What's up guys. I'm quickly coming up on 90,000 miles and was curious if anyone on here has used Valvoline Max Life. It is supposed to be formulated for high mileage engines. I know there is a lot of Amsoil fans on board here, but do you have any thoughts or experience with this stuff? I drive a lot (40 mile commute to and from work each day) and I want my 4Runner to run forever!! Later.

Matt

 

I would get your oil analyzed. Stay with what your currently using. As long as you are doing the required maintenance you should be fine. BTW your long commute is actually better because it allows proper engine oil warm up.
I know about long drives, for a span of 4-5 months I was putting 3,000 miles per month.

 

I used to use that in my old 4Runner. It was a 94, and I had about 170k on it. I didn't notice any differences in performance or anything. I just assumed it was better somehow than anything else. It wasn't really more expensive so I just kept using it.

 

I tried it a couple years ago, and to my surprise it gave me better gas mileage. Before I could only get 15 mpg and almost immediately after changing to max life my mileage jumped to 17 mpg. I'm not sure why, but for the price I will continue to use it. Can't think of anything else I changed at the time that would have given me better mileage, so it must have been the oil.

 

Same thing happened to me, after I changed to VALVOLINE MAXX LIFE, I started getting better mileage.

 

Maxlife is a good synthetic blend. I work for Valvoline Instant oil Change, and it is very popular, and I use it myself. Good stuff, priced well.

 

I used to work in a garage and guys I worked with told me that valvoline was junk, its got too much perafin(wax) in it. They said in tests that were run, the engines with valvoline would tear up quicker. It gunks up the motor. I've always used Castrol "High Milage" and like it alot. Either that or Penzoil, but penzoil doesn't have enough viscosity for my taste. But of course pure synthetic is the best. But its all in personal prefference and thats my $.02.

 

i just swithched my truck over to Mobil plus which is a synthetic blend that claims to have all kinds of great additives to clean your engine. I also use a product called restore. Anyways since using restore and that mobil plus oil ive noticed an increase in MPG. my truck has 126,xxx

 

90k

try 308k

i run regular 10-40 in my truck, though i plan on going to synthetic after i build the new motor

 

i second the vote for castrol high milage, my oil used to get real brown with the valvoline, and the castrl seems to hold out better and come out a little cleaner. milage hasnt changed for me at all but thats because my milage is mysteriously doomed.

 

i'm scared of going synth since the truck is ok with regular $1/qt oil. i'll stick to it. no max life for me.

 

Some penzoil products suck. Especially there cheap motor oils. Some of the club members on preludepower.com did a comparison on penzoil and other oils. Penzoil also leaves wax and gunk in your engine. I think pictures are still there if you want to see them. I run Mobil 1 Clean High Mileage on both the 95' 4Runner and the 89' Prelude.

 

You want the skinny on oils go to Bobistheoilguy.com

 

just wanted to note that valvoline maxlife comes in BOTH a synthetic blend AND regular dino oil...