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Valvoline Top Engine Treatment

Discussion in '2.5 Gen Tundras (2014-2021)' started by b16adan, Jan 2, 2020.

  1. Jan 2, 2020 at 2:06 PM
    #1
    b16adan

    b16adan [OP] New Member

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    Hey folks,

    I have a 2017 Tundra, and I just had my maintenance done. The mileage is just over 32,000 so they suggested doing "Valvoline Top Engine Treatment". I went ahead with it, but I was just wondering how many of you on these forums have done this work. It is supposed to help combat sludge build-up, etc.

    Thanks for the feedback (in advance)!!!
     
  2. Jan 2, 2020 at 2:15 PM
    #2
    Pudge

    Pudge Super Secret Elite Member #7

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    How much money did you get scammed for with this?
     
  3. Jan 2, 2020 at 2:22 PM
    #3
    b16adan

    b16adan [OP] New Member

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    They did the 30,000 mile maintenance on the truck, so the labor work is all lumped together as one charge. But it looks like I was charged $110 for total labor. Wish I could see what just that treatment labor costs. The service advisor tells me the process doesn't take long. They run the motor for about 5 minutes with the treatment in the engine, then drain the oil, and fill up with the new stuff.
     
  4. Jan 2, 2020 at 2:32 PM
    #4
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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    If a salesperson says "Valvoline" I walk away. I saw engines in the 70's that were pure sludge inside after regular oil changes (3,000 miles back then) with Valvoline. A friend opened his own shop and did an overhaul on one engine that had nothing but Valvoline since day one. The only part of the engine that wasn't filled with a waxy sludge were the areas where parts were moving. He scraped it out with a putty knife. Another acquaintance found the same thing when he changed a leaking valve cover gasket. He traded the car in the next day. Valvoline may have changed, but I won't risk my engine on a hope that it has. If it was an additive, I'd change the oil and filter as soon as possible, and maybe again a few miles after that just to be sure.
     
  5. Jan 2, 2020 at 3:18 PM
    #5
    Sunfish

    Sunfish New Member

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    I have had a bunch of GM and Ford engines apart back in the day and that old red top can Valvoline was one of the better oils and it was Turbo Charger approved. Quaker State and several other paraffin based oils would do what you are describing. Two 5 quart jugs of Valvoline advanced synthetic oil costs about $45. Sounds like they charged you an hour labor for who knows what they flushed it with but I'm betting it cost as much as regular oil does. No more miles than your rig has on it I'm pretty sure they sold you something that you didn't need
     
    1engineer likes this.
  6. Jan 3, 2020 at 5:43 AM
    #6
    Jas4tundra

    Jas4tundra New Member

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    It is funny dealers come up with scams like this. When I went for 30k service I was recommended oil flux treatment. About same 110 dollars “ supposed to quote the engine with some film that prolongs the engine life “

    Had to convince dealer to stick to Toyota recommended service only. Service advisor threw a tantrum how they will not cover warranty since you declined the flux treatment blah blah.
     
    Randy Morton likes this.
  7. Jan 3, 2020 at 7:24 AM
    #7
    14burrito

    14burrito IG @14burrito

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    Probably just ran a can of seafoam in the crankcase and called it a day. You can do that yourself for about $12.
     
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  8. Jan 3, 2020 at 7:35 AM
    #8
    Trooper2

    Trooper2 Premium Lone Star Member / SSEM #13

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    Beware of up-sales/services while at the dealership. Most are unnecessary and expensive. Quick money for them.
     
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  9. Jan 3, 2020 at 7:56 AM
    #9
    gm125800

    gm125800 New Member

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    Quite a bit of service advisors work on commission. The upsell games are strong with some of them. When the profit margin for selling a vehicle is low, they have to make it up somewhere.
     
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  10. Jan 3, 2020 at 7:57 AM
    #10
    Randy Morton

    Randy Morton Life takes its toll, please have exact change.

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    I wonder what he'd have done if you had asked him to point out the requirement for a flux treatment in the owners manual?
     
  11. Jan 3, 2020 at 8:23 AM
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    Fire123

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    100% up-selling non essential money making scam. Lessen learned...
     
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  12. Jan 3, 2020 at 8:42 AM
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    P-Factor

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  13. Jan 3, 2020 at 2:09 PM
    #13
    Jas4tundra

    Jas4tundra New Member

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    That’s what i asked him . Show Toyota recommendation

    His statement “ Texas the weather is extreme so this is Texas requirement”. So I pointed out the sticker on tundra “built in Texas”, then he went quiet.
     
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  14. Jan 3, 2020 at 4:44 PM
    #14
    b16adan

    b16adan [OP] New Member

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    This made my day! "Built in Texas".


    I totally get what most of you are saying about being upsold and such. I typically follow the same rules of just doing what the manual says. That has treated me well for many years. Since my warranty is now expired (over 25,000 miles and over 2 years), I will just do whatever is in the manual going forward since I will be doing all work from here on out on my own.

    Like my original post said, I was wondering how many Tundra owners went through with the service. Doesn't seem like many are doing it though. I have to think that the top engine treatment is the valvoline engine cleaner product that they make, which probably does SOMETHING for the better, but is not going to be a show stopper.
     
  15. Jan 3, 2020 at 4:49 PM
    #15
    SMK Shoe

    SMK Shoe Not New Member

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    On the older chevy motors I have owned ( Small block 350's) I used engine flush. Pretty much a qt can of kerosene. Add to the engine and run at a idle for 10 minutes. then drain the oil. Pretty much mixed with the oil and thinned it out, guess it helped get the gunk from in the corners and area's that don't drain well. Not sure how much it helped, but was 3$ a can so didn't set me back enough to worry about.
     
  16. Jan 3, 2020 at 6:24 PM
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    1BlinkGone

    1BlinkGone New Member

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    I'd be interested to see what Toyota Corporate said about that
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2020
  17. Jan 3, 2020 at 6:29 PM
    #17
    619Tundra

    619Tundra New Member

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    Total scam. Quit using Valvoline. Start using Amsoil.
     
    Last edited: Jan 3, 2020
  18. Jan 3, 2020 at 6:29 PM
    #18
    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    ah the classic "engine flush". its a pointless service unless you've gone over on your oil changes pretty excessively.. you drain the oil, put 4 quarts of the "flush" in, top off the rest with oil. let the engine run for 5-10 minutes, drain oil and replace filter (at least you hope they didnt already do the filter, which theyre probably did). fill with oil and on you go.


    the only time i recommend this service is if you have a vehicle you've gone over on oil change intervals with an fear sludge has built up (but you have to be careful, if you do it to an engine with SEVERE sludge, you can clog things up and do more damage. but if you follow regular maintenance intervals on oil there no need for the flush.)


    Also, Never do a fuel induction service... 70% of those services don't even touch your injectors (at least with the product they use here) and even if they did, you dont need it unless you've ran bad gas.

    just use mobil 1. ive got a tacoma with 300k that the engine looks like new inside and a 2006 corolla with well over 800k on it and it keeps ticking with mobil
     
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  19. Jan 3, 2020 at 6:52 PM
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    1BlinkGone

    1BlinkGone New Member

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    The only sludge at 32,000 miles is the greed in that svc writer's motive.
     
  20. Jan 3, 2020 at 6:55 PM
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    empty_lord

    empty_lord They see me rollin'

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    exactly.
     
  21. Jan 4, 2020 at 7:14 AM
    #21
    T-Guy69

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    A lot of the old oils formed sludge. Back then, I tried a lot of them, Pennzoil, Kendal, Valvoline, Exxon (I worked there). They all formed sludge and some of them even used to foam. But that was 50 years ago. Modern oil does not sludge up. I am amazed how clean the new synthetic oils are.
     
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  22. Jan 13, 2020 at 11:16 AM
    #22
    b16adan

    b16adan [OP] New Member

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    This site contains affiliate links for which the site may be compensated.
    #22

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