Any Amsoil users?

[farmboy]

I just leafed through the Amsoil catalog a couple days ago. They have a lot of different products for basically any engine. You can buy your oil by the drum (30 or 55 gal) for a nice price savings if you have enough rides. Claim 15 to 25k oil life depending on driving habits (Still have to change the filter). Does anyone have any comments on the products.

[STG]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

There is no automobile or truck manufacturer in the world that recommends 20,000+ mile oil changes. Tow a car with an engine problem into a dealership with 18,500 miles on the oil and see what happens to your warranty.

Amsoil products are no better than other true synthetic lubricants. A clarification is neccessary. A few years ago, Castrol began calling a semi-synthetic Group III motor oil "Full Synthetic". Mobil sued over Castrol's use of the term "Full Synthetic" claiming that only motor oils derived from man-made substances, not refined or hydro-cracked from petroleum (Group III oils) are true full synthetics.

Mobil lost because there was no accepted definition of "synthetic", so Castrol continues to market Group III oils (petroleum based) as "Full Synthetic". Mobil 1 oils and lubricants are Group IV PAOs made entirely of synthetic materials and no petroleum products or base stocks.

Amsoil is a Group IV PAO motor oil. While it is a decent product, Amsoil has chosen not to get API approval for at least some of their oils. I know for a fact that their diesel engine oils are not API certified/approved. If you read Amsoil literature CAREFULLY, you will see that they use language eluding to their products meeting API specifications. This is NOT the same as being API certified. The API certification is the round seal found on most bottles of motor oil and it's what guarantees that the oil meets API specifications which is what auto manufacturers specify.

Here's what Amsoil says about their diesel oil:

"AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-40 (DEO) is the premium choice for API CJ-4 emission quality diesel oil required by model year 2007 and newer diesel engines." It is not API certified.

Here's what they say about their 10w-30 synthetic:

"APPLICATIONS
AMSOIL Extended Life Synthetic Motor Oils are excellent for use in all types of gasoline-fueled vehicles. They are recommended for all domestic and foreign vehicles requiring any of the listed performance specifications:

XLT 10W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil

*
API SM/CF, SL, SJ ...
*
ILSAC GF-4, 3 ...
*
ACEA A1/B1
*
JASO VTW
*
GM 4718M, 6094M
*
Ford WSS-M2C205-A
*
Daimler Chrysler MS-6395N

Who is "recommending" Amsoil? The Manufacturers recommend only API certified oils. AGAIN, NO MENTION OF API CERTIFICATION!




I've been using Mobil 1 synthetic products since they came out in the 1970s. Mobil 1 is a true PAO Group IV synthetic and is every bit as good as any "boutique" brand like Amsoil.

Further, all Mobil synthetics are API certified - NO POTENTIAL WARRANTY HASSLES. Mobil/Exxon is a huge established company. The following cars come from the factory with Mobil 1:

Acura RDX, Aston Martin, Bentley Amage and Bentley GT, Cadillac CTS, CTS-V, XLR, XLR-V, SRX and STS and STS-V,
Chevrolet Corvette C6 and Z06, Chevrolet SSR, Chevrolet TrailBlazer SS, Chrysler 300C SRT-8 and Crossfire SRT-6, Cobalt SS, Dodge Ram SRT-10, Dodge Charger SRT-8, Magnum, and Viper, Jeep Cherokee SRT-8, Mercedes-Benz AMG vehicles, Mercedes SLR, Mitsubishi EVO III, Pontiac GTO, All Porsche vehicles, Saturn Red Line, Viper SRT-10

Amsoil is not used by any manufacturer.

Extended oil changes do not address the chemical break down that occurs with all oils over time. Even if you could filter out all the contaminents and combustion by products that find their way into oil, you can't stop chemical breakdown.

Keep your warranty intact. Change your oil per manufacturer's specifications. They designed and engineered your engine and know what's best for it. If your car is out of warranty, and you want to try longer oil change intervals, at least get routine Blackstone oil analysis. You send them, an oil sample and they tell you what's in it, how much it has sheared and how much life it has left. Of course these reports cost $15 - $20, so I just change my Mobil 1 and factory intervals.

On a side note, Amsoil sold filters for Ford Powerstroke Diesels. Some claimed that the Amsoil replacement cartridge (it's a cartridge filter, not a spin on for a 6.0 Powerstroke) was a tiny bit shorter than a Motorcraft cartridge. No problem, right? Uh, not exactly. The Powerstroke filter sits on top of the engine. When you loosen the cover, a valve opens allowing the oil to drain into the engine before you remove the filter. This same valve keeps oil in the filter when the engine is turned off. Some users of Amsoil filters reported delayed oil pressure readings on starting their Powerstrokes with Amsoil filters. The claim was that Amsoil's replacement filter cartridge was too short to engage the valve and keep it shut.

The point to all this? If you want to keep your warranty intact, you need to follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule. If you want to extend your oil change interval, get your oil analyized (it costs money and is a bit of a hassle - I just change the oil). If you want to use synthetic motor oil, use a true PAO Group IV synthetic that is API certified.

The real reason to use synthetic oil is its stability at temperature extremes. Simply put, synthetic doesn't turn into maple syrup at -40F and doesn't thin-out at +140F. That means your engine gets better lubrication, especially at start up and high speed operation in high temperatures.

But, what the heck do I know?

(You can go to a Mobil/Exxon distributor and buy large quantities of Mobil 1. I get mine in Billings, Montana.)

[kellyinkc]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

STG, Mobil 1 MAY have changed it formula to Group III recently. But kept the Group V price. I use it as well.

Check out :
bob is the oil guy website.

I agree to follow the car makers schedule if the car is under warrenty.
Plus Amsoil is a MLM company, FWIW.

[STG]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

I got into this discussion a few weeks ago on a Powerstroke Diesel site.

Mobil has in fact changed Mobil1 but it still is a true PAO. I called and spoke with a senior Mobil chemist and verified this. Mobil is also aware "of some oil guy on the internet's" claims otherwise. They have been fielding many calls regarding this supposed changed to Group III.

(By the way, the guys in Stuttgart at Porsche still think it is a PAO. How dumb do you think they are?)

[kellyinkc]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

Yeah, that is why I said "may have". I am thinking of calling Mobil myself.
I have been digging around on the net as well to verify what that other site said. Like you said it is factory fill in a lot of upper end cars.
I like Mobil 1 albeit a bit pricey. The cars just seem to run better IMHO.

[STG]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

Especially my Powerstroke diesel - when I start it in -10 F weather. It's got 15 qts. of oil in it!

The nice thing about Mobil 1 is feeling good about leaving the oil in for the factory recommended intervals. If I was running dino oil, I couldn't stand to leave it in for more than 3,000 miles.

[BigLeegr]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

Nice write up STG!

[yakky]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

There is always a bunch of Amsoil scuffle wherever you look. They do have an MLM scheme but they seem to be moving away from it. Their oils are top notch though and I haven't seen anyone with issues from running their oils. People used to claim their intervals were crazy but now, years later Mobil 1 is claiming the same intervals for their extended oil. Sure you can find cheaper oils, and I don't use the stuff anymore either. However if my life depended on my oil, they would be on the short list.

Fact of the matter is , there isn't a whole lot of proof a synthetic even extends engine life other than the Mobil1 literature.

Bob is the oil guy dot com is a good website for more info.

[farmboy]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

Thanks for the write up STG. I use Mobil 1 in my truck (7 QT). I buddy of mine is a 'preferred' customer of Amsoil and is trying to get me to try the stuff. I wasn't to sure about the claims and will just stay with the Mobil 1. The Amsoil is mail order only around here. If you need a quart you have to wait to get it shipped to you.

[RamAirV1]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

Especially my Powerstroke diesel - when I start it in -10 F weather. It's got 15 qts. of oil in it!

The nice thing about Mobil 1 is feeling good about leaving the oil in for the factory recommended intervals. If I was running dino oil, I couldn't stand to leave it in for more than 3,000 miles.

Shell Rotella T is supposed to be good too. Truckers seem to like it.

I use Mobil 1 in my GTO. I plan on keeping this one for awhile.

Here's more oil info from the Boss302 registry that kellyinkc found:

http://www.boss302.com:80/oil.htm

RamAirV1

[kellyinkc]

Re: Any Amsoil users?

FWIW, Wally World Super Tech synthetic is fantastic oil for the price.
But Mobil 1 is great IMHO. I put it in my wifes Sable with 90K on it. Runs like it was new!