Oh wow interesting. You did these tests? Or you sent them in?
Which one shears 30%?
Amsoil Severe Gear or HPL?
- Thread starter Johnny248
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Which one shears 30%?
I don’t have several hundred $k in lab equipment. Lab tests. Check out the “mega 75w90 testing” thread for all the gritty details.
It wouldn't surprise me if we had industry-connected members who had access to testing equipment. That's why I asked.
There are a couple people on here that do, but it’s for their professional careers, and most that I’m aware of have either contractual obligations or NDAs preventing them from using that equipment for public disclosure.
Maybe a wrinkle:
SubieRuby generously contracted a lab to perform these tests, then subsequently funded the same lab to test more products, with self-sourced and donated samples (…still quite generous). Yes, Amsoil SVG did great in the first test, and at a lower viscosity than THAT (Cold Climate) HPL; THAT HPL was PAO-based. The subsequent test included the non-cold-climate version of the HPL 75w-90…not *Group IV.”
Here’s the wrinkle: HPL told me they decided to offer ONLY the PAO version going forward (at that point in time at least), but no longer called Cold Climate. But when I asked about different results, “the other Dave” at HPL said they wouldn’t comment on the test results. The CC version had much better cold performance specs, but somewhat worse 4-ball than the Grp III version in the tests. So, if you buy HPL “today,” it will be PAO-based, but won’t say “CC.” Now this is 12-month old info, so might not still be the case.
Anyway, I chose the thinner SVG 75w90 for my Subaru Outback, and the “thicker” (at least at normal temps) HPL for my Transit van. Supposedly I got the PAO version for the van (though no-longer labeled “CC.”).
Anecdotally, totally happy with the HPL, no bad results, though it’s 75w-90 vs the manufacturer specified 75w-85 Motorcraft. Re the Subaru, working fine, but not happy with fuel economy (***I changed a couple things at same time, so not 100% sure what caused the MPG hit.). Still don’t think SVG inferior, though in the 2nd test, Subaru gear oil was tested, and was more than adequate, and apparently thinner (potentially more fuel efficient).
So, using “thicker” than factory HPL in the van, no noticeable fuel economy hit, and using SVG in the Subaru, possibly (?) same rating as factory, and got associated fuel economy hit..,see disclaimer above, not sure why FE hit.
SubieRuby generously contracted a lab to perform these tests, then subsequently funded the same lab to test more products, with self-sourced and donated samples (…still quite generous). Yes, Amsoil SVG did great in the first test, and at a lower viscosity than THAT (Cold Climate) HPL; THAT HPL was PAO-based. The subsequent test included the non-cold-climate version of the HPL 75w-90…not *Group IV.”
Here’s the wrinkle: HPL told me they decided to offer ONLY the PAO version going forward (at that point in time at least), but no longer called Cold Climate. But when I asked about different results, “the other Dave” at HPL said they wouldn’t comment on the test results. The CC version had much better cold performance specs, but somewhat worse 4-ball than the Grp III version in the tests. So, if you buy HPL “today,” it will be PAO-based, but won’t say “CC.” Now this is 12-month old info, so might not still be the case.
Anyway, I chose the thinner SVG 75w90 for my Subaru Outback, and the “thicker” (at least at normal temps) HPL for my Transit van. Supposedly I got the PAO version for the van (though no-longer labeled “CC.”).
Anecdotally, totally happy with the HPL, no bad results, though it’s 75w-90 vs the manufacturer specified 75w-85 Motorcraft. Re the Subaru, working fine, but not happy with fuel economy (***I changed a couple things at same time, so not 100% sure what caused the MPG hit.). Still don’t think SVG inferior, though in the 2nd test, Subaru gear oil was tested, and was more than adequate, and apparently thinner (potentially more fuel efficient).
So, using “thicker” than factory HPL in the van, no noticeable fuel economy hit, and using SVG in the Subaru, possibly (?) same rating as factory, and got associated fuel economy hit..,see disclaimer above, not sure why FE hit.
What are the same details?
Mobil 1 is good enough for me.
I can get it at Walmart so it's like 1/3 the price after you ship amsoil or hpl and last time I checked mobil1 had a little bit better oxidization resistance. Which is good for me because I'll have less than 30,000mi on the gear oil after 5 years.
Mobil 1 doesn't have great shear stability, but the countermeasure to that is just to top off with some 140w, assuming you put 90w in there and do a reasonable oci.
I can get it at Walmart so it's like 1/3 the price after you ship amsoil or hpl and last time I checked mobil1 had a little bit better oxidization resistance. Which is good for me because I'll have less than 30,000mi on the gear oil after 5 years.
Mobil 1 doesn't have great shear stability, but the countermeasure to that is just to top off with some 140w, assuming you put 90w in there and do a reasonable oci.
I use both of them and have zero complaints about either. Use whichever one tickles your fancy more. Amsoil offers SG in the “easy pack” bags which can make the filling of a diff easier if you don’t have the space or a pump handy.
Where are you seeing it for 1/3 the price?
https://www.amsoil.com/p/amsoil-severe-gear-75w-90-100-synthetic-gear-lube-svg/
https://www.walmart.com/ip/Mobil-1-Synthetic-Gear-Lubricant-LS-75W-90-1-Quart/110167556
It's $17.29, less than $2 more than the Mobil 1 at Walmart. Similar price for the Valvoline. And you get the easy fill packs.
If you're doing both diffs and a transfer case, then that's probably enough to order and get free shipping. Or you can order something else that you need, like some gasoline treatment or something. Their PEA gas treatment is pretty good, and I run one before I change the oil. @Pablo has also said here that if the PC membership is a bridge too far for you, he can help you out with ordering with preferred pricing. For $1.43 a quart more, I think it's worth it.
Edit: I should also add that I've got Severe Gear in all my diffs and T-case in both cars now. No issues. They both run great. I also switched from Red Line MT-90 to AMSOIL's MTL, and it shifts noticeably better in cold conditions than the Red Line did. (Both shift similarly when warm.) So I'm a believer in their gear oils. And the experience online here and elsewhere seems universally positive.
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I really don't think any difference in fuel economy from gear oil would be detectable outside of a lab.
Exactly. Something else or a combo of variables
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tbf, he did say "after shipping"
Yes I addressed that too. I think you can find a way to not pay shipping when you buy from AMSOIL.
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yeah, it's not going to be 1/3 as cheap as he claimed but it will be cheaper. the 1/3 cheaper is a bit exaggerated me thinks
Yeah he may have honestly thought that though, so I wanted to show that it's actually a pretty similar cost, for likely a far higher quality product, in my opinion. Plus supporting a small(er), family owned business.
One application where ams oil could work for me is smatic approved transmission fluid for my Nissan leaf.
I ran Valvoline minimum life transmission fluid for 25,000 miles, had it tested. Blackstone said the oil was good to run longer, 35,000 to 40,000 miles. So I ran the next batch for 38,000 and tested and they said it was bad.
I'm at about 30,000 again and I used Valvoline minlife again and I didn't know hen I put it in there it couldn't hack 40,000 miles.
So I'll be looking to put either Mobil 1 or amsoil in there when it warms up.
Going from a 90wt to a 85wt maybe.
It's about the same difference as running 30wt engine oil compared to 50wt engine oil.
Was Valvoline 75w90 tested? If so, was it good?
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