How Synthetic Oil Is Made

[RDY4WAR]

Thank you for confirming Amsoil doesn't make their own base stocks.

There's very few sources for raw base oils and much of it is tied up in patents. Does it really matter?

Several boutique oil blenders use Mobil 1 sourced metallocene PAO which is not found in any Mobil 1 commercial oil.

Say you bought some shrimp, sausage, flour for the roux, etc... from the local market and your cajun aunt Mrs. Thibodeaux-Lawry made you a killer gumbo, did she make you that gumbo or did the market make you that gumbo? Is the market's store brand low buck frozen gumbo better than her gumbo? If you hesitate on either of those questions, Mrs. Thibodeaux-Lawry will be coming after you with a broom.

 

[Pablo]

I have something to consider because the oil is not tested or released according to the ACEA, API or ILSAC. I don't understand why the XL series has approvals, however, the Signature Series does not have. This simply unsettles you... In terms of analysis, the Signature Series is one of the best oils on the market for me, especially since it also has protection against LSPi. I am considering using the 10W30 SIgnature Series API SP in my Honda K20C1, as I only drive in summer and the noack and LSPi protection are particularly good for direct injections. Can you take away my concerns a little

There is one thing that you keep repeating, "the oil is not tested" - this is simply NOT the case. I am not "unsettled" about this, perhaps it's a language issue. But the truth is the oils ARE tested and quite vigorously, I might add:

Amsoil 10w30

As for why Amsoil does doesn't chase agency approvals on all their motor oils,: There are several reasons, mainly because Amsoil have never wanted their top tier oil formulas controlled by such agencies. They went ahead with XL and the introduction of OE to calm customer's (and shops) worries about warranties.

 

[CarfriendXX]

Thank you for your explanations. I now understand that amsoil does not want the engine oils to be officially "tested" because this would give the formulations and ingredients as well as additive price. This is to be prevented by more than meeting the requirements according to their own tests, but they are "not officially". I can understand this earlier, now I am a little smarter, thank you very much. Especially here in Germany, amsoil is relatively unknown and is used by the part, but when I saw a specially commissioned analysis of the Signature Series, I had to have the oil. I think that the last ambiguities have now been eliminated, thank you

 

[Astro14]

I have something to consider because the oil is not tested or released according to the ACEA, API or ILSAC. I don't understand why the XL series has approvals, however, the Signature Series does not have. This simply unsettles you... In terms of analysis, the Signature Series is one of the best oils on the market for me, especially since it also has protection against LSPi. I am considering using the 10W30 SIgnature Series API SP in my Honda K20C1, as I only drive in summer and the noack and LSPi protection are particularly good for direct injections. Can you take away my concerns a little

The car is out of warranty, right?

My son‘s Volvo is running AMSOIL signature series, 0W30. It’s a high pressure turbo, with an aftermarket down pipe and cat back, driven in temps as low -25F (he lives in Vermont), with frequent use on dirt roads, often on short trips, by a young man who likes “spirited” driving.

About as hard a use pattern as you can get.

The car is doing great after 35,000 miles (less than the life of a set of brakes for said spirited driving) using the AMSOIL. His car has been the one to start in those temps so that he can, on those frigid cold mornings, jump his room-mate’s dead Toyota and Nissan.

That help?

 

[Astro14]

There's very few sources for raw base oils and much of it is tied up in patents. Does it really matter?

Several boutique oil blenders use Mobil 1 sourced metallocene PAO which is not found in any Mobil 1 commercial oil.

Say you bought some shrimp, sausage, flour for the roux, etc... from the local market and your cajun aunt Mrs. Thibodeaux-Lawry made you a killer gumbo, did she make you that gumbo or did the market make you that gumbo? Is the market's store brand low buck frozen gumbo better than her gumbo? If you hesitate on either of those questions, Mrs. Thibodeaux-Lawry will be coming after you with a broom.

That is a great analogy.

Like cooking, the selection of ingredients, their proportion, the art and skill of making the thing, determine the performance of the final product.

 

[CarfriendXX]

Yes, my vehicle is already out of warranty. Therefore, I can actually use everything. Thanks for the explanations, now I have become a little smarter. I think I will order the amsoil, we have a very good Amsoil dealer here in Germany. I will share my experience.

 

[Astro14]

Yes, my vehicle is already out of warranty. Therefore, I can actually use everything. Thanks for the explanations, now I have become a little smarter. I think I will order the amsoil, we have a very good Amsoil dealer here in Germany. I will share my experience.

I didn't realize that you were in Germany - a difficult market for oil because of cost. Every brand of oil over there is so expensive, I can see why you're being selective...

 

[kschachn]

Thank you for your explanations. I now understand that amsoil does not want the engine oils to be officially "tested" because this would give the formulations and ingredients as well as additive price. This is to be prevented by more than meeting the requirements according to their own tests, but they are "not officially". I can understand this earlier, now I am a little smarter, thank you very much. Especially here in Germany, amsoil is relatively unknown and is used by the part, but when I saw a specially commissioned analysis of the Signature Series, I had to have the oil. I think that the last ambiguities have now been eliminated, thank you

Obtaining licenses and approvals does not reveal the formulation of the oil. That's not what Pablo said.

 

[High Performance Lubricants]

I will say that few people on BITOG have a million dollar lab to look at things from a real vs emotional point of view. The times I have looked at Amsoil products, I have never found them to produce a product outside of their published spec. I can also tell you that is not always the case with other brands. We occasionally see products that do not meet published specs. Amsoil makes good products without question.

David

 

[CB22]

Very interesting article.
Enjoy!

It's a great little series. I was surprised with the size of the Amsoil facility. I always thought it was some ol timers in a big barn, with grandma cranking a manual mixer, mixing the additives. They look to be as modern as the Chevron refinery I spent 25 years in.

I think I'll switch to Amsoil 0/20 after I deplete my supply of PUP.

 

[CarfriendXX]

I had read once that amsoil does not fall off myself but has it filled. This means that they do not have their own production facilities. After video, I somehow can't really believe this anymore. Do you know more about that?

 

[PimTac]

I had read once that amsoil does not fall off myself but has it filled. This means that they do not have their own production facilities. After video, I somehow can't really believe this anymore. Do you know more about that?

Not sure I understand your question.

 

[CarfriendXX]

I heard that amsoil does not fill their products into the containers itself, but has them done by another forma. They determine the ingredients and formulations but allegedly do not have their own factory to fill their engine oils. Is that really the case? After the video I don't think ..

 

[Pablo]

I heard that amsoil does not fill their products into the containers itself, but has them done by another forma. They determine the ingredients and formulations but allegedly do not have their own factory to fill their engine oils. Is that really the case? After the video I don't think ..

Somebody told you wrong information.

Amsoil has always bottled their own oil - IN FACT they bottle some other brands as well.

 

[CarfriendXX]

Thanks very much. Now i will order some litre bottles for my Honda Civic Type r. Thanks all for your Informations
Merry Christmas

 

[ctrcbob]

Does Lanxess, formerly known as Chemtura, sell the PAO they make, to Amsoil.

I have a friend who worked at Chemtura. He brought me a very small vial of PAO that they made.

 

[CarfriendXX]

Amsoil Signature Series baseoil is always PAO? Group 4 and 5, Right?
For me very Important is LSPI, the be w API SP. Thats very important and very good by amsoil.

 

[IndyFan]

I'd give Amsoil a try if it weren't for their wonky marketing and very high price. Hard to beat a 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 EP 0w20 for $24 at my local Wally World, though. I just can't stomach $75 for 5 quarts of Amsoil Signature. It ain't $50 better.

But great video. Looks like they work very hard at creating a top quality product.

 

[wpod]

Amsoil makes a high quality product. I have used it but I can't see paying the higher prices. Oil from the majors cost less and allow engine life longer that the ownership of the vehicle.

 

[CB22]

I'd give Amsoil a try if it weren't for their wonky marketing and very high price. Hard to beat a 5 quart jug of Mobil 1 EP 0w20 for $24 at my local Wally World, though. I just can't stomach $75 for 5 quarts of Amsoil Signature. It ain't $50 better.

But great video. Looks like they work very hard at creating a top quality product.

If you want a Group 3 synthetic(like Mobil1) the Amsoil OE group 3 is $25. per gallon.

I was a Redline user for decades, but lately the Amsoil Gear oil cost a lot less than Redline.