How does AM SS compare to PU when it comes down to cleaning ability? I know PU has a strong detergent add pack but how does AM SS compare. Run with Ea filters and change every 10k or one year. 2002 Celica 1zz with 66k. Only drive about 6k a year.
Amsoil SS vs PU 5w30
- Thread starter Mikey V.
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PU is group 3 load with a lot clean components. Amsoil is group 4 designed for extend OCI. Both are excellent. I would rotate them at 10K OCI. If UOA tells you they are still good, do the 15K OCI.
Pretty good advice, IMHO. In CA you are not really dealing with terrible cold and only 6K per year is not going to stretch either one. One year is probably too soon, I'd go by miles.
Either go PU for 10K and possibly do a UOA or the AMSOIL for 10K and just call it good. Both should perform excellently.
Cheers!
Originally Posted By: Artem
PU is designed for cleaning.
Amsoil SS line of oils are designed for extended use.
Two different blends if you ask me. Both are top of the line and should keep your engine spotless if proper OCIs are followed.
^Both should clean about the same. Pennzoil's Ultra is 'marketed' more for cleaning. Amsoil's SS lineup is 'marketed' more for extended drains.
Toss a coin, Ultra SN looks great on paper compared to Amsoil, but you may wind up with differing end of run TBN relative to the differing basestock(is Ultra GTL or turned to uber slack/wax III+? etc, they have specs for SN that look awesome but only have 'advertised' the SM rating so far AFAIK). Get a UOA to see how TBN/oil/engine health is after say...9 months, to see how well things look before settling on 1 full year with those short trips. 3 miles one way, 6 round-trip is relatively short tripping. Severe driving, not quite extreme.
How cold does it get where the vehicle is driven? How long(weeks, months of the year at the 'coldest' temps?) Does the vehicle idle for long periods of time(10+ minutes), with A/C on frequently, on the same trips/often on most trips(this would be during the summer)? This can lead to fuel dilution and shear the oil somewhat, depending on how 'hard' your engine is on oil.
Have you gotten a UOA performed on a sample from this engine before? Confirm it's relative health now or 6 months in on oil of choice, keep driving until you get the results and then get a more accurate idea of how long either 'could' go in your app.
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Well according to Ultra's MSDS it's group 4...
http://www.epc.shell.com/Docs/GSAP_msds_00061491.PDF
Originally Posted By: buster
I don't know if the SN PU has changed or not. I still can't believe they haven't updated their PDS's. It's kinda ridiculous at this point...although few probably ever notice.
Not sure how to read the kind of .pdf to decipher just posted above, going to try though.(newbie). 
Amsoil is likely the better product, as traditionally they have used only the highest quality base stocks in their Signature Series oils. I doubt Shell will be using a top-quality base oil in a mass-market oil such as Pennzoil Ultra.
Whether or not it makes a difference though, is an entirely different discussion.
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Amsoil is likely the better product, as traditionally they have used only the highest quality base stocks in their Signature Series oils.
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I doubt Shell will be using a top-quality base oil in a mass-market oil such as Pennzoil Ultra
^So what? Older additives do not mean bad additives. 
Addition 'formulation' older? Yeah, debatable on what's 'better' or 'worse' when SN has only been out for like the life of a 3 month old baby. We just don't know what this child will be like yet! lol
Addition 'formulation' older? Yeah, debatable on what's 'better' or 'worse' when SN has only been out for like the life of a 3 month old baby. We just don't know what this child will be like yet! lol- Status
