Just put this in my ap1 (MY2000) 80,000 miles and the car started smoking out of the tail pipe like crazy. Previously only ran Motul 8100 5W40 and never saw smoke out of the exhaust (at idle or in VTEC). I swapped because I think my rings might be going bad and this might clean it up. Scoped the cylinders previously and cylinder 4 specifically had lot of carbon and wet oil on the piston and spark plug. Maybe this could be the valve stem seal, but worried I might have been masking a worse issue (rings) with the thicker oil. Any advice would be appreciated! (can post pics if that would help)

 

Does the exhaust put out smoke equally while accelerating, decelerating, and at idle? Does it really put out a smoke screen when decelerating using a lower gear?

 

I can’t add a video, but as I rev’d the engine with it in neutral the smoke went away and as the car came back to idle a big plume would exit the exhaust and continue to smoke at idle. Will have to take around the block to confirm

 

Maybe the smoke is this stuff doing its job. If its cleaning piston top, only one place for that stuff to go.

 

I have a Subaru with the direct injected 2.0L engine. It started to develop an issue where it would puff oil on a warm start. Subaru did a pcv valve TSB for the issue but this did not fix it. After two oil changes with the restore and protect, the issue went away. The engine never really consumed oil, maybe 3/4 quart every 6000 miles. It’s about 1/2quart or less now. Car has 103k miles on it.

I think it had a stuck ring and the valvoline freed it up. Im glad to have fixed it because consuming oil is bad for the catalytic converter.

I would not use it in a s2000. Their oil consumption issues are typically not varnish or carbon buildup related.

 

Sounds like it is loosening up carbon deposits, stuck/frozen piston rings can happen on Honda motors so this may help. I think it takes about 2 oil change intervals to allow the oil to do all of the cleaning. I would also run Redline Fuel System cleaner (one bottle treats 2 tanks on the S2000) . I would keep running the Valvoline oil as it sounds like it is working as designed.

The puff of smoke as rpms drop is often related to valve seals , there is no harm from it but it can happen, it is also more evident on cars that are not running cat. converters or those running high-flow cats, as the burning hydrocarbons are not being converted and can be more noticeable

 

I may try Valvoline Restore and Protect in my 33" lawnmower next season just to note if any smoke is detected. Oil and filter change every 50 hours. (Now I just need to remember!)

-- Chuck

 

Our grass season has begun with the fall rain. Even the California poppies are blooming. Going to try it out on my riding mower and see what happens.

 

Sounds like it could be leaking valve seals.

 

Just an update. Did an oil change recently. It was about 13 months ago was when I did my last oil change. Since then it had about 1200 miles (I know, not driven much), and one track day (four 20-min sessions).

In comparison, I also did my once a year pre-winter oil change on my C8 Corvette (1600 miles in one year). The Corvette oil was still very clean, semi clear still.

The S2000 oil with less mileage looked "Dirty" as if it had 5000 miles on it. I know visual is not telling much without proper oil analysis. But I think the Valvoline Restore and Protect is doing its job cleaning up the engine. I do know I have a lot of carbon on cylinder #4 due to prolonged burned exhaust valves.

I plan on doing another compression/leakdown/bore scope inspection test in early 2027. Just did another fresh fill of 5W30 Restore and Protect with a new oil filter and anticipate on doing 3 or 4 track days next year (estimate 2-2.5k mileage until next oil change).