Valvoline Restore & Protect for 850?

classical · Post by **classical** » 09 Dec 2024, 01:03

Hi,

Valvoline's Restore and Protect (RP) is a fresh topic. Their website says that RP 5w-30 does not fit Volvo 850 1995 (https://shop.valvolineglobal.com/collec ... -sae-5w-30), which I drive. Neither does 0w-20 nor 5w-20 fit, the website states, but I would be interested in 5w-30, because the owner's manual allows the use of 5w-30.

Out of curiosity I checked from the same website if RP fits any 850 up until 1997, and it did not fit. It also did not fit S40 2000, but it did fit S70 2000. This is interesting, because as far as some people with S40 say, 5w-30 is specified for S40 by Volvo. Therefore, it seems that the viscosity of RP is not the reason why Valvoline does not recommend it for S40 at least.

I asked Valvoline about a week ago why their website brings the information that RP 5w-30 does not fit 850, but they have not answered. Does anyone here have knowledge of the reason(s) why it would possibly not fit 850 (or S40 for that matter)?

Obviously, it would be ideal to hear Valvoline's own answer to my question, but you never know if someone in this forum has heard the reason(s), since Valvoline has not answered. Perhaps some of the readers of this post are interested why I would even want to use RP in my Volvo, but I think that would be another issue. So, I ask my question in general.

Thanks.

Post by **scot850** » 09 Dec 2024, 16:05

Not sure why they are saying this as 5W-30 is a standard oil for P80's. Only thing they may be concerned with is if you clean too much out a worn engine, you can lose compression and performance from that?

Also -98? cars had hydraulic lifters I think on all variants. Perhaps there is an issue with causing problems with the lifters? Later cars have solid lifters.

Neil.

classical · Post by **classical** » 10 Dec 2024, 06:46

Thank you for the answer, Neil. Yes, this is guess-work. Do you have any idea why RP could be a problem for hydraulic lifters?

Post by **scot850** » 10 Dec 2024, 08:25

It depends if they release a lot of dirt/crusty oil residue they may clog the drains from the lifters. Running products to clean oil systems can either work great or cause a lot of issues on older high mileage cars or even low mileage cars that were run short distances and didn't get really warm.

There are risks, but only you can make the call on doing this.

Neil

classical · Post by **classical** » 10 Dec 2024, 11:33

OK. Good to know. Thank you again!

Post by **foggydogg** » 10 Dec 2024, 13:56

The engine oil recommendations in the owners manual were based on best practices at that moment in time; oil chemistry has changed, even in the last decade, so it takes some study to find a product for our application.
This fellow is a bit...Enthusiastic, but he is a chemical engineer working in both lubrication and in internal engine parts design related to oil chemistry; he also owns an oil testing lab. He covers this very product in several episodes.

I've used 5W-30 in my cars for years without issue, in much more temperate climates the folks in northern Europe see, including two or three that had/have over 250,000 miles on the clock.

classical · Post by **classical** » 10 Dec 2024, 18:16

Thanks foggydogg. I have watched some Lake's videos, including two about RP, which actually got me interested in the product. I still wonder why they do not recommend it for 850s.

Post by **foggydogg** » 11 Dec 2024, 16:02

Because that was 1997 thinking. Science has marched on.