# Valvoline

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [April 9, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604 "2015-04-09T21:04:26Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 20\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:04pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/1 "2015-04-09T21:04:26Z")

</div>

Why do so many mechanics use Valvoline in their shop? Do they get it cheap?  
I always have avoided it. Back in “the day”, if I had a car that burned oil, it would use twice as much with  
Valvoline of the same labeled viscosity. I never got over that.  
At the moment I could get a 5 qt jug of Valvoline synthetic cheap, so I wonder if I am being silly.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DangerousDIY](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/dbc845/32.png) [@DangerousDIY](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DangerousDIY)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/2 "2015-04-09T21:17:36Z")

</div>

I usually reference “Bob is the oil guy” for lube opinions.

I think you’ll find every possible opinion known to man when it comes to motor oil. That is more of an argument bait the car brands. Literally Ford vs Chevy debates are more gentle that motor oil debates.

I have come to the conclusion that as long as it meets the specs laid out by the manufacturer of whatever you want to put it in, WHILE ALSO being a brand that you feel good about, then you should be fine.

BTW, I like Motorcraft Synthetic Blend. Reason being: I saw some UOAs of Motorcraft Blend compared to Mobil One Synthetic on the same vehicle with the Motorcraft even having a few more miles on it. The results were very comparable. Since MC is about 1/2 the price… That’s what I go for.

I like Valvoline too. It is good in IMO.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 9:35pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/3 "2015-04-09T21:35:07Z")

</div>

I think Valvoline is as good as any other oil. I had a,1971 Ford Maverick and had been using Sunoco 10W-40. I would go about 1200 miles to a quart. I saw Valvoline 10W-40 on sale for 25¢ a quart and decided I couldn’t pass up a bargain. I could go 1500 miles to a quart with Valvoline.  
Some years back, Consumer Reports tested motor oils and the same brand had different qualities as far as how,well it poured at low temperatures and how well it maintained its viscosity at high temperatures. I would bet that a refineey in a particular area bottles the same oil under different brand names.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oldtimer-11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e79b87/32.png) [@oldtimer-11](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oldtimer-11)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:36pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/4 "2015-04-09T23:36:08Z")

</div>

Valvoline is the oldest oil brand in the country and probably in the world, it was formulated in1866 and the name was trademarked in 1873, It, like most of the oil companies in the US quickly became part of John D Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Trust. The Feds broke up the trust in 1911. That never would have happened today, the company would have bribed, oh excuse me, lobbied Congressmen and everything would have been fine for them.

In the 40s 50s and 60s Valvoline was higher detergent than some and good at freeing sticky rings, valves and lifter

I would have no hesitation in using it today.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\
**Post date:** [April 9, 2015, 11:43pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/5 "2015-04-09T23:43:26Z")

</div>

Actually, I just found an even bigger rebate on Mobil 1, so…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![common-sense-answer](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/common-sense-answer/32/716_2.png) [@common-sense-answer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/common-sense-answer)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 2:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/6 "2015-04-10T02:19:33Z")

</div>

@melott  
_ **"Actually, I just found an even bigger rebate on Mobil 1, so… "** _

I saw that and I use Mobil-1. I was going to stock up (up to 10 quarts can earn rebate), but make sure you are interested in buying from a participating retailer on the list. I don’t use those retailers and there are none near me.

_ **CSA** _

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ok4450](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/e9bcb4/32.png) [@ok4450](https://community.cartalk.com/u/ok4450)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 9:33am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/7 "2015-04-10T09:33:43Z")

</div>

I would imagine there’s not a current motor oil on the planet or an oil ever made that hasn’t been crucified.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 2:07pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/8 "2015-04-10T14:07:16Z")

</div>

I can anecdotally report that of the 3 oils I have used in my current car: Mobil-1, Valvoline “Synpower”, and Amsoil OEM, that my car uses the most oil with Mobil-1, very little with Valvoline Synpower, and no oil when running Amsoil. (I run 6K oil changes) YMMV. All are very good oils in my opinion.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![missileman](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/missileman/32/1366_2.png) [@missileman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/missileman)\
**Post date:** [April 10, 2015, 4:39pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/9 "2015-04-10T16:39:10Z")

</div>

I also avoid Valvoline and others like it…namely Havoline and the worst…Quaker State. I use Castrol GTX exclusively because I’ve never had a problem with it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Frisbee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a5b964/32.png) [@Frisbee](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Frisbee)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 8:51pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/10 "2015-04-16T20:51:17Z")

</div>

I used Valvoline all the time until Mobil One Synthetic came out. Never had a problem with Valvoline.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![FoDaddy](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/fodaddy/32/717_2.png) [@FoDaddy](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FoDaddy)\
**Post date:** [April 16, 2015, 9:32pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/11 "2015-04-16T21:32:22Z")

</div>

For my Mustang it’s always Pennzoil Platinum 5W-20  
For the F-150 it’s whatever major brand is on sale at the time, usually PYB, or Valvoline, or sometimes Castrol.  
The TR6 it’s Castrol GTX 20W-50 and nothing else.

I usually go with K&N oil filters

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![EK\_Hammer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/77aa72/32.png) [@EK\_Hammer](https://community.cartalk.com/u/EK_Hammer)\
**Post date:** [April 19, 2015, 7:18am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/12 "2015-04-19T07:18:00Z")

</div>

How could Cale Yarborough be wrong? Valvoline!!!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![the\_same\_mountainbike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@the\_same\_mountainbike](https://community.cartalk.com/u/the_same_mountainbike)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 7:38am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/13 "2015-04-20T07:38:49Z")

</div>

He can’t be wrong. But he CAN be bought!!  
Hey, if somebody offered me a million bucks to tell people to put fish oil in their engines I’d do it in a heartbeat! Caveat emptor!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 2:05pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/14 "2015-04-20T14:05:53Z")

</div>

…Then people would be arguing about what type of fish is best for a turbocharged engine.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 5:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/15 "2015-04-20T17:22:59Z")

</div>

Only cod in my crankcase!

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [April 20, 2015, 5:40pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/16 "2015-04-20T17:40:04Z")

</div>

I would suggest not using crappie (fish) oil in your crankcase.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![jtsanders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/c2a13f/32.png) [@jtsanders](https://community.cartalk.com/u/jtsanders)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 1:40am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/17 "2015-04-21T01:40:54Z")

</div>

“He can’t be wrong. But he CAN be bought!!”

It seems to me the same thing happened when Carroll Shelby started shilling for Z-Max. Maybe there is enough money to ruin your reputation among the public.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Triedaq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/65b543/32.png) [@Triedaq](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Triedaq)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 2:00am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/18 "2015-04-21T02:00:50Z")

</div>

Endorsements and advertising build up a following for any brand. I ran a,1978 Oldsmobile 240,000 miles and used whatever oil was on sale. In fact, one time I bought Citgo oil wh ich, with the rebate cost me nothing. I think the purpose in giving away the oil was to build up a loyal customer base that bought into the message that changing brands of oil could lead to early engine problems.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![oblivion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3ab097/32.png) [@oblivion](https://community.cartalk.com/u/oblivion)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 2:14am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/19 "2015-04-21T02:14:07Z")

</div>

@Triedaq: If you use crappie oil, you might get scrod.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![melott](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/melott/32/10827_2.png) [@melott](https://community.cartalk.com/u/melott)\
**Post date:** [April 21, 2015, 3:11am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604/20 "2015-04-21T03:11:55Z")

</div>

Going way way back now…didn’t transmission fluid used to be made of whale oil?

[Next page](https://community.cartalk.com/t/valvoline/89604.md?page=2)
