A Little Truth On Synthetics

[kuhl_530]

I've been working at an auto parts store for three years now, and we have a large selection of Amsoil. Now, I've always been a Mobil 1 fan myself, and my adversion from Amsoil hasn't been fueled by the rivalry between the companies, but more by how little Amsoil is advertised commercially, and by their very bold claim of up to 25,000 miles on a single oil change. Maybe it's true, I don't know, I'm not an engineer, and I'm not writing to talk about that right now.

 

A couple of weeks ago our Amsoil supplier came in with our biweekly delivery, and was explaining why one of the Amsoil oil filter numbers we ordered isn't available anymore. The supidity of what spilled out of his mouth, nearly made my head explode. He said something to the extent of (and I'm sorry I can't quote him verbadum) "It's being substituted by (this filter), because the original filter was so good at filtering, it would cause the engine to sieze."

 

Let me repeat that in case you thing you understood me correctly. It's being substituted because it does in fact filter the oil so well, that it causes the engine to sieze. Even after listening to politicians ramble on tv, it can still honestly say this is the biggest load of bologna that I think I have ever heard.

 

After this, I set off to see what other loaded claims about Amsoil I could find. I must say, there wasn't a whole lot I found that I had the knowledge or skills to disprove, except for this: On the Amsoil bottles, they claim, and have also trademarked the phrase "First in Synthetics". This is in fact, false. In the mid 1960's Chevron U.S.A. was the first to market and produce 100% synthetic lubricants. In 1971 All-Proof, now called Red Line, introduced a synthetic oil, followed fourth by Amsoil who packaged and resold a diester-based 10W40 grade from Hatco in 1972, and then Mobil 1, introduced in North America in 1974 (with a PAO-based 5W20 grade).

 

So, not only is Amsoil NOT the first in synthetics, they also first sold an oil produced by another manufacturer.

[Black02Silverado]

Hey Chris,

 

What filter was the other AMSOIL dealer referring too? Was it the EaO57 and EaO09? These are the main ones that are used on Toyota's. There has been problems with the filter going into bypass and causing the oil lights to come on. They were going into bypass well below the 25k miles even as low as from what I understand at even 8k miles on the filter. The efficenciy of the filter and the issue with Toyota having an engine design that for some reason is not a clean running in terms of the oil getting dirty quickly. Does this make sense? If the filter is really efficent and the oil gets dirty fast due to the design of the engine then the filter will go into bypass sooner since it is filtering out the contaminants due to the effencenty of the filter. That is if you are talking about the Toyota filters. AMSOIL recommends that you change the filter out at the recommended interval per Toyota. The Mann oil filter which is another filter to use on Toyota's has been tested and is good for up to 7,500 miles. All other filters need to be changed according to Toyota's recommendations which I think is 5k miles. At least that is what is in my sisters Corolla owners manual and my parents new 2010 Camry with the 4cyl.

 

The "First in Synthetics" is referring to the fact that AMSOIL was the first to the market with an API (American Petroleum Institute) certified synthetic, not that it was the first to produce a synthetic lubricant. I can see where that can be confusing.

 

Also AMSOIL gets it's base stock from another company, but the final product is and AMSOIL product. They produce the final product with their formula of additives with the base stock that they procure. So it is their product not another companies.

[kuhl_530]

Thanks for the insight. I believe it was one of those numbers, and it would make sence about the engine difficiency (although, that's why I still observe a 3,000-6,000 oil change interval ) Perhaps our supplier is just a moron.

 

I also asked him why of all the amsoil oil products we stock, only the 5w20 displays the api certification logo on the bottles, and he said it was because Amsoil doesn't need to display the 'meets industry standards bs, because Amsoil doesn't meet them, it excedes them' (his words). Now that may be all fine and dandy, but as a potential consumer I look for that symbol to let me know I'm not paying $8-$9 for what could just as well be maple syrup (not saying it is).

[Black02Silverado]

The entire XL 5w-20, 5w-30, 10w-30 and 10w-40 line of lubricants from AMSOIL are API certified and have the starburst on them. These are the 7,500 mile lubricants. The rest of the lubricants, AMSOIL being a small company does not have the money to get API certification. They do exceed it but are not certified by the API due to cost. Plus when ever AMSOIL "tweaks" their formula then they would have to get each line re-certified. This is major money.

[kuhl_530]

oh... see we don't stock much of the XL stuff. Our 5w30 (asl quarts and gallons) say "guarenteed up to 25,000 miles or one year".

 

I would hope Amsoil can find a fix to this dillemma. I've already seen customers purchase our house brand full synthetic (made by Ashland Oil Co.) just because it's got the API seal on it and the Amsoil doesn't.