Amsoil 5w30 Comparison Test

[Capa]

Originally Posted By: Donald


I can almost guarantee that all the results of the tests Amsoil lists are valid. But they may have not included some competitive oils that did very well, or some ATSM tests where Amsoil did not do well. Thats pretty standard, do lots of tests and publish the ones that make you look good.


This, even though the four ball test is a sham.

 

[buster]

Originally Posted By: zloveraz
What's strange is that they state that Red Line holds the SN/GF-5 specification or at least implies that they do.

Given the fact it failed TEOST and that is a SN/GF-5 requirement it shows the difference between being an actual certified SN/GF-5 oil versus the famous "recommends" statement as many companies imply.


Redline failed from the high ash content.

It's certainly possible that Mobil 1 is just not what it once was.

The reference oil in RLI's testing from years ago shows much different results in the TEOST. Referenced oil is Mobil 1.

Link

 

[buster]

I sent an email to Dave at Redline and Mobil just to see what they thought about the TEOST results. Hard to believe. Lucas Synthetic has a 14.5% NOACK score, yet scored significantly lower than Mobil 1 on the TEOST. Doesn't make sense. Unless Mobil's product batch consistency is not that good, which I doubt.

 

[threeputtpar]

I find it insulting to everyone on this board that for all other oils they used a 4,777 mile change interval for purposes of cost comparison. We all know that any one of those other oils can go much farther than 4,777 miles, even the Lucas one.

Quote:
Because the other nine oils do
not carry a recommended drain interval, a drain interval of 4,777 miles was used


Um, Mobil 1 Extended Performance clearly states that they guarantee up to 15k miles/1 year, just like Amsoil.

Edit: Yes they go on to say that M1 puts all kinds of caveats on that guarantee, but Amsoil does the same thing. Let's compare apples to apples and see how Amsoil really stacks up cost wise.

If they had done the tests with used oil analysis to substantiate the change intervals for all oils, what do we think the results would have been?

Note: I do like Amsoil products, but do not use them on a steady basis. I'm simply trying to use some common sense and dissect what the intentions of the tests really were.

 

[buster]

Quote:
I'm simply trying to use some common sense and dissect what the intentions of the tests really were.


Well, I think it was a good report they put out but as to what conclusions you can draw from it I don't really know.

CLEARLY the 4 ball wear test means nothing to Mobil. They addressed that before and their oils are found in more high performance engines than all of the above brands combined.

What did stand out to me was the poor TEOST results of the Mobil 1. That is a big surprise to me.

You have to really be careful with bench testing as it can be misleading. You generally get what you pay for, but not all of these tests meann all that much.

 

[threeputtpar]

I guess I'm really ahead of the game then since I just picked up 24 quarts of Quaker State Ultimate Durability for $0.43/quart after rebates. Let's see, at 2.37 oil changes per year with 5 quarts that's a whopping $5.10.

I'd love to support a home grown WI based business, but there's only so much I'm willing to spend to do so. I can even buy from a large distributor at his cost and no shipping charges, and it still can't touch the price of a well timed sale and rebate to build the stash with.

 

[Gabe]

Great thread.

 

[buster]

I will say Amsoil certainly has a very well balanced oil. A lot what you may also be paying for is the additive treat rate. PAO/Ester and a boosted additive package.

Comparing Redline to Amsoil to Mobil 1 is interesting because

1. Redline is POE with SL ZDP levels and 3,800 ppm of calcium.
2. Amsoil is SN ZDP with similar high calcium to Redline. (I've seen both have Ca levels of 4,000 ppm)
3. Mobil 1 Extended Performance is SN and SA is .8. Ca 1,600 ppm.

Different blends and chemistry.

 

[benjy]

buying a LOT of oil is not good as its said stored oil deteriorates, especially a petroleum, which is group III "synthetic" and lower

 

[Trav]

You mean that almost 100 qts of Quaker State Ultimate Durability wont hold 3 years on the shelf?

No problem!

 

[rraiderr]

On this website if Mobil 1 does not come out on top the test is [censored] and if Amsoil comes out above Mobil 1 the test is for sure a scam.

 

[FLFJR]

I would love to buy the best oil out there that beats everyone else hands down (as Amsoil claims to be) I actually bought some Amsoil gear oil for a motorcycle I own based on a very scientific oil report I read on the internet that compared 5 or 6 differnt oils with Amsoil beating all others in every catagory. I was surprized when the rear differential on my motorcycle ran hotter with the Amsoil than the Wal-mart super tech synthetic that I put in previously. How could this be? Still protecting my gears better while running hotter?

So I went back to the report and read who sponsored it – yep it was the Amsoil corporation. Now I am sure that Amsoil has the highest standards of integrity and would never put profit above fair testing but even so, I would feel more comfortable if the testing was performed by a 3rd party. Make sure you look at who is sponsoring the test you are reading. Also, anyone can become an Amsoil dealer for 25.00. I have seen many web sites touting the benefits of Amsoil above all other motor oils and sighting test results but when I scroll to the bottom of the page it says "authorized Amsoil dealer".

The whole business starts to look like knife selling – "It will cut through steel..."

Unfortunately I could not find many unbiased tests by reputable companies comparing oil types. I would love to see some. The ones I did find indicate that Amsoil performs average to good against other oils – these are a few I found – not enough to convince me but enough to make me not want to pay top dollar for Amsoil.

Bearing Wear – Royal Purple blows Amsoil away...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tt-VKe8Oaw

Low Temp – Mobil 1 comes out on top....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ_vxdO_9nc

 

[userfriendly]

FLFJR;
I think you would make a fantastic Amsoil dealer, if you have what it takes, go for it.
What do you get for $25.00?

 

[UltrafanUK]

If you read a so called independent test report published by a particular engine oil company, what you seem to get is a very biased opinion based on tests that are selected just because they produce good results for the sponsor (Hence the infamous 4 ball test). They never seem to compare results with all of the top performers, they just select a few that they know their oil will outperform. The Mobil report even compares with what they call a typical synthetic, without even saying which one!

Oddly enough I've never read a truly unbiased independent test report that compares the major brand top of the range oils.

If you really want to know which oil is best for your engine, the only way to find out is to do a long series of UOA comparisons. Every engine is different, will be in a different condition and subject to a different application to other engines, so simply looking at test results does not tell the whole story.

So far the best real world UOA results I have obtained for my 1.9 TDI were from using Liqui Moly Synthoil High Tech 5w40 plus half a can of Ceratec, but the results from using Shell Ultra 5w40 were so close that I decided to use that oil because it's the cheapest major brand full synthetic.

 

[Shannow]

Originally Posted By: FLFJR
Bearing Wear – Royal Purple blows Amsoil away...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Tt-VKe8Oaw


That test has nothing to do with anything inside the engine in your car, it's "best" at doing something that it doesn't need to do ever.

Please don't fall for those tests...it's reputed that some dandruff shampoos do better than engine oil.

Originally Posted By: FLFJR
Low Temp – Mobil 1 comes out on top....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQ_vxdO_9nc


That's a test that's testing oils below their "winter" rating...

 

[kschachn]

Why is it that this subject in particular often gets revived (as in this thread) by first-time posters who apparently only join and post to inform us of "a very scientific oil report I read on the internet"?

 

[BrocLuno]

It MAY have to do with roller cam lifters ...

It certainly is an indicator for roller bearing big ends in motorcycles.

 

[Y_K]

It's been a going joke among lube engineers that Coca Cola passes the 4-ball test the best, which is true..

 

[Garak]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
Why is it that this subject in particular often gets revived (as in this thread) by first-time posters who apparently only join and post to inform us of "a very scientific oil report I read on the internet"?

You know that we BITOGers live in a bubble and never read anything at all about oil or ever discuss testing methodologies.

 

[A_Harman]

Originally Posted By: Y_K
It's been a going joke among lube engineers that Coca Cola passes the 4-ball test the best, which is true..


Coca Cola is a very useful fluid. I once used it as ATF in an offshore powerboat.