AudiAllTheWay

And maintenance schedules including periodic DI fuel additive to help avoid stuck open injector that will eventually destroy any brand DI MPI engine.

2kwik4u

I'm willing to give this a try. Any idea where I can buy the Valvoline Restore? Can't find it online anywhere.

silver_tt

You need to order it directly from your local Cummins. It is $75/gallon when I talked to them a month or so ago, they could get it next day for pickup at their store.

I would also recommend running a bottle of Techron with every tank of gas for at least 1,000 miles.

This will free up your rings.

2kwik4u

Gotcha, I'll track them down and give them a call. Thanks.

silver_tt

You are welcome. I would not run the Cummins for more than a 3,000 mile OCI.

2kwik4u

I was thinking the same thing. Plan is to change it in with a new filter. Then change filter again at 1k and 2k miles, then change oil and filter at 3k miles.

Probably going back to Castrol with 5k OCI after the Valvoline treatment.

silver_tt

Your plan sounds like a very good one.

tomaszp72

So just use it for 3000 miles and go back to "regular" oil? Is 3k going to be enough?

2kwik4u

Yea, I've been researching the crap out of this stuff. With that said, I'm still learning so use the below information at your own risk.

Cummins was finding that regular oils combined with direct injection and modern EGR/PCV systems were leading to the oil control rings being "coked" or "seized" in place due to high levels of carbon deposits in the combustion chamber. So, my understanding is that Cummins developed this oil with Valvoline that is very high in ester content. It maintains acceptable lubricity, however the high ester content cleans the engine internals. In particular, for our engine, we're looking to have it clean the oil control rings on the pistons. The idea is that you drain your oil, and replace it with this high ester content oil for one oil change interval (OCI). In my case I'm going to run it for 3k miles or so. Because it's actively cleaning the engine of carbon build up, it's likely to clog the filter prematurely. So I'll be changing the filter every 1k miles during the 3k miles that the cleaning oil is used. From there I'll move back to a standard engine oil that meets Audi/VW specs. I'll likely run it for a single 3k interval as well, then go back to my 5k OCI's from then on.

I'm averaging 1 quart of oil every 1,000 miles or so. Oil is around $10/qt, and I drive ~25k mi/yr, so I'm looking at $250/year in oil, not to mention any side effects that will require repair such as clogged catalytic convertor, or excessive carbon build up as noted on the exhaust valve earlier in this thread. The Cummins/Valvoline oil is expensive ($75/gal or $18.75/qt), but IF it alleviates the oil burn issue, then it'll easily be worth the time and effort.

At least that's how I'm looking at it.

**EDIT**

Here's the TSB from Cummins that explains the issue and the resolution: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/20...11660-9999.pdf
Here's a thread on BITOG with some testing from a guy that seems pretty knowledgable https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th.../#post-4778351
Here's a thread on BITOG where there are reports of it being used on both diesel and gas engines with good results https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/th...estore.260699/

silver_tt

Without going down a rabbit hole, It is not the high ester that cleans the rings but rather the detergent package (high in Magnesium which is also why you don't want to run this oil for a long OCI). You will need to buy extra to top up your oil. Don't forget to run the Techron CFSC with it..........