys run 10w vs 5w? I understand that 5w is lighter etc, but is it better for the turbo or what?

Man after seeing what supertech gear oil looked like after it was ran in a tranny there is no way in H*** that I am using the oils. That's real talk.

I could probably get away with a lighter viscosity (5) in the winter in colder temps, but I wouldn't recommend it during summer months on a built motor. It would actually probably quiet down the motor a bit on cold starts, as well.


My father rebuilt catapillar diesel engines way back in the day, and I remember changing his oil and him telling me that I should always run a 10w40 in the summer and a 10w30 in the winter. Guess it's just one of those things that stuck with me?