AMSOIL - Any experience?

I've read so much crap about this anecdote and that and he says/she says/buddy with a Ferrari BS and all I got out was that Fram sucks at making oil filters. So theres my advice.

You guys do realise that oil never stops being oil, right?

It just gets contaminated and the additive package wears out.

I change mine every 6 months, never had any trouble.

Shawn

thedude wrote: I've read so much crap about this anecdote and that and he says/she says/buddy with a Ferrari BS and all I got out was that Fram sucks at making oil filters. So theres my advice.

Fram, ha! Never.

Trans_Maro wrote: You guys do realise that oil never stops being oil, right? It just gets contaminated and the additive package wears out. I change mine every 6 months, never had any trouble. Shawn

I am by no means an oil guru, but I can see how oil flowing through an engine could "wear out". Particularly a case of long polymer chains breaking down.

I can show you when oil stops being oil... IF it gets hot for too long it gasses and becomes a gas and a semisolid sludge. Just look in ANY VW 1.8T

IIRC Amsoil was the first synthetic oil. They were big in aircraft racing and sponsored a racing biplane. I've always been a bit turned off by the Amway styled marketing. I've never used it. Many of my vehicles have been Bristish and I don't need an oil that leaks out faster than regular dino oil.

Seriously... "I am happy with my oil" is a ridiculous statement. Unless you are posting lab results to compare there is no way to quantify any of it. Its like saying "I am happy with my cholesterol" without having a blood test.

This an Internet forum pet peeve of mine as much as all the asshats who see someone walk away from a serious crash and immediately say something like "Wow, that HANS device saved his life!" even if it happened to be that the car backed into the wall.

Emotional attachment to an idea is not evidence of its effectiveness.

[end rant]

That Giant Purple Snorklewacker saved my engine!

In reply to Giant Purple Snorklewacker:

I'm happy with my oil!

As long as it doesn't leak out!

Dino poo in the escort and jeep, royal purple onthe miatas.

Joey

I have an engineer friend who will preach about Amsoil if the topic of motor oil comes up. However, he will also freely admit that he has not used their products in 15 years:

"Well, I just don't have any vehicles that I can justify the cost for, so I use the Wal-Mart branded synthetic, which is pretty decent. But really, it's still not nearly as good as Amsoil!!"

Wal-Mart synthetic for this guy. Changed every 5k.

I don't bother to get into a "real synthetic or not" dick-swinging contest.

To get around the marketing thing, you can buy direct and for a small anual fee you can get it at dealer prices. That's what i do. Buying by the case saves money also.

Add me to the group that thinks it's probably better stuff than many other alternatives, but I'm turned off by the marketing and can't justify the price for most uses.

I do use their gear lube (not significantly more expensive especially when considered over the time between changes) and I seriously like their synthetic two stroke oil.

I still run a lot higher concentration than they recommend (50:1) but a lot leaner than the 16:1 my Berk specifies. Very low smoke and nice, cool running engine compared to other products I've used.

Bill

In reply to skullsroad:

Changing the transmission oil that often is a waste of money. The gears etc stir the oil pretty well and the transmission does not have the things like combustion gas's plus higher temperature changes that the ngine oil has to endure.

iceracer wrote: To get around the marketing thing, you can buy direct and for a small anual fee you can get it at dealer prices. That's what i do. Buying by the case saves money also.

My "sponsor" (a parts house here in Asheville) is an Amsoil dealer and sells me mine at cost... so it pretty much behooves me to stick with it...

change the Integra every 6 mo and the Honda 2 - 3 times each summer or more often if I'm doing more track days and TT's than normal

Castrol GTX for the RX-7. Jury's still out on whether or not synthetics are OK for rotaries. I tried Idemitsu rotary-specific formula once, but it's expensive. I might go back to it if the RX-7 becomes more racing-oriented.

Pennzoil Platinum for the Mazdaspeed3. The results other MS3 owners got from Blackstone Labs with this oil are impressive:

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=143682.msg3095428#msg3095428

I've been changing it every 3,000-3,500 miles since I got the car but I may send out a sample from my next oil change for analysis.

spitfirebill wrote: IIRC Amsoil was the first synthetic oil.

From Amsoil's website:

"During Lieutenant Colonel Al Amatuzio's 25 years as an award-winning jet fighter pilot, he gained a solid appreciation for the extraordinary lubricants that protected the engines of the jets he flew. He knew that only these lubricants, synthetic lubricants, could stand up to the demanding operating conditions of jet engines and the severe temperature extremes they encounter."

Not sure how you can claim to invent something the Air Force was using before your company existed.

meh. i am convinced engine longevity is half luck. the two cars (protege and miata) i had that were running well past 250,000 had unknown maintenance histories and nothing special while i had them. the protege (bought with 140k on it) got driven 20k miles/yr through city traffic by a college kid (me) who only had the money for oil changes every 8k or so. i sold it at 225k and it was running like a champ; i seriously considered buying it back 3 years later. the '91 miata got better care, but had zero maintenance history and was not driven gingerly either on the street or the autoX course. i'm pretty sure the fuel filter was original when i bought the car in 2006 with 205k on it. the guy who bought it from me reports that it clicked over 250k while buzzing along flawlessly at 5500rpm.

maybe i'm super-lucky when it comes to cars, but i take the whole "what type of oil?" discussion with a gain of salt.

RexSeven wrote: Castrol GTX for the RX-7. Jury's still out on whether or not synthetics are OK for rotaries. I tried Idemitsu rotary-specific formula once, but it's expensive. I might go back to it if the RX-7 becomes more racing-oriented.

and that jury will never come back with a verdict. i thought about the Idemitsu for my RX-8, but settled on Royal Purple. Might switch to Redline b/c it's easier for me to get.

I run Havoline or Napa 10-40 in everything with Napa filters. Oil changes happen at 5-7K or once a year which ever comes first. The work trucks get what ever Jiffy lube is selling at the moment. 300k on Jiffy Lube oil tells me oil really isn't that big of a deal as far as a street car is concerned.

DILYSI Dave wrote: Amsoil is as much a cult as it is an oil. No opinion on the product itself, but the apostles can be a bit much to take.

I agree.

TJ wrote: Oil and oil filters are one of the car-related topics that are among the most amusing to discuss. There are lots of opinions and anecdotal evidence, there are wild accusations, and jumping to conclusions, there there are a few places where people have tried to do some quantitative analysis and research to gather facts. I think talking about oil is the automotive equivalent of debating religion.

I agree.

I put amsoil ATF in my transmission last change. The Amsoil fluid really had a nasty smell to it like burned plastic or something. The transmission still works but I haven't noticed any benefits other than the awefull smell.

Amsoil does seem to be a cult and I really didn't like having to subscribe. If I was going to use synthetics in anything else it is mobil 1 from walmart or if I have money I'll use redline. Besides, redline is from Benicia Ca home to and close to many refineries, amsoil is from Wiscanson. I'll try to support a local company next time.

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Seriously... "I am happy with my oil" is a ridiculous statement. Unless you are posting lab results to compare there is no way to quantify any of it. Its like saying "I am happy with my cholesterol" without having a blood test. This an Internet forum pet peeve of mine as much as all the asshats who see someone walk away from a serious crash and immediately say something like "Wow, that HANS device saved his life!" even if it happened to be that the car backed into the wall. Emotional attachment to an idea is not evidence of its effectiveness. [end rant]

I am very happy with my lubricant.

Will wrote:

spitfirebill wrote: IIRC Amsoil was the first synthetic oil.

From Amsoil's website: "During Lieutenant Colonel Al Amatuzio's 25 years as an award-winning jet fighter pilot, he gained a solid appreciation for the extraordinary lubricants that protected the engines of the jets he flew. He knew that only these lubricants, synthetic lubricants, could stand up to the demanding operating conditions of jet engines and the severe temperature extremes they encounter." Not sure how you can claim to invent something the Air Force was using before your company existed.

The cool-aid jim jones brewed up has amsoil in it. No kidding.

Shaun wrote:

Giant Purple Snorklewacker wrote: Seriously... "I am happy with my oil" is a ridiculous statement. Unless you are posting lab results to compare there is no way to quantify any of it. Its like saying "I am happy with my cholesterol" without having a blood test. This an Internet forum pet peeve of mine as much as all the asshats who see someone walk away from a serious crash and immediately say something like "Wow, that HANS device saved his life!" even if it happened to be that the car backed into the wall. Emotional attachment to an idea is not evidence of its effectiveness. [end rant]

I am very happy with my lubricant.