Does Amsoil discolor your engine's metal surfaces?

Pennzoil motor oil
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Built_Well

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Maybe it's my imagination, and since I'm an oil novice, I can't really be sure, but it seems to me that the AMSOIL Signature Series I've had in my car might be discoloring my engine's metal surfaces.

I can't really look inside the oil filler hole to see much of my engine because of a small baffle or metal thingie that is found just below the filler hole, but I can see that the baffle does appear a different hue of yellow-brown than I've been used to seeing it these past 5 years. Or that's my impression anyway.

So does Amsoil not keep your engine as clean as Pennzoil Platinum and RLI Bio-Syn which I've used in the past?

I first noticed this apparent change of color when I drained the AMSOIL Signature Series in July. That SSO was in the car for 14 months and 9,000 miles.

I'm now on my second fill of SSO, and I gotta say the car's engine runs quietly like it did with RLI Bio-Syn but I wonder if the SSO is discoloring the metal surfaces.
 
It definitely discolored the surfaces on a Nissan Sentra with a 1.6 liter engine that I once owned. It didn't hurt anything but I wasn't pleased with the results.
 
I've heard this before. I'm sure you'll be told its harmless or not happening.
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One thing I noticed about the old formula ASM is that the oil is so clear/clean in color it was very hard to see on the dipstick.
 
Am I the only one who doesn't care about the color of the aluminum surfaces inside the engine?

I care that the engine is clean and well-lubricated...what difference does the color make?
 
I've seen this - I think it's the brownish dye in the additive package. Remember without color dye and the additive package, synthetic oils are essentially crystal clear. Also it always looks darker when looking in the filler hole, same engine opened up, the aluminum surfaces just look yellowish. It's not harmful and it's not sludge precursor or dirt or anything else, just a metal stain.
 
Pablo, that's what I noticed. It was a brownish tint. It seemed to occur when I used their 0W-30.

This was many years ago and the car has long since been gone. It was merely a observation.
 
Do you guys suspect that the whole signature line is similar in VOA? I'm particulary interested in the ASM 0w20, but can't find a VOA.
 
I noticed this on my Saab's oil filler cap. I think it is a low-boiling dye component as Pablo alluded to. Mine looked like the dye had evaporated and recondensed on the filler cap, as I saw small brown blotches on it after running SSO.

But all the metal surfaces seemed fine...
 
Originally Posted By: Built_Well
Maybe it's my imagination, and since I'm an oil novice, I can't really be sure, but it seems to me that the AMSOIL Signature Series I've had in my car might be discoloring my engine's metal surfaces.

I can't really look inside the oil filler hole to see much of my engine because of a small baffle or metal thingie that is found just below the filler hole, but I can see that the baffle does appear a different hue of yellow-brown than I've been used to seeing it these past 5 years. Or that's my impression anyway.

So does Amsoil not keep your engine as clean as Pennzoil Platinum and RLI Bio-Syn which I've used in the past?

I first noticed this apparent change of color when I drained the AMSOIL Signature Series in July. That SSO was in the car for 14 months and 9,000 miles.

I'm now on my second fill of SSO, and I gotta say the car's engine runs quietly like it did with RLI Bio-Syn but I wonder if the SSO is discoloring the metal surfaces.


You mentioned that the baffle looks different, I would check your PCV as well as all of the hoses in the PCV system.

Maybe try a new PCV or clean yours out.
 
Originally Posted By: Johnny248
Do you guys suspect that the whole signature line is similar in VOA? I'm particulary interested in the ASM 0w20, but can't find a VOA.


Here's the VOA I reported on Amsoil ASM 0W20: Link
 
I believe this color is related to a specific anti-oxidant used in the Signature series line-up. It seems to create a light yellowish color. It is fine and I have noticed it to go away. No worries.
 
Originally Posted By: Loobed
Is the discoloration different than the yellow brown tin that is normal from varnish?


That's a good question.

Gosh, I'd hate to think I left the Amsoil in for too long and it varnished my engine.

The color is light yellow to yellow-brown.

Hopefully Pablo and the others are right, and it's nothing.
 
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Honestly, finding out for sure would begin with opening up your engine (at least taking the valve cover off) and inspecting the internals. The question is this: is the potential harm likely enough and severe enough to warrant going to all that trouble? If what you've told us is all there is to the story, I strongly suspect the answer is "no."

If I had to say or be shot, I'd say the dye hypothesis is VASTLY more likely than the varnish hypothesis.
 
Originally Posted By: buster
Some of the newer adds can leave a yellowish tint behind as well.


So in reality our engines may not be varnished........

AMSOIL is all well and great but if it does this as do other oils then thats another way its a good oil and not stand-out.

coffee2.gif
 
Originally Posted By: OldCowboy
Originally Posted By: Johnny248
Do you guys suspect that the whole signature line is similar in VOA? I'm particulary interested in the ASM 0w20, but can't find a VOA.


Here's the VOA I reported on Amsoil ASM 0W20: Link


Thanks! I could have sworn I saw that before (in fact I commented on it, but I searched and searched today and could not find it.)
 
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