Interesting claim by Amsoil

[The Critic]

Timing belts are predictable. $800 at a local mechanic for OEM parts (Timing Belt, Tensioner, water pump, oil seals) and labor.

It will be about $3k for the timing belt kit, plugs and valve adjust over here.

 

[Tom NJ]

In a well run company, Marketing determines what product criteria they need in order to compete in a given target market, which includes product claims and cost. The R&D group then formulates to the criteria set by Marketing. If Marketing needs a lower cost to compete, then a robust formulation may need to be "dumbed down". If they instead need a performance claim, R&D may need to turn to more expensive ingredients. It's different for each company and product.

For the vast majority of consumers, labeled product claims carry more weight than specifications met.

 

[demarpaint]

It will be about $3k for the timing belt kit, plugs and valve adjust over here.

Wow that's quite a price disparity. It sounds almost like comparing estimates for painting and paperhanging here on L.I.

 

[Heywood_6078]

I'm not trying to stir up an argument here, but this caught my attention. This is not the first time I've read something like this.

https://blog.amsoil.com/amsoil-crushes-sequence-iiih-engine-test/

"When a competitor’s oil easily passes an industry-standard test, they often reformulate to reduce cost and performance to where it barely passes the test."

I'm in no way advocating for Amsoil but, I did find this concerning Liqui Moly
and Amsoil. Pertaining to adding Liqui Moly to Amsoil motor oil.
I myself am using Havoline Pro DS now in all our vehicles. Having great luck and
performance with it.
Use to use Amsoil but the cost is why I changed.
https://synlubepros.com/blog/posts/tips/moly-in-engine-oil

 

[Revving2Redline]

Sports analogy; All you need is one more run/point/goal than the other team for a win.

apparently not.....

 

[BillyHW]

Since there is zero published data comparing actual oil performance, what incentive is there to crush the tests unless that’s your angle like most of the boutique vendors?

Now we have Project Farm.

 

[TiGeo]

Now we have Project Farm.

#Oilicelugeislyfe

 

[Ohio91]

I'm not trying to stir up an argument here, but this caught my attention. This is not the first time I've read something like this.

https://blog.amsoil.com/amsoil-crushes-sequence-iiih-engine-test/

"When a competitor’s oil easily passes an industry-standard test, they often reformulate to reduce cost and performance to where it barely passes the test."

Its good oil but I dont trust an oil that refuses to get officially licensed by a manufacturer.

 

[nascarnation]

"the lab manager said the techs were lined up in the test cell to watch the engine run…and some were even taking pictures."

This was the best laugh I've had in a long time. But you have to give Amsoil credit, they've been around a long time and make impressive amounts of money.

 

[DGXR]

I'll state the obvious here: an oil that passes a test will perform as expected, that's what these tests are for. "Crushing" a test is not measurable. "Crushing" a test is conjecture and marketing intended to create hype. If you want a more robust oil, find one that passes a tougher test or meets a higher spec. Amsoil makes a great product, but if they want effective marketing, their articles need to provide more hard data on their market competition. Said another way: the article brags about the Amsoil results regarding piston cleanliness and increased oil viscosity after the test, but doesn't mention these results from other oil brands... maybe Pennzoil Platinum, Castrol Edge or Mobil 1 would "destroy" the test LOL.

 

[TimeFlies]

They should run the test for 750 hours, the recommended hours per oil change for a Detroit DD16.

Although I change mine about every 500 hours, or 6 weeks.

 

[SubieRubyRoo]

It’s good oil but I dont trust an oil that refuses to get officially licensed by a manufacturer.

This is an honest question… do you know the cost of the tests required to pass an oil certification? Now, do you know how many quarts of a given product the mfr sells? Since I have no clue but have seen 7 figures mentioned by those who had done or participated, let’s do some math.

In our completely arbitrary example, let’s pretend Amsoil sells 10,000 quarts of SSO, and the testing cost is $1,000,000. That’s $100/qt to license that oil. That’s even ignoring the dexos license fee of $0.09/qt. At 1,0000 quarts, it’s $1.09/qt in fees, and at 10,000,000 quarts, it adds a mere $0.20/qt.

This makes it super simple to see why low volume oils rarely pay full certification tests, and also why almost every shelf oil for PCEO has it; can’t have the competition with a high-volume “extra”, yet $0.20/qt is insignificant since they will just bump the price $0.50-1.00 to make their expected profit point.

 

[Rogueman2016s]

Anything you can do… I can do better lol come on now any oil I could buy locally at a fraction of amsoil cost will perform and protect all modern engines turbocharged and n/a

 

[Sonny88]

AMSOIL is a great oil.
If you don't want to buy it, you don't have to.
There are some off the shelf oils that members on here worship, that I'll never put in my cars.

 

[H. Swanson]

I'll just say that every time I've brought up Amsoil SS to any mechanic, they rave about it. This has included two shop foremen at dealerships and independent shops. Getting a sticker doesn't mean much to me as someone who wants top-notch oil.

 

[TimeFlies]

I'll just say that every time I've brought up Amsoil SS to any mechanic, they rave about it. This has included two shop foremen at dealerships and independent shops. Getting a sticker doesn't mean much to me as someone who wants top-notch oil.

It means a lot to people like myself, my boss, coworkers, shops, and many others.

 

[chris719]

This is an honest question… do you know the cost of the tests required to pass an oil certification? Now, do you know how many quarts of a given product the mfr sells? Since I have no clue but have seen 7 figures mentioned by those who had done or participated, let’s do some math.

In our completely arbitrary example, let’s pretend Amsoil sells 10,000 quarts of SSO, and the testing cost is $1,000,000. That’s $100/qt to license that oil. That’s even ignoring the dexos license fee of $0.09/qt. At 1,0000 quarts, it’s $1.09/qt in fees, and at 10,000,000 quarts, it adds a mere $0.20/qt.

This makes it super simple to see why low volume oils rarely pay full certification tests, and also why almost every shelf oil for PCEO has it; can’t have the competition with a high-volume “extra”, yet $0.20/qt is insignificant since they will just bump the price $0.50-1.00 to make their expected profit point.

Yep. This is why I respect what Ravenol does. I may give VST a try once the SP formula hits here.

 

[TiGeo]

Its good oil but I dont trust an oil that refuses to get officially licensed by a manufacturer.

At this point in 2023 your lack of trust isn't backed by any measure of real-world use experience by many Amsoil users. Do you not trust HPL because of the same reason? I get the desire for tested/approved oils BTW but trust with these two companies isn't at the root of it.

 

[SumGuy]

At this point in 2023 your lack of trust isn't backed by any measure of real-world use experience by many Amsoil users. Do you not trust HPL because of the same reason? I get the desire for tested/approved oils BTW but trust with these two companies isn't at the root of it.

Can HPL be added to the acronym list, first post?

 

[cheesepuffs2]

Can HPL be added to the acronym list, first post?

A company called High Performance Lubricants.