Amsoil is it a good oil

[JSmith]

I was at the Tulare diesel meet,and I picked up some imformation that states Amsoil is inferior to most dino oils in an oxidation test-TFOUT ASTM D-4742. If you are an Amsoil rep could you please respond as I am now questioning whether to run this product or not. Lubrication Engineers,Inc, also states that Amsiol is not Licensed by the API for any approval. What gives?

 

[BigDaddy]

This should be interesting.

I am not an Amsoil dealer, but I do use AMSOIL Series 2000 75W-90 Gear Lube in the front and rear and AMSOIL Universal Automatic Transmission Fluid in the auto and transfer case.



Amsoil’s site does state “…exceeds the following lubrication and performance requirements:” for each of these products and lists the API, MIL-, etc, specifications. However and in all fairness, they do not state approved, licensed, etc.



Jsmith, what type of “information” are you referring to



Sounds like an open invitation for Gene (MGM)

 

[Oil Man]

Before we get into a war here I'd like to clarify some things that you are talking about. I do work for LE and know what the info that you have really says or means.



First,

you said that Amsoil is inferior to most dino oils. The info that you got did not say that. In fact Amsoil had better oxidation than 17 dino oils and two synthetic oils. However the info that you have also said that 5 synthetic and 4 dino oils had better oxidation resistance than Amsoil. How you came to your conclusion is a mystery to me. The oils that are synthetic are given with an * and the dino oils do not have one.



Second,

The oil from Amsoil that was tested does not have Licencing from the API, however Amsoil states that it meets or exceeds the API requirements. The other oils tested are licenced by the API.



I guess you can interpert the info any way you wish however in the end the LE oil has the lowest wear / highest oxidation resistance combination of any of the oils tested. Amsoil and LE are the two lowest wear oils tested. The oxidation resistance of the LE oil is better and as I interpert the info the LE oil is better.

 

[JSmith]

Amsoil and oxidation

On the chart that I have from LE there are 29 oils tested,dino and synth. Amsoil had the lowest wear of all oils tested. On the oxidation test of the 29 oils Amsoil came in at 10th. My concern is the oxidation test. The test had a low of 125 and a high of 1030,and Amsoil had a 229. For comparisons LE was 2nd on wear and 6th for oxidation at 311. The oil that had the highest numbers for the oxidation test failed the Falex wear test. Please understand I am not trying to start a my brand is superior to your brand. My concerns are that I want a good oil in my engine. Not the best that money can but,my pockets are not that deep. Maybe I am looking for some reasureanceses that I am using a very good product.

 

[jsimpson]

I use Amsoil in engines that don't leak and Mobil 1 in engines that do leak! The only complaint I've ever had with Am,soil is that the AmsoilSystem 3000 5W-30 is so thin that in my Cummins it caused a steady mist to come out of my breather tube. I use Amsoil Marine 15W-40 now. I've never used LE. I use Amsoil because I can find it anywhere relatively quickly, but not as easily as I can find Mobil1!

 

[Oil Man]

JSmith,

All of the oils on the list are oils that you can use in your engine. They are all API CG-4 or CH-4 and SJ licensed, or meets or exceeds type oils. These are the minimum specs that you are required to use in your engine. The test that you are refering to show how each oil compares to each other for two catagories, wear and oxidation resistance. Although there are other catagories to look at these are the two most looked at and important. You should only use this chart to evaluate which oil is best for you in your application.



Consider this, if you take all the petro oils for oxidation resistance and find the average oxidation resistance. You should get 21 oils and 3791 total min div by 21oils, is 180. 5 min. This means that Amsoil is above average at 229 min and LE is at the top of the petro oils at 311 min.



Consider this, if you look at all the oils, synthetic and petro together, you will see that Amsoil and LE are the lowest of all of the oils tested.



So if all you are woried about is, is the oil you are using a good oil. Then based on the low wear and better than average oxidation resistance of the Amsoil product, then I would say you have nothing to worry about. Lots of other guys are using oils that have higher wear and below average oxidation resistance.



I still must say that I feel that the LE oil is a better oil and not just based on these two tests but on oil analysis. The LE oil had very low wear and beat out 3 of the 8 synthetics for oxidation resistance and beat out all of the petro oils for oxidation resistance.



Mr. Smith, look at the Delo 400 oil yes it has about 3 times higher wear than Amsoil or LE, but it also has very good oxidation resistance better than Amsoil and not as good as LE. This oil might fit your pocket book better.



I hope this clears up things a little bit.

 

[JSmith]

explalnation of test results

Oil Man,Thank you very much for the clarification of the oil tests.

JSimpsom,I am also curently using 15-40 marine Amsoil.

I will continue to use this oil and make regular filter changes at 3,000 for total run of 9,000 miles on the oil.

Should I use the bypass system, with changing oil at 9,000 mi. Thanks for all the advice and help.



Jeff Smith

 

[JohnE]

Jeff;



Every unbiased report I have read states that adding a by-pass oil filtration system is good. Pick a system, install it, and follow the manufacturer's recommendations.



FWIW: I decided to go with AMSOIL for my Dodge/Cummins. I need the cold weather benefits of a synthetic. I'm hoping the ESPAR will give me extended drain, too.



-John

 

[John]

Originally posted by jsimpson

The only complaint I've ever had with Amsoil is that the AmsoilSystem 3000 5W-30 is so thin that in my Cummins it caused a steady mist to come out of my breather tube. I use Amsoil Marine 15W-40 now.

That is precisely why I switched back to Amsoil 15W-40 HDD&M (from Amsoil Series 3000 5W-30).

 

[amsoilman]

Just to set the record straight concerning the (TFOUT)"Thin Film Oxygen Uptake Test", ASTM D-4742, the Amsoil (AME)15W-40 results are 404 Minutes, and not 289 Minutes! I have a report dated August 17, 2001 to support this.

I do not know where you seen this "chart", but it is not correct with regards to the TFOUT test of the Amsoil AME 15W-40 oil!



Wayne

 

[jsimpson]

Amsoilman, when I switched my Gold Wing over to 0-30 Amsoil, it eliminated the problem of having to rev the engine to throw the oil out of the clutch before it would release. Like the Amsoil in my Harleys, it also made shifting a LOT smoother. I want to fill my 5 speed in my 94 Dodge with Amsoil and understand that GL5 is a no-no. Does Amsoil still have a GL4 that is NOT also rated GL5? I don't expect the stuff to make up for worn synchos, but I don't want it to hurt them any worse!

 

[amsoilman]

JSimpson,

To be specific, Amsoil does make a (GL-4) Gear lube. It is a SAE 80W-90, and it also carries the MT-1 rating as well. The MT-1 rating has to do with the effects on yellow metals and corrosive by-products. all of the Amsoil gear lubes meet the MT-1 specifications, and should not produce corrosion on "yellow" metals.



Hope that answers your question.



Wayne

 

[b.walker]

Just to set the record straight concerning the (TFOUT)"Thin Film Oxygen Uptake Test", ASTM D-4742, the Amsoil (AME)15W-40 results are 404 Minutes, and not 289 Minutes! I have a report dated August 17, 2001 to support this.

Amsoilman,Who ran the test you are refering to?

 

[TwoSlick]

JSmith,



I suggest you look how well Amsoil does in actual oil analysis testing with regards to oxidation - both the 15w-40 & Series 3000 stuff. I believe you will find they both hold up extremely well. The additive chemistry of the oil also has to function in the presence of soot and other combustion by-products that are not present in any lab test ... .



Lab testing is useful as a general tool to weed out inferior oils, but the best test is how the stuff performs in actual service ... .



Tk

 

[COBRAJET]

It is my understanding that Amsoil has three oils which are API licensed and are listed on the API site. One of them is rated for diesel use. Two of them carry the Starburst emblem as well which is for "gasoline" oils only... CJ



http://www.api.org/cgi-bin/eolcs_li.cgi?k=767

 

[amsoilman]

B. Walker,

The name on the paper I have is "Savant", an independent Laboratory & rsearch center specializing in ASTM & Custom Testing on Engine oils and lubricants. Dated Aug 17 2001



Wayne

 

[Swamp Donkey]

Silly question.

What is LE? Whoops just saw it! Lubrication Engineers. Never heard of them. Still running my Delo 400... .....