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Anyone here using Valvoline Max Life oil?

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Old 03-10-2001, 06:47 AM
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Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/3.27
Anyone here using Valvoline Max Life oil?

I thought about trying it to see if all the claims on their website and what I've read is true. Anyone here use it and did you see any changes in oil consumption,smoke at start up,engine noise change, anything what so ever. Let me know.

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Mongoose-NCTGA-1990 Pontiac Formula/305 TBI-700R4 with Edelbrock Performer TBI intake,TES headers,and STB,K&N,MSD-6AL,Holley laser shot coil,Accel Extreme 9000 wires,Jet Stage 2 chip,TCI shift kit with corvette servo,Richmond 3.73 gear with Auburn 3 series posi,no cat,SLP 3" cat back,Eibach sportline springs,Energy Suspension poly throughout,Lakewood LCA and adjustable panhard bar package,SSM subframe connectors,IROC wonder bar,Tokico 5 way adjustable struts and shocks,Autometer electric fuel pressure gauge,Alpine,JL Audio,MB Quart,92 GTA taillights,92 GTA aero wing and hatch,Steve Spohn LCA relocater kit,MacEwen White face gauges,84 T/A cold air induction air cleaner,Grant Formula GT wheel.
Old 03-10-2001, 07:52 AM
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Car: 2000 Camaro SS
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Hey Mongoose,

It's just oil, I do use it though in my old car which is 1989 Z24 and I certainly do not see a difference. Just out of curiosity what did they say ???

Then again maybe this is some type of special oil Talk to you soon buddy.

Ok, I just got back from there website and it says some good stuff. But we will never know if it is true or not. I'll continue to use it in my Z. Maybe even try it at the next oil change on my Camaro. But like I said atop, it's just oil.


[This message has been edited by cruise12 (edited March 10, 2001).]
Old 03-10-2001, 01:08 PM
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Car: 90 Formula
Engine: 305
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt/3.27
If it will help stop the start up puff of smoke then I'll keep using it. I just put it in my 90 Formula with 138,000 miles to see if it does anything. Anyone else with experience with this stuff?
Old 03-10-2001, 01:22 PM
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I've used it 3k miles ago. It stopped the smoke on start up, but breaks down faster. At about 2200 miles the oil light would come on at higher rpm's. I am back to Castrol 10w 30 now.
Old 03-10-2001, 05:23 PM
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Car: 90 Formula
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Thanks for the info 85,but just what kind of higher RPMs are you running to cause the light to come on?
Old 03-11-2001, 07:21 PM
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I am going to buy that stuff by the case for now on. I tried it in my wife Bonneville SSE 3.8 v6 98,000+ miles on it. I had run 5w-30 Castol Synthetic in it and I think it worked soemthing loose and plugged a lifter oil hole or something. Well, I am not sure but the synthetic oil made the car run like crap. Poured in the Valvoline Max life and the ticking sound on start up didn't go away totally but is not near as bad. Oil consumption is less too. I put that Castrol Synthetic in 4 quarts go in, and 2900 miles later 2.5 quarts come out. I put the Valvoline in 1800 mile ago and checked it this morning and it was only between a 1/4 and 1/2 quart low. Not bad. I am going to just run it in both cars now.

Oh, no leaks either. I have to admit I thought it was a gimik, but it isn't. So far...

Chris



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1987 GTA 350,rebuilt in 1998. new heads, Heddman headers w/y-pipe, Dynomax cat-back system, 45,000 coil, accel plug wires and cap&rotor, k&n, b&m shift kit and trans cooler, modified mass airflow sensor, manual fans switch. MSD 6A yet to be installed. No time slip.

1993 Bonneville SSE ALL STOCK. 98,xxx miles and stil counting...plan to install K&N and Flowmaster 80 series
Old 03-12-2001, 11:50 AM
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It statred to come on at around 35000-4000 rpms. At around 3000 miles it would come on at around 3000.

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Old 02-05-2002, 09:59 AM
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Car: 1991 BandittII Firebird
Engine: 5.7 HSR
Transmission: 700R4
Axle/Gears: 3.27 9 bolt
10W-30 max life

i saw a big difference in 85 RX-7 when i put it in.the motor seemed to run alot smoother.
Old 02-05-2002, 11:04 AM
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Car: An '87 Italian Retard Out Cruisin'
Engine: LS1 install in progress
Transmission: 4L60e
Axle/Gears: 9 bolt
I think it sucks. My car seemed to smoke more after using it. could have been my imagination but the bottom line is i didnt help at all.
Old 02-05-2002, 06:11 PM
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Axle/Gears: 12B-3.73/9"-3.89
They put more plastizers in it in the hope that hardened seals will soften and expand. In order to do that, they have to take something else out.

The smoke at startup (if blue) is from hardened valve guide seals. When they get hard, they typically crack. No plastizer is going to fix a cracked seal. Period.

Change your valve guide seals, preferably to an umbrella type. Use a crankcase flush (like AMSOIL's) and then use a good synthetic oil like AMSOIL or Mobil 1. Forget this "Max Life" stuff.

Castrol synthetic is a "me-too" product. Junk. I wouldn't be surprised at any problems I heard when it was used. I changed my '90 Bonneville over to AMSOIL at 104k miles, and my '91 Bonneville at 80k miles, using the aforementioned flush. I have not had any problems with lifters or oil pressure with either one, and have an additional 30k and 50k, respectively, on them now.
Old 02-05-2002, 07:29 PM
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Car: 1986 Sport Coupé
Engine: 305-4v
Transmission: 700R4 and TransGo2
Yup, that puff of blue at start up is the small block Chevy's trade mark signature. They all do it--even if only after a while.

No solution except new valve seals. Oil just ain't gonna do much more than mask it for a time. Maybe long enough to sell it, if that's what you want to do.
Old 02-05-2002, 08:44 PM
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valvoline suks bottom line
Old 02-05-2002, 08:51 PM
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[QUOTE]Originally posted by Sitting Bull
[B]Yup, that puff of blue at start up is the small block Chevy's trade mark signature.



HELLS YEAH!!!


Valvaline blows... Stick w/ mobil one or another good brand name synthetic
Old 02-05-2002, 11:18 PM
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I tried it and my car looked like a mosquito sprayer. Had to drain it out after one day and go back to Mobil 1. If you are going to put Valvoline in go with the synthetic stuff, maxlife is BS!
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