Valvoline Restore & Protect Oil: cleans upto 100% Deposits to Factory Specs?

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     Featured on BIMMERPOST.com

Claim: Valvoline Restore & Protect, the first and only motor oil that removes up to 100% of deposits – restoring your engine to run like new.

You supposed to run 4 consecutive oil changes and it should clean pistons (and else?) to factory original. The oil was designed NOT to clog the oil filter like other heavy cleaning detergent additives may, thus the slower 4 oil change requirement.

Any proof did anyone find? Or personal experience?

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Well, at least Valvoline is honest and not just doing marketing to sell products:

“Thank you for contacting Valvoline Product Support,

Unfortunately, the Restore & Protect does not cover the ACEA B3/B4 or the BMW LL-01FE oil specification your vehicle requires. We do not recommend it’s use. Only our European Full Synthetic 0W-30 and 5W-30 meet this specification and are recommended for your BMW.

If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact us via phone at 800 TEAM VAL or by email at productsupport@valvolineglobal.com for assistance.

Thank you and have a great day.

Valvoline Product Support”

[Tejas1836]

That is just a normal full synthetic, it will help clean up to 100% of deposits.
Pennzoil Platinum Euro Spec 5w/30 will do the same

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Looks like Pennzoil Platinum Euro Spec 5w/30 meets BMW LL-04 specs.


BMW-Specific Oil Info https://www.bimmerworld.com/BMW-Engine-Oil/

BMW Engine Oil Approvals
BMW revises their oil formulations every few years based on contemporary engine design, mileage and emissions requirements, fuel type and quality, region, service plans, and marketing. Each new spec is coded by year and roughly corresponds to new generations of BMW engines. This is not the same as oil viscosity and there can be multiple oil viscosities for the same Approval type. These types are just a guide so that the appropriate oil is used for your engine design.

LL-98 (1998). API SJ. ACEA A3/B3. SAE 5W30, 5W40. The oldest available specification. Anything with this rating has been approved for older model BMWs - all chassis before the E46 and engines before the M54. BMW no longer produces oil in this spec but LL-98 alternatives exist (Red Line 5W40). LL-98 oils are compatible with LL-01 oils.

LL-01 (2001 and 2018). API SJ/SL. ACEA A3/B3. SAE 0W30, 5W30, 5W40, 10W60. The first revision with detergents and additives brought in to work with the ridiculous 15,000 mile oil change interval that BMW promoted at the time. However, once cars and engines were out of warranty and mileage accumulated the nasty effects of extended oil changes were realized (i.e. oil sludge). This was also the start of the decline of ZDDP levels with more additives brought in to take its place. LL-01 is compatible with engines approved for LL-98. LL-01 is still coveted as the best of the "old" oil, and the most compatible with sulfur levels of US fuel. Revised standards were applied in 2018 so that more modern engines could meet the LL-01 rating.

LL-04 (2005). API SM/SN. ACEA C3 (similar to A3). SAE 5W30, 5W40. The LL-04 oils have been greatly misunderstood in the past but this is now in greater demand. Most LL-04 oils are intended for Diesels, although it was also approved for gas engines in Europe and other world markets. BMW never certified LL-04 for the US (see next paragraph). Diesel oil has long been valued by engine builders and tuners because of its higher levels of ZDDP content. LL-04 also has a lower SAPS value which is good news for direct-injection engines (all BMW turbo engines since 2007). You won't find Genuine BMW LL-04 sold here but Red Line Euro-Series oil and Pentosin SP III are produced around this spec.

BMW never certified LL-04 for the US market because a) there weren't many Diesels for sale here, b) it was incompatible with the high amounts of sulfur and Ethanol in US gasoline. However, since 2014 our gasoline more closely matches European sulfur levels and since 2017 it's been lower than the past European levels. Oil analysis can give you more insight how your local fuel is interacting with the oil. LL-04 and LL-01 are interchangeable/compatible but LL-04 is preferred for BMW turbo engines for its higher ZDDP and low SAPS. Food for thought: the official BMW Motorsport oil recommendation for the M4 GT4 race car is a LL-04 spec oil. Our race team has used the Red Line Euro Series 5W40.

LL-12 (2012). New specifications for European market Diesel engines.

LL-14 (2014). API SN. ACEA A1/B1. SAE 0W20. Formulated for certain gasoline BMW engines from the 2014 model year, including the N20 four cylinder engine and all new modular B-series engines. The reasoning for the N20 is unpublished but may have to do with making N20 models more fuel efficient and avoiding gas guzzler and CAFE penalties. LL-14 oils have much lower friction levels than all other BMW oils. The HTHS rating is 2.6cP which makes it unsuitable as a performance oil.

LL-17 (2018). API SN/SP. ACEA C5. SAE 0W20. Replaces the LL-14 spec for N20, B38, B46, B48, and B58 engines. This appears to be a minor update to the LL-14 formula and designed for improved emissions.

[Tejas1836]

If you want the best of the best- Redline Euro 5w30. Ester/PAO, very expensive, but is what I use, I want to keep this last non-hybrid X5M for a long time. See above post, re: BMW Motorsport oil...
If I didn't use Redline, most likely I would use the PP Euro above