Experience with AMSOIL Signature Series on GM LSx

[GVS]

I have a 1999 Chevrolet Corvette (LS1 engine) with 91k miles on it. I drive my car pretty hard with a lot of high RPM use once the oil is over 160F. I live near Detroit, Michigan. The owners’ manual call out 5W30 oil to meet the GM Specification 4718M. My car has used 5W30 Mobil One oil since new with good results: every other oil change I’ve send a sample to Blackstone for a used oil analysis (UOA) and all results have been normal & consistent results. I change my oil when the factory oil life monitor gets down to 10%, which is between 3000-4500 miles depending on amount of highway driving.

At 88k miles, I took the car into an independent mechanic I trust for a few repairs and asked for a synthetic oil change. He used 0W30 AMSOIL Signature Series 100% Synthetic Oil. The factory oil life monitor now says it is due for another change after 3k miles (lots of city miles this year) but the oil does not look very dirty. In fact, it looks much cleaner than Mobil One with 10% life on the oil monitor. I am questioning if the oil needs to be changed. The mechanic recommends changing it every 6k miles or 12 months, whichever comes first.

My question to this forum is: If you use AMSOIL Signature Series on an LSx engine, how long do you run between changes? Also, should I be concerned about it being 0W30? I have not seen any drop in oil pressure cold or hot.

I thought I would pose the question before I drained a little out and sent it in for anaylsis. Thanks for any insight!

 

[TrevorS]

I would wait for the UOA and post it here for feedback.

Also post up the M1 UOAs too.

 

[84zmyfavorite]

I would have kept using Mobil 1. Why change a Good thing? Sounded Perfect to me up until that Superior, WI 0w30 got poured in. That OCI of Amsoil would turn me away from from a used car purchase. Especially if I had known that Mobil 1 had been used exclusively before the Amsoil poured in. I dont know about that mechanic.

 

[buster]

LOL

 

[Phishin]

Originally Posted By: 84zmyfavorite
I would have kept using Mobil 1. Why change a Good thing? Sounded Perfect to me up until that Superior, WI 0w30 got poured in. That OCI of Amsoil would turn me away from from a used car purchase. Especially if I had known that Mobil 1 had been used exclusively before the Amsoil poured in. I dont know about that mechanic.


Is this for real?

 

[A_Harman]

AMSoil's main reason for existing is extended oil changes. Go to 6k miles, and have an oil sample analyzed before draining the oil. I wouldn't be surprised if you could double the drain interval.

The OLM in GM cars from those years assumed that conventional oil was being used, so on synthetic, you could go much longer. Since you're already doing oil analyses, put the money you're spending to good use and extend the change intervals.

 

[kschachn]

The dude has a thing against Amsoil, why is not explained:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2870435/

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Originally Posted By: 84zmyfavorite
I would have kept using Mobil 1. Why change a Good thing? Sounded Perfect to me up until that Superior, WI 0w30 got poured in. That OCI of Amsoil would turn me away from from a used car purchase. Especially if I had known that Mobil 1 had been used exclusively before the Amsoil poured in. I dont know about that mechanic.


Is this for real?

 

[rraiderr]

Originally Posted By: kschachn
The dude has a thing against Amsoil, why is not explained:

https://bobistheoilguy.com/forums/posts/2870435/

Originally Posted By: Phishin
Originally Posted By: 84zmyfavorite
I would have kept using Mobil 1. Why change a Good thing? Sounded Perfect to me up until that Superior, WI 0w30 got poured in. That OCI of Amsoil would turn me away from from a used car purchase. Especially if I had known that Mobil 1 had been used exclusively before the Amsoil poured in. I dont know about that mechanic.


Is this for real?


Nobody is that stupid, he is just busting balls.

Way to much data out there for someone to truly believe that [censored].

 

[demarpaint]

 

[nitehawk55]

Ignore that oil monitor , they don't sample the condition of the oil .

 

[Nate1979]

From the Amsoil website:


SERVICE LIFE
AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil is recommended for extended drain intervals in unmodified(1), mechanically sound(2) gasoline-fueled vehicles as follows:

•Normal Service(3) – Up to 25,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first.
•Severe Service(4) – Up to 15,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first.
•In all non-gasoline-fueled vehicle applications, extend the oil change interval according to oil analysis or follow the OEM* drain interval.
*OEM – Original Equipment Manufacturer

(1) Engines operating under modified conditions (non-stock) are excluded from extended drain recommendations. Examples include the use of performance computer chips; non-OEM approved exhaust, fuel or air induction systems; and the use of fuels other than those recommended for normal operation by the manufacturer.

(2) Mechanically sound engines are in good working condition and do not, for example, leak or consume excessive amounts of oil, are not worn out, do not overheat, do not leak antifreeze and have properly working emissions control systems. AMSOIL recommends repairing malfunctioning engines prior to the installation of AMSOIL synthetic oils.

(3) Personal vehicles frequently traveling greater than 10 miles (16 km) at a time and not operating under severe service.

(4) Turbo/supercharged engines, commercial or fleet vehicles, excessive idling, vehicles with more than 100,000 miles without prior continuous use of AMSOIL motor oil, daily short-trip driving less than 10 miles (16 km), frequent towing, plowing, hauling or dusty condition driving.

AMSOIL Ea® Full-Flow Oil Filters are designed for extended change intervals. They stop smaller particles, flow more oil and last longer than regular filters. For best performance, use AMSOIL Ea Full-Flow Oil Filters.

 

[ZeeOSix]

What do you guys think of this paper? Of course it's written by Amsoil, but I would think test data is test data and if they lie they are open to lawsuit action. Seems the Amsoil Signature Series comes out pretty good. I always look at the "Four-Ball Wear Test (ASTM D 4172 Mod.)" to get an idea of protection for parts under load.

http://www.c66racing-synthetics.com/Files/G-3115.pdf

 

[ZeeOSix]

Originally Posted By: A_Harman
The OLM in GM cars from those years assumed that conventional oil was being used, so on synthetic, you could go much longer.


Since the 1999 Vette came from the factory with full synthetic (Mobil 1, 5w30), I'm betting the OLM in the C5 Vette is calibrated for full synthetic oil, not conventional oil.

 

[Pablo]

Just change it every 12 months, and be aware of the Amsoil haters on this board.

 

[901Memphis]

I'm betting 7500 miles is cake. The uoa should back that up. Sample at 6k and you will know exactly how much longer you can go.

 

[Clevy]

Originally Posted By: 84zmyfavorite
I would have kept using Mobil 1. Why change a Good thing? Sounded Perfect to me up until that Superior, WI 0w30 got poured in. That OCI of Amsoil would turn me away from from a used car purchase. Especially if I had known that Mobil 1 had been used exclusively before the Amsoil poured in. I dont know about that mechanic.


Lets be glad you aren't buying this well maintained cherry corvette then.
Your posts become more absurd by the day.
Let me guess you can just feel this engine wearing out right.

Op. I used amsoil for 10000 runs in my Chevy until cost became a factor and I could get cheaper oil elsewhere.
That oil can do 10000 mile drains easy however a uoa is the only way to know for sure. I certainly wouldn't be changing it yet.

 

[RISUPERCREWMAN]

I change oil when it gets dirty! That's my oil life monitor! Common sense. Lol

 

[Zero]

Originally Posted By: Clevy

This.

I got turned on to AMSOIL back in 2001 after alot of research and looking at the odometers at our company vehicles. All vehicles are sold with 200-250k on the clock.

I just sold a Suburban run exclusively on AMSOIL SSO with 225,000 on the clock; very little oil consumption and ran like a new engine.

Unfortunately AMSOIL is just not economically feasible, even with their Preferred Customer Program. I and my employer are moving back to Pennzoil and/or Mobil 1.

 

[GVS]

Thanks for all the feedback! How can I post PDF a summary of my UOA from Blackstone as an attachment? I'm new to this forum and cannot find a way to attached a file. The 1997-04 Corvettes had Mobil One as their specified oil, which is why I have always used it. I am not expert, but from the UOA results appears the GM Oil Life prediction is pretty accurate.

84zmyfavorite: I usually specifically ask for Mobil One 5W30 for an oil change. This time I just said "synthetic" and this shop uses AMSOIL for synthetic changes due to its extended oil change interval. I use AMSOIL in my wife's Honda CR-V and have been very happy with it, so I "ran with it".

Clevy & Zero: Thanks for sharing your experiences with AMSOIL and GM V8 engines!

 

[dailydriver]

My brother uses 0w30 SSO in his '06 LS2 Vette (one of the quickest and fastest 1/4 mile automatic C6es for his given mods, in the country).

All of you would have him locked up if you knew just how L-O-N-G he leaves that stuff in his sump, despite the hard use/miles/time.

The car/engine runs like the proverbial (somewhat LOUD, yes) "Swiss watch".

I would not have ANY qualms about running this FINE oil in an LSx WHAT SO EVER!!