Amsoil Engine Tear Down Pics

[Snagglefoot]

Not in service, but a pretty demanding test.

View attachment 153029

Hmmm.

 

[ZeeOSix]

Hmmm.

That basically just says it produces less piston deposits better than some other oils ... but still produces piston deposits in the specified ILSAC Sequence IIIG deposits test. "Keeps pistons cleaner" is the key phrase.

Valvoline Restore however claims it will actually remove existing piston deposits, and that's what the Valvoline engineer in LSJ's video said they saw in the Sequence IIIG testing.

 

[Redhawk454]

SS 5w30 = 10.3 cSt / 6.7% Noack / ~8% ester
XL 5w30 = 11.3 cSt / 9.4% Noack / no ester
OE 5w30 = 11.0 cSt / 9.4% Noack / no ester

It's likely the base oil viscosity of the SS 5w30 is as viscous or more viscous than the XL and OE 5w30 with less VII load thanks to better quality base oils. I'd rather have an oil that starts at 10.3 and ends at 10.0 than one that starts at 11.0 and ends at 9.5.

230°F is a normal sump temp. It's typical of engine oil to operate at +20-40°F above coolant temp. Nothing concerning there. Especially a top shelf synthetic like SS, it could hum at 260°F and be fine.

That’s why I asked, I wanted to know why SS 5w30 was thinner than extended life ore OE

 

[wwillson]

It's completely dependent on the engine. Run a VCM Honda engine as-is on extended drains and see what happens.

I have seen many Honda VCM engines torn apart in my friend's shop. The issue is clearly that the engine's demands on the oil have exceeded the oil's capability. The oils that meet specifications are getting crushed by the operating conditions in the engines. He is running HPL in many of the engines he has replaced gummed up pistons and rings. Zero return problems when he runs an oil that is capable of handling the condition in the engines. Oil quality matters.

 

[GW.]

I have seen many Honda VCM engines torn apart in my friend's shop. The issue is clearly that the engine's demands on the oil have exceeded the oil's capability. The oils that meet specifications are getting crushed by the operating conditions in the engines. He is running HPL in many of the engines he has replaced gummed up pistons and rings. Zero return problems when he runs an oil that is capable of handling the condition in the engines. Oil quality matters.

Exactly. Here is a 2016 Acura RDX(138k) not muzzled on ESP 0W-30. At least in my daughter’s use case it is possible to keep these clean with quality oil. My friend on dealer bulk is not so lucky…deep orange varnish on the front head.

My daughters

 

[The Critic]

I have seen many Honda VCM engines torn apart in my friend's shop. The issue is clearly that the engine's demands on the oil have exceeded the oil's capability. The oils that meet specifications are getting crushed by the operating conditions in the engines. He is running HPL in many of the engines he has replaced gummed up pistons and rings. Zero return problems when he runs an oil that is capable of handling the condition in the engines. Oil quality matters.

It also depends on which VCM generation. Honda continues to refine VCM operation as time progresses. The ring issues are very rare in the last 5-10 model years.