Original question to Amsoil Tech service:
Date: Monday, July 26, 2004 at 14:46:34
Name
Paul Seminara
Comments
Why does the 5W-30 ASL (in particular) thicken out of grade to almost a mid SAE 40 in use? I have seen this to some extent with the 0W-30 as well, but mostly the ASL. It's quite troublesome to folks when it happens in PERFECTLY running engines at 7000 or 8000 miles. Sometimes it starts at 5K miles and doesn't get really thickened in until 10K miles, but still the oil doesn't make it to 15K miles.
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First answer from Tech:
From: D....
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 7:40 AM
To: Paul Seminara
Subject: FW: Technical Service Contact Form
This can be quite common in engines that have very small oil sumps, or engines that are operated under severe service intervals all the time.
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My response:
From: Paul Seminara
Sent: Thursday, July 29, 2004 9:57 AM
To:
Subject: RE: Technical Service Contact Form
D......,
Please work with me here. Thank you for admitting it does happen. I am aware that it is worse in small sumps and in severe conditions. Quite common, but yet we just say 35,000 miles or one year for almost all cars out there - and no further distinctions. (Yes I know for turbos and commercial apps, and by oil the OCI is limited)
You didn't answer, "why?" Nor, do you say what Amsoil is doing about this premature thickening.
As a dealer this leaves me severely exposed. I definitely "moderate" to the best of my ability how and what vehicles customers use the products in, because I know the oil will not make 35,000 or 25,000 miles. I have solutions, but I know the use of Lube Control is not kosher from Amsoil's point of view (but chemically it does work well by increasing the lost solvency of the oil)
Anyhow, we dealers need more, especially as the competition not only has passed us, the gap is widening.
Thank you,
Paul Seminara
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Response #2 from tech:
Paul,
The drain intervals are classified by a service category and unit vocation. Our literature does indicate a recommended drain interval "up to" 35,000 miles, or one year, whichever comes first. However, the G-1490 AMSOIL Product Change Interval Guide, which breaks down drain interval recommendations based on what type of vehicle and severity of use indicates the following about the use of Series 2000 0W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil:
* Personal passenger vehicles w/ gas engines- Up to 35,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first (severe service conditions may warrant shorter service intervals)
* Turbocharged gas engines- Up to three times longer or six months
* High performance or racing- Based on oil analysis
* Light duty non turbocharged diesel engines- Up to two times longer or six months
* Marine use or occasionally used gas engines- Up to two times longer or one year
* Gas fleet vehicles or industrial use- Up to two times longer with oil analysis, or six months
Based on this information, we hope this clarifies that AMSOIL is indicating that the Series 2000 0W-30 will not reach 35,000 miles, or one year, in every application. In an ideal condition the statement is true that the oil can reach 35,000 miles, or one year. However, ideal operating conditions generally are rare to most automotive applications.
We hope this answers your concerns over this matter.
D.....
Technical Service Department
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The saga continues....but at least they are saying the 35K conditions are "rare"....
![[Confused]](images/icons/confused.gif){kind=icon}
Oxidation is the major culprit for thickening with particle "loading" coming in probably second place.
Makes we wonder if their antioxidants or base oils are up to par.
![[Cheers!]](/forums/graemlins/cheers.gif)
Keep hounding them about it.![[I dont know]](/forums/graemlins/dunno.gif)
