Amsoil XL 5W-20, 20,000 KMs 07 Dodge Caliber

[JD Green]

Some history:

I put on about 45-50,000 KMs a year with roughly 65-70% highway and the rest city driving. Some idling every day (waiting in line at Customs to go to work) and some very sort trips (1-2 miles) about twice a week.

This is the my second oil change interval using the XL series 5W-20 and the EaO-11 Amsoil full flow filter. I had used this oil filter for 10,000 KMs prior, so when this sample was taken, the oil filter had 30,000 Kms on it. The air filter used was a WIX.

First column, Pennzoil petroleum 5W-20 with OEM (Mopar) oil filter (5,000 Kms on oil & filter), reference or base line sample
Second column, Amsoil XL series 5W-20 with EaO-11 filter (20,000 Kms on oil & 30,000 Kms on filter), I knew this was going to be the limit for this oil, but I wanted to see it on paper

IRON 9 8
CHROMIUM 0 0
LEAD 0 0
COPPER 2 4
TIN 0 1
ALUMINUM 2 4
NICKEL 0 0
SILVER 0 0
SILICON 14 33
BORON 45 93
SODIUM 0 0
MAGNESIUM 9 13
CALCIUM 1901 2795
BARIUM 0 0
PHOSPHORUS 845 877
ZINC 920 1004
MOLY 227 48
TITANIUM 0 0
VANADIUM 0 0
POTASSIUM 0 0
FUEL VIS 100 7.07 10.03
WATER 0 0
COOLANT NO NO
TBN 3.78 1.86
OXID N/A 31.0
NITR N/A 30.0

The TBN was flagged as being low and it was recommended to change the oil and filter.

Based on this sample, it could be argued that 15,000 KM oil change intervals with this oil in this application and driving habbits along with 30,000 KM intervals on the filter could be done all day long without losing any sleep.

Wear is roughly the same using the Amsoil 4X longer and the EaO filter 6X longer. I am done my stash of XL 5W-20, so the next interval will be the new 0W-20 Amsoil.

Any and all feedback welcomed.

With the 0W-20 I'll be shooting for 30,000 to 40,000 KMs on the oil & filter.

 

[Dominic]

Impressive... it looks like the viscosity was a bit low however. I would stick with 15,000km changes oil/filter and be safe. Doesnt cost much more and youre still saving the planet.

 

[Gary Allan]

Good work. I'm wondering about the silicon number ..but your numbers are still noise.

I look forward to your ASM UOA.

 

[Pablo]

Pretty darn good.....for a group III oil.

I've been loving this oil in our Honda, and now will drift up to the ASM as well.

It's interesting that the viscosity went up in into low 30 land. Haven't seen that with this oil before. Si does look a tad elevated. What lab?

 

[Triple_Se7en]

I would limit oil & filter changes to 15km OCIs with this oil - if the silicon number is not related to air filter housing leaks.

 

[JD Green]

As for the Silicon, I realize that it's twice what it was for the previous sample, BUT for sake of argument one can say that the wear metals are roughly the same, the oil was in the crankcase for 4X longer and when I installed with WIX air filter, I sealed the air box with water resistant grease and checked the rest of the system for leaks. With all this taken into consideration, I have chalked up the elevated silicon to "gasket leaching", as this engine is still fairly new with only about 30,000 miles.

And for the thickening into the low 30 weight range, well I believe this product starts out at 8.5 Cst, so the thickening of 1.5 Cst over 20,000 Kms (keep in mind that Amsoil's recommendation for this product is somewhere around 12,000 Kms) is not anything I'm losing any sleep over.

Those are my thoughts, if you disagree or have a different opinion, please share it.

Again, based on this, I would have NO hesitations of doing 15,000 Km oil change intervals with 30,000 Km oil filter intervals with this product in this vehicle under my driving conditions. If any of the criteria changed, then obviously this would need to be revisited.

I think this is an excellent report and shows how good the GroupIII's really are when compared to Petroleums. I'm sure a PP or any of the other respected GIII would have performed just as well.

 

[JD Green]

Pablo, the lab used was Oil Analyzers Inc.

 

[Pablo]

Thanks - I wasn't too worried about the slight thickening. Just hadn't seen it with this oil before - but you did push the limit. Not a bad thing.

I wonder things like....did the oil vis go down at first then, come back past the starting viscosity? Just silly postulations. A good Group III oil can be pushed beyond my earlier expectations.

 

[UncleRunkle]

First column, Pennzoil petroleum 5W-20 with OEM (Mopar) oil filter (5,000 Kms on oil & filter), reference or base line sample
Second column, Amsoil XL series 5W-20 with EaO-11 filter (20,000 Kms on oil & 30,000 Kms on filter), I knew this was going to be the limit for this oil, but I wanted to see it on paper


Code:




IRON 9 8

CHROMIUM 0 0

LEAD 0 0

COPPER 2 4

TIN 0 1

ALUMINUM 2 4

NICKEL 0 0

SILVER 0 0

SILICON 14 33

BORON 45 93

SODIUM 0 0

MAGNESIUM 9 13

CALCIUM 1901 2795

BARIUM 0 0

PHOSPHORUS 845 877

ZINC 920 1004

MOLY 227 48

TITANIUM 0 0

VANADIUM 0 0

POTASSIUM 0 0

FUEL
VIS 100 7.07 10.03

WATER 0 0

COOLANT NO NO

TBN 3.78 1.86

OXID N/A 31.0

NITR N/A 30.0




Cleaned up a bit for you...

 

[JD Green]

UR:

Wow, how did you do that, that's nice and clean. Want to share so that I can input it that way in the future?

Was that really time consuming?

 

[Camu Mahubah]

20000 km = 12426 mi

30000 km = 18639 mi

Good show!...I'll say!...You ran the XL down to it's limits!...the XL held out twice as long as advertised...

 

[LargeCarManX2]

Originally Posted By: Camu Mahubah
20000 km = 12426 mi

30000 km = 18639 mi

Good show!...I'll say!...You ran the XL down to it's limits!...the XL held out twice as long as advertised...


Please tell us you cut open the Eao with almost 20K on it? I would like to know how the media looked as well as the general construction inside looked? Great job! money saved!

It would/will be interesting to see the 0-20 and Eao in action in the future.

 

[buster]

XL oils are outstanding.

 

[Steve S]

Originally Posted By: buster
XL oils are outstanding.
This is one of the oils that "always"shows good results.

 

[buster]

What do Amsoil XL and PP have in common? Grp III.

 

[98LSC32V]

Originally Posted By: buster
What do Amsoil XL and PP have in common? Grp III.


The additive package looks pretty similar as well.

 

[Pablo]

Originally Posted By: 98LSC32V
Originally Posted By: buster
What do Amsoil XL and PP have in common? Grp III.


The additive package looks pretty similar as well.


Huh?

Code:
CALCIUM 1901 2795

BARIUM 0 0

PHOSPHORUS 845 877

ZINC 920 1004

MOLY 227 48

 

[98LSC32V]

According to the OP that's Pennzoil conventional, not Platinum, Pablo.

 

[Pablo]

Oops - yeah. My bad, try again:

Code:


Oil PP XL

Boron 30 93

CALCIUM 2800 2795

BARIUM 0 0

PHOSPHORUS 700 877

ZINC 800 1004

MOLY 50 48

 

[KW]

Wow! those oils are very similar. I'm liking the XL line up more and more.