More confused than ever...

[AEA]

After searching for a while, I'm more confused than ever!

Was going to stick with M1, but think I'll try Amsoil for the next "round!"

Planning on running Amsoil 5w-40 "european" in the BMW and Grand Cherokee 5.2. What do you guys think?

BMW has about 200k miles (highway miles) and now is used for short trips. Jeep has about 95k miles and is used for long trips.

What do you rec for OCI? Hoping long, not sure how long?

Thank, again, for the help

 

[427Z06]

quote:

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Originally posted by AEA:
After searching for a while, I'm more confused than ever!

Was going to stick with Mobil 1, but think I'll try Amsoil for the next "round!"

Planning on running Amsoil 5w-40 "european" in the BMW and Grand Cherokee 5.2. What do you guys think?

BMW has about 200k miles (highway miles) and now is used for short trips. Jeep has about 95k miles and is used for long trips.

What do you rec for OCI? Hoping long, not sure how long?

Thank, again, for the help

---

BMWs like Mobil 1 0w40 or the Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w40...Chryslers's 5.2 probably like something in a SAE 30 range. I'd run Mobil 1 Truck and SUV 5w40 in the BMW, Mobil 1 Extended Performance 10w30 in the Jeep. People who actually own these vehicles might have a better opinion.

 

[jtantare]

What year and model BMW?

 

[TooSlick]

I'd use the Amsoil Series 3000, 5w30 in the BMW and change the oil on the basis of the oil life monitor. If you don't have one of these, I'd change the oil and OEM oil filter every 10,000 miles or one year. The reason for this short service interval is that high mileage engines tend to contaminate the oil more quickly. The best thing to do of course is to test several different batches of oil and determine a conservative service interval based on that data. Terry Dyson can best assist you in that test process ....

In the Jeep application I'd run the Amsoil "Series 3000", 5w30 and change it at 15,000 miles or one year - whichever comes first. I'd change the Amsoil oil filter (or Mobil 1 filter) @ 7500 miles or six months - whichever comes first.
Don't forget to top off the crankcase after the filter change at six months....

To answer your question - Yes, the Series 3000 is a superior oil to the Amsoil 5w-40 - even for these high end European applications. If you look at Amsoils on-line store you'll see the S3000 meets all the same OEM European specs as the 5w-40.

Tooslick

 

[Pablo]

On the other hand the 5W-40 will work fine and save you almost $3 quart (retail). Nothing wrong with the S3K 5w30 and I, too, recommend it for longer OCI's - but if you keep the OCI under 15,000 miles the 5W-40 will work great.

 

[buster]

If I were to rate Amsoil's top 3 oils for gas engines they would be:

1. S3k
2. AFL 5w-40
3. S2k

The regular stuff is good too, but I don't see the value in it anymore compared to the new Mobil 1 Extended Performance stuff. Even if it is the same GF-3, which it's not due to the increased Boron levels. With a PC discount, I'd go with the 3 above. That is Amsoil's top of the line.

 

[Pablo]

OTOH we have yet to see what is so special about M1's EP to justify the large cost increase - (we ALL know REALLY why the price went up and it has little to do with a truly better product)

 

[buster]

quote:

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OTOH we have yet to see what is so special about M1's EP to justify the large cost increase

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True. What Tooslick said could be true. I'm perfectly happy with a GF-3 M1 regardless, but it's a fact that boron is much higher then any GF-3 M1. I see the stuff sold for $5.36qt at Walmart. When you add shipping costs to Amsoil ASL/ATM, I just think it's a tough sell at this point. Nothing against Amsoil, just how I see it. I've said for awhile now that as a boutique blender, I want to see pure dominance compared to anything sold at the retail level. If Amsoil would have made a kick @ss 5w-20 PAO with a HT/HS of 3.3, I'd be using that stuff. The new specs don't appeal to me at all. When you get down to it, what really seperates Amsoil's XL line from say a Pennzoil/MC 5w-20 blend? Not much if anything at this point. AJ constantly talks about formulating to meet a price point and how Amsoil doesn't do that. BS, they do the same exact thing.