Valvoline VR1 Synthetic Racing Oil

[The Engineer]

I guess they have reformulated the VR1 synthetic racing oil! The synthetic I just bought is now blue in color and it’s in a different plastic quart jug (black now, and it was silver).

I had been running the regular VR1 in my SBC race engine and thought I would try the synthetic to see if it picked-up any. So, has anyone been using the new blue synthetic VR1 and if so, what do you think of it.

WD

[DaveMcLain]

I have a customer who's using it right now in his 557 Ford, so far so good. It is a weird blue color isn't it?

[The Engineer]

I have a customer who's using it right now in his 557 Ford, so far so good. It is a weird blue color isn't it?

With that new blue color, I hope I don't get my Gator Aid and racing oil mixed up at the track!

[540 RAT]

I guess they have reformulated the VR1 synthetic racing oil! The synthetic I just bought is now blue in color and it’s in a different plastic quart jug (black now, and it was silver).

I had been running the regular VR1 in my SBC race engine and thought I would try the synthetic to see if it picked-up any. So, has anyone been using the new blue synthetic VR1 and if so, what do you think of it.

WD

I had that oil lab tested, and this is what the lab report showed:

Valvoline VR1 10W30 “SYNTHETIC” Racing Oil API SL (Black Bottle, lab tested 2011)
Silicon = 8 ppm (anti-foaming agent in new oil, but in used oil, certain gasket materials and dirt can also add to this number)
Boron = <5 ppm (detergent/dispersant, anti-deposit buildup/anti-sludge)
Magnesium = 15 ppm (detergent/dispersant, anti-deposit buildup/anti-sludge)
Calcium = 2664 ppm (detergent/dispersant, anti-deposit buildup/anti-sludge)
Barium = 0 ppm (detergent/dispersant, anti-deposit buildup/anti-sludge)
Total detergent/dispersant (anti-deposit buildup/anti-sludge) = 2683 ppm
Zinc = 1180 ppm (anti-wear)
Phos = 1112 ppm (anti-wear)
Moly = 162 ppm (anti-wear)
Total anti-wear = 2454 ppm
Potassium = 5 ppm (anti-freeze inhibitor)
Sodium = 195 ppm (anti-freeze inhibitor)
TBN = 7.4 (Total Base Number is an acid neutralizer to prevent corrosion. Most gasoline engine motor oils start with TBN around 8 or 9. And in use, this becomes depleted over time as mileage accumulates)
Viscosity (cSt at 100*C) = 10.4 (cSt range for SAE 30 is 9.3 to 12.4) And cSt (centistokes) in general terms, represents an oil’s thickness.

This oil is suitable for Classic Cars, High HP Street Hotrods, Street/Strip cars, and dedicated Race Cars (including flat tappet setups and those with bronze dist gears).

I also wear tested this oil, which is friction testing of steel wear specimens coated with this oil while under load. And it came in at 8th place out of the 47 oils I have now tested, which puts it near the top of the Outstanding Protection Category.

By everything I've been able to tell so far, this is a very good oil which should serve most folks very well.

[The Engineer]

Now that is really good news about this new oil (8th place)! Thank for the detailed information!

We'll also see if the car picks-up a little this weekend, I have a race on Saturday.

WD

[joedoozer]

Ask him where the Conventional came in . One spot better . And it has the added Zinc and Phos levels.

[redliner]

Ask him where the Conventional came in . One spot better . And it has the added Zinc and Phos levels.

The VR1 came in better? So the dino oil is prolly cheaper too and better? I'm so cornfused.....

[Erland Cox]

Can't you post a list of the oils?
It would be very interesting.

Erland

[540 RAT]

Ask him where the Conventional came in . One spot better . And it has the added Zinc and Phos levels.

The VR1 came in better? So the dino oil is prolly cheaper too and better? I'm so cornfused.....

Hopefully I can clear up some of your cornfusion.

7the place out of 47, 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Conventional Racing Oil (silver bottle) = 103,505 psi
zinc = 1472 ppm
phos = 1544 ppm
moly = 3 ppm

8th place out of 47, 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Synthetic Racing Oil, API SL (black bottle) = 101,139 psi
zinc = 1180 ppm
phos = 1112 ppm
moly = 162 ppm

NOTE: Test Result differences between oils of less than 10%, are not significant, and oils within that range can be considered approximately equivalent.

The Test Results of these two oils were only about 2.3% apart, therefore they can be considered approximately equivalent.

Flip a coin, choose either one, and you can’t go wrong. They are both excellent oils.

[RichardThiessen]

I always used the regular VR1 and it held up pretty good even in the heat and it was a lot cheaper than Royal Purple XPR. I imagine this new stuff would be better yet.

How is it priced compared to Royal Purple XPR?

[540 RAT]

Can't you post a list of the oils?
It would be very interesting.

Erland

Be careful what you ask for Erland. This info often creates a fire storm because some folks don't like what they see.

Contrary to what the diehards have been conditioned to believe. The amount of zinc/phos is not the “be all” and “end all”, regarding engine protection. It is no secret in the oil industry that a number of other components besides zinc/phos, can also provide excellent engine protection. Modern API oils use some of those other components (often proprietary), so as not to foul the cats in newer vehicles.

And that is the reason I did all that oil wear torture testing in the first place. To find out just how all the various oils compare regarding engine protection. When you see the results with your own two eyes, it makes a believer out of you. Some high zinc/phos oils did very well, and some did not. Some modern low zinc/phos oils did very well, and some did not. It depends on the base oil and its additive package “as a whole”, not just a couple of components in the oil alone.

And if that is not complication enough for you, consider that there is also fast burn zinc that is activated with less heat and load than slow burn zinc. Nothing is ever as simple as it might appear on the surface. My testing was done at modest temperature of 230*F so it may have favored the fast burn zinc, since slow burn zinc may need higher temps to be activated fully. So, I plan on doing some additional testing at higher temps to see how they all shake out.

Some folks did not like the original 230*F test results because some modern low zinc/phos oils performed better than some high zinc/phos oils. But the fact is, modern low zinc/phos oils simply cannot test that well, unless they truly are capable oils. They cannot just magically perform well for no reason (and remember that the tests were repeated to ensure accuracy. There were no flukes here). They have to be excellent oils in order to perform well. And my test results showed the real deal, even if some folks were not comfortable with the results. The numbers are what they are.

Anyway, this has been posted before, but since you asked, here it is again:

•The higher the psi result, the higher the “Load carrying capacity/Film strength”, and the better the oil is at preventing wear.

•All oils were tested at 230* F (representative of actual running temperature).

•Multiple tests were performed on each oil, and those results were averaged to arrive at each oil's final value shown below.

•Test Result differences between oils of less than 10%, are not significant, and oils within that range can be considered approximately equivalent.

•All oil bottles were thoroughly shaken before the samples were taken. This ensured that all the additive package components were distributed uniformly throughout all the oil in the bottle, and not settled to the bottom.

•All oils are full synthetic unless otherwise specified.

•All oils are suitable for street use unless otherwise specified.


Oil categories:

•Over 90,000 psi = OUTSTANDING protection

•75,000 to 90,000 psi = GOOD protection

•60,000 to 75,000 psi = MODEST protection

•Below 60,000 psi = UNACCEPTABLE protection



********** OUTSTANDING PROTECTION ************


1. 5W30 Pennzoil Ultra, API SM = 115,612 psi
I have not been able to find this oil with the latest API SN certification. The bottle says, “No leading synthetic oil provides better wear protection”. For once, a product’s hype turns out to be true.
zinc = 806 ppm
phos = 812 ppm
moly = 66 ppm

2. 10W30 Lucas Racing Only = 106,505 psi
zinc = 2642 ppm
phos = 3489 ppm
moly = 1764 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.

3. 5W30 Mobil 1, API SN = 105,875 psi
zinc = 801 ppm
phos = 842 ppm
moly = 112 ppm

4. 0W30 Amsoil Signature Series 25,000 miles, API SN = 105,008 psi
zinc = 824 ppm
phos = 960 ppm
moly = 161 ppm


******* 10% below number 1 = 104,051 psi ********


5. 10W30 Valvoline NSL (Not Street Legal) Conventional Racing Oil = 103,846 psi
zinc = 1669 ppm
phos = 1518 ppm
moly = 784 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.

6. 5W50 Motorcraft, API SN = 103,517 psi
zinc = 606 ppm
phos = 742 ppm
moly = 28 ppm

7. 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Conventional Racing Oil (silver bottle) = 103,505 psi
zinc = 1472 ppm
phos = 1544 ppm
moly = 3 ppm

8. 10W30 Valvoline VR1 Synthetic Racing Oil, API SL (black bottle) = 101,139 psi
zinc = 1180 ppm
phos = 1112 ppm
moly = 162 ppm

9. 5W30 Chevron Supreme conventional, API SN = 100,011 psi
This one only costs $4.29 per quart at the Auto Parts Store where I bought it.
zinc = 1018 ppm
phos = 728 ppm
moly = 161 ppm

10. 5W20 Castrol Edge with Titanium, API SN = 99,983 psi
zinc = 1042 ppm
phos = 857 ppm
moly = 100 ppm
titanium = 49 ppm


11. 20W50 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 96,514 psi
zinc = 610 ppm
phos = 754 ppm
moly = 94 ppm

12. 30 wt Red Line Race Oil = 96,470 psi
zinc = 2207 ppm
phos = 2052 ppm
moly = 1235 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.

13. 0W20 Mobil 1 Advanced Fuel Economy, API SN = 96,364 psi
zinc = 742 ppm
phos = 677 ppm
moly = 81 ppm

14. 5W30 Quaker State Ultimate Durability, API SN = 95,920 psi
zinc = 877 ppm
phos = 921 ppm
moly = 72 ppm

15. 5W30 Castrol Edge with Titanium, API SN = 95,717 psi
zinc = 818 ppm
phos = 883 ppm
moly = 90 ppm
titanium = 44 ppm

16. 10W30 Joe Gibbs XP3 NASCAR Racing Oil = 95,543 psi
zinc = 743 ppm
phos = 802 ppm
moly = 1125 ppm
NOTE: This oil is suitable for short term racing use only, and is not suitable for street use.

17. 5W20 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 95,543 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD
NOTE: Oil numbers 16 and 17 were tested weeks apart, but due to the similarities in their wear scar sizes, their averages ended up the same.

18. 5W30 Castrol GTX conventional, API SN = 95,392 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

19. 10W30 Amsoil Z-Rod Oil = 95,360 psi
zinc = 1431 ppm
phos = 1441 ppm
moly = 52 ppm

20. 5W30 Valvoline SynPower, API SN = 94,942 psi
zinc = 969 ppm
phos = 761 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

21. 5W30 Valvoline Premium Conventional, API SN = 94,744 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

22. 5W20 Mobil 1, API SN = 94,663 psi
zinc = 764 ppm
phos = 698 ppm
moly = 76 ppm

23. 5W20 Valvoline SynPower, API SN = 94,460 psi
zinc = 1045 ppm
phos = 742 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

******** 20% below number 1 = 92,490 psi ********

24. 5W30 Lucas conventional, API SN = 92,073 psi
zinc = 992 ppm
phos = 760 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

25. 5W30 O'Reilly (house brand) conventional, API SN = 91,433 psi
This one only costs $3.99 per quart at the Auto Parts Store where I bought it.
zinc = 863 ppm
phos = 816 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

26. 5W30 Red Line, API SN = 91,028 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

27. 5W20 Royal Purple API SN = 90,434 psi
zinc = 964 ppm
phos = 892 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

28. 5W20 Valvoline Premium Conventional, API SN = 90,144 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD


************ GOOD PROTECTION **********


29. 30 wt Castrol Heavy Duty conventional, API SM = 88,089 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

30. 10W30 Joe Gibbs HR4 Hotrod Oil = 86,270 psi
zinc = 1247 ppm
phos = 1137 ppm
moly = 24 ppm

31. 5W20 Pennzoil Ultra, API SM = 86,034 psi
I have not been able to find this oil with the latest API SN certification.
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

32. 5W30 Royal Purple API SN = 84,009 psi
zinc = 942 ppm
phos = 817 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

33. 20W50 Royal Purple API SN = 83,487 psi
zinc = 588 ppm
phos = 697 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

34. 20W50 Kendall GT-1 High Performance with liquid titanium, (conventional) API SN = 83,365 psi
zinc = 991 ppm
phos = 1253 ppm
moly = 57 ppm
titanium = 84 ppm

35. 5W30 Mobil 1 Extended Performance 15,000 mile, API SN = 83,263 psi
zinc = 890 ppm
phos = 819 ppm
moly = 104 ppm

36. 0W20 Castrol Edge with Titanium, API SN = 82,867 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

******** 30% below number 1 = 80,928 psi ********

37. 5W30 GM's AC Delco dexos 1 (semi-synthetic) API SN = 76,501 psi
zinc = 878 ppm
phos = 758 ppm
moly = 72 ppm



**************** MODEST PROTECTION ************


38. 5W30 Royal Purple XPR (Extreme Performance Racing) = 74,860 psi
zinc = 1421 ppm
phos = 1338 ppm
moly = 204 ppm
NOTE: This particular bottle of oil was just opened, but was out of a 3 ½ year old case.

39. 15W40 Farm Rated Heavy Duty Performance Diesel, CI-4, CH-4, CG-4, CF/SL, SJ (conventional) = 73,176 psi
zinc = 1325ppm
phos = 1234 ppm
moly = 2 ppm

40. Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 Nitro 70 Racing Oil (semi-synthetic) = 72,003 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

41. 0W30 Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 (semi-synthetic) = 71,377 psi
zinc = 1621 ppm
phos = 1437 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

42. 10W30 Brad Penn, Penn Grade 1 (semi-synthetic) = 71,206 psi
zinc = 1557 ppm
phos = 1651 ppm
moly = 3 ppm

43. 15W50 Mobil 1, API SN = 70,235 psi
zinc = 1,133 ppm
phos = 1,168 ppm
moly = 83 ppm

******** 40% below number 1 = 69,367 psi ********

44. 5W30 Motorcraft, API SN = 68,782 psi
zinc = 796 ppm
phos = 830 ppm
moly = 75 ppm

45. 10W30 Royal Purple HPS (High Performance Street) = 66,211 psi
zinc = 1774 ppm
phos = 1347 ppm
moly = 189 ppm

46. 10W40 Valvoline 4 Stroke Motorcycle Oil conventional, API SJ = 65,553 psi
zinc = 1154 ppm
phos = 1075 ppm
moly = 0 ppm

47. Royal Purple 10W30 Break-In Oil conventional = 62,931 psi
zinc = TBD
phos = TBD
moly = TBD

******** 50% below number 1 = 57,806 psi ********

[Erland Cox]

Thanks a lot for that. Did you ever test any Quaker state oil? Motul, Duckhams or Unocal 76?

Erland

[The Engineer]

Any idea how this new reformulated blue VR1 compairs to the old synthetic VR1?

WD

[Kevin Johnson]

Be careful what you ask for Erland. This info often creates a fire storm because some folks don't like what they see.

Frankly I would not care if Cartoon Channel motor oil tested best; my objections/concerns were with the methodology of the testing and I provided citations to support my contentions. The testing is obviously being presented as scientific and the results as being valid so the onus is on the researcher.

The testing equipment is not identified; normally every effort is made by a scientist to allow others to repeat tests and hopefully achieve similar results by describing technique and equipment in excruciating detail. Reported successful cold fusion is a relatively recent and significant example of why this is important.

The reported practice for establishing repeatability relied on testing a single type of oil but a large confound exists in that deposition and possible retention of additives is possible which leads into: standardized testing protocol calls for replacement of both wear elements for each test. A study was cited that indicated even the direction of sanding in an attempt to renew elements can have significant effects -- this even allows that every scintilla of contamination has been removed yet a possible confound remains.

Multiple testings of samples were performed but their order and succession were not randomized.

[motorheadmike]

Amazing info! Thanks!

FWIW the P/N for the 10w30 VR-1 Synthetic is 679083 (and 679082 for 20w50) there is no VVXXX number at this time; I confirmed this with Valvoline this morning.