Why VR-1 as a flush oil? - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Mark_T · 02-15-2011, 12:58 PM

I've seen it recommended here that Valvoline VR-1 be used as a flush oil when changing from Mobil1 to Castrol. Why VR-1 in particular? Any reason why a jug of Motomaster NuGold or any other non-synthetic wouldn't work just as well?

I ask because VR-1 is hard to get and not cheap around here. Don't really want to use fifty bucks worth of oil to do a ten minute flush.

clickman · 02-15-2011, 10:22 PM

I felt the same as you.

But when I asked Jake Raby the same question, his answer was "use something that has a good detergency pack, it'll do the best job of flushing the polymers and etc from the previous oil."

Changing oil type question

Jake Raby · 02-15-2011, 10:51 PM

VR1 has a great detergency package, it is also pretty much compliant with most any other oil. Using some cheap oil as a flush oil could be worse than not flushing the engine at all between oils.

Flavor 987S · 02-16-2011, 02:37 AM

Please remind me again why you have to flush a healthy engine, with an oil like VR-1, when changing from one quality oil, like Mobil 1, to another quality oil choice like Castrol?

Jake Raby · 02-16-2011, 05:36 AM

The anti-wear and detergency package characteristics are of concern when swapping between oils. Lots of info on this can be found on Google.

Lots of what I know on the topic has come from direct interchange with Lake Speed Jr of Joe Gibbs Racing Oils as we worked with them to develop "Flat 6 Oil". It is a requirement when we use our oil to flush any existing oil from the system due to it's composition.

This is generally not an issue because we end up using the oil in new engines built from scratch.

If you want to learn more, attend one of Lake's Lubrication Seminars, he is an all-knowing CLS with the API.

mikefocke · 02-16-2011, 05:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jake Raby

he is an all-knowing CLS with the API.

AI take it API here is American Petroleum Institute. CLS is ???

Flavor 987S · 02-16-2011, 05:48 AM

Jake, I don't see you making these claims, or inciting this "fear" on Rennlist. Why only here on the 986forum? Maybe I'm missing something.

Jake Raby · 02-16-2011, 06:46 AM

CLS= Certified Lubrication Specialist

This isn't fear, its just plain information, perceive it as you like, but that is not the intent. Sorry I can't sugar coat it for ya and make it taste better.

The UOA we have collected from a test fleet of 14 vehicles, both aircooled and watercooled proves that the engines that saw a flush oil used prior to a major change in detergency and anti-wear packages had much better UOA thereafter.

Trust me, If I wanted to scare someone or a group of people all I'd have to do is share three paragraphs. Thats not my intent, never has been and never will be. I call it as I see it and deal with it every day.

Call it "fear" if you want, I call it reality. Some people can't handle that.