Valvoline VR1 New Bottles/Packaging

[speeds5]

So I was at Autozone the other day and got 20 qts of VR1 20w-50. Half the bottles were the old packaging and half were new. They read pretty much the same and the guy working there said it’s just a new label. Looks like the same exact oil and I doubt they changed the formula but wondering if anyone knows anything more on the story

I’m currently using and can’t tell any difference. I even ordered more online and what was delivered were all new packaging. Again, I’m not concerned just wondering if anyone know anything additional.

[DerkPerk]

It is just the packaging. This last fall AutoZone was clearing out the old inventory for $1 a quart in preparation for the new style. Plenty of us stocked up.


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[DWeg1998]

Kendall just did the same. New packaging is more red, same oil.

If I had the choice at the same price I’d buy the new. Since you got some of both, I’d use the old bottles first, but you’ll be fine here.

[Mike Andrew]

I stocked at $.65 last Fall. Cheapest oil change ever. I see prices are back to normal with the new label.

[PatrickS]

Ah man, the title had me all excited for a repeat of the $1 sale.

The oreilly stores have $25 off $100+ and sell it in 5 qt containers https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/valvoline-5149/oil-16865/motor-oil---racing-19421/1eb4e849cac7/valvoline-20w-50-motor-oil/race20505qt/4773331

[sugarwood]

I have made the switch to Synth and don't ever plan on using Dino VR-1 again.
Who runs non-ZDDP fortified Synthetic oil that is not 20w-50?

[jac1976]

I’ve heard Valvoline advertise on the radio that they have a new bottle that pours more easily.

[SCadaddle]

Originally Posted by jac1976

I’ve heard Valvoline advertise on the radio that they have a new bottle that pours more easily.

Yes. They do. I bought one of the 5 quart jugs at Walmart the other day to change the oil in my Subaru. It's got a BIG opening with a curved lip. Makes it a LOT easier to just pour oil on EVERYTHING. I was cussing the obvious MIT graduate that conceived this brilliant new design. Don't plan on tightening the cap too tight when you are done. The only upside I noticed was a "pull ring" to remove the foil seal.

[Porchdog]

I was under the impression that California was upset about the API designations on the old bottles, since the high zinc formula is hard on modern catalytic converters. It looks like the lawyers added some wording.

[adias]

Originally Posted by sugarwood

I have made the switch to Synth and don't ever plan on using Dino VR-1 again.
Who runs non-ZDDP fortified Synthetic oil that is not 20w-50?

I moved from Brad-Penn 20W50 (a partially synth oil) to Valvoline VR1 20W50 Racing and the engine uses less oil...

[OldSpool87]

Originally Posted by adias

I moved from Brad-Penn 20W50 (a partially synth oil) to Valvoline VR1 20W50 Racing and the engine uses less oil...

Are you using VR1 conventional or synth?

[kjchristopher]

Originally Posted by PatrickS

Ah man, the title had me all excited for a repeat of the $1 sale.

The oreilly stores have $25 off $100+ and sell it in 5 qt containers https://www.oreillyauto.com/detail/b/valvoline-5149/oil-16865/motor-oil---racing-19421/1eb4e849cac7/valvoline-20w-50-motor-oil/race20505qt/4773331

$25 of only good on home shipping, and the oil doesn't qualify for home shipping when I click the link

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by speeds5

So I was at Autozone the other day and got 20 qts of VR1 20w-50. Half the bottles were the old packaging and half were new. They read pretty much the same and the guy working there said it’s just a new label. Looks like the same exact oil and I doubt they changed the formula but wondering if anyone knows anything more on the story

I’m currently using and can’t tell any difference. I even ordered more online and what was delivered were all new packaging. Again, I’m not concerned just wondering if anyone know anything additional.

We have confirmation that Valvoline VR1 has changed formulations. This has happened along with several other changes. We have already heard that Brad Penn is going to have to change because Lubrizol is discontinuing the additive package that Brad Penn has always used. This is due to the new API formulas designed to combat LSPI. Both Brad Penn and VR1 used a sodium detergent, which is bad for LSPI. As such, all of the additive companies are dropping formulas that contain Sodium because of the LSPI problems.



I'd recommend anyone running VR1 or any oil that uses the now discontinued Lubrizol sodium based package (like Brad Penn), to do used oil analysis to confirm that your choice of lubricant is performing as well as the older formula.

We switched away from ALS and helped to start Speed Diagnostix so we're biased as to what lab to use.

[175K911]

Originally Posted by cnavarro

We have confirmation that Valvoline VR1 has changed formulations. This has happened along with several other changes. We have already heard that Brad Penn is going to have to change because Lubrizol is discontinuing the additive package that Brad Penn has always used. This is due to the new API formulas designed to combat LSPI. Both Brad Penn and VR1 used a sodium detergent, which is bad for LSPI. As such, all of the additive companies are dropping formulas that contain Sodium because of the LSPI problems.

I'd recommend anyone running VR1 or any oil that uses the now discontinued Lubrizol sodium based package (like Brad Penn), to do used oil analysis to confirm that your choice of lubricant is performing as well as the older formula.

We switched away from ALS and helped to start Speed Diagnostix so we're biased as to what lab to use.

Charles, as always you're a wealth of knowledge about the oils our air cooled engines need. With Wally W's recommendation for the 3.6 I just built with his magical head work, I just got a case of Joe Gibbs Driven from you. How does their formulation stack up against the new Penn Grade (formerly Brad Penn, formerly Kendall)

[Nick Triesch]

Omg!!just use the Porsche classic oil!!! Made for our cars. Or keep using deep purple, brad penn, Mobil 1, Kendall, Castrol, rotella!!! A few months ago I switched to Walmart 20/50 at about $2.83 a quart. Motor is using less oil. Really. My car has 160,000!miles on it. I bet it will
Go 100k more!

[cnavarro]

Originally Posted by 175K911

Charles, as always you're a wealth of knowledge about the oils our air cooled engines need. With Wally W's recommendation for the 3.6 I just built with his magical head work, I just got a case of Joe Gibbs Driven from you. How does their formulation stack up against the new Penn Grade (formerly Brad Penn, formerly Kendall)

We switched to Driven after Jake and I got involved years ago and helped them formulate their product line for both aircooled and watercooled Porsche models.

Like with the VR1 formulation change, those choosing to run the Penn Grade product are going to have to test their oil and quantify that the new formulation works just as well as the old one.

Anytime we have done a formulation change with the Driven oils, we've always tested it in our engines before those changes were pushed out to the production line. We get buckets of test oils we loving refer to as "secret sauce" that we put in our own fleets of vehicles. That's why we are fans of Driven. We know what goes into it developing it because we help do the development.

[911pcars]

Manufacturers have all opportunities to “tweak” their additive package, with or w/o a labeling/packaging redesign. There’s always the potential of upsetting customers if they suspect quality is compromised. Once upon a time Castrol was THE go to lube. No mas - although their ads try to maintain some semblance of their storied history in racing.

BTW, seems like some folks rank low oil consumption higher than lube quality, or ....... all things being equal.

Sherwood

[tmaull]

Given the relatively short oil change interval most of us are using in our cars, I'd be more concerned with zddp and other Extreme Pressure additives than with the detergents. I'll run some lab tests on my oil and post the results, but I'm not expecting to see much difference in the SIG or wear metals.

[Trackrash]

Originally Posted by tmaull

Given the relatively short oil change interval most of us are using in our cars, I'd be more concerned with zddp and other Extreme Pressure additives than with the detergents. I'll run some lab tests on my oil and post the results, but I'm not expecting to see much difference in the SIG or wear metals.

I'm not sure what the deal is with VR-1. It used to be that there was two or three versions. Looks like it is just one now?

Speaking of detergents, the two times I used VR-1 my oil got dirty very quickly. Noticeably dirty after less than a 1000 miles. It was my understanding at the time that the VR-1 racing oil had less detergent and more anti foam for racing and should be changed after every race. I assume that is no longer the case.

[Trackrash]

OK, so a quick Google search and I am still seeing different versions of VR-1. There is a synthetic version, a synthetic blend, and I am guessing a conventional?

Anyone have any current info?

And there is a 10-60?