Ranking Amsoil Oils

[buster]

Amsoil has quite an extensive line of synthetic oils now. It's prettying obvious what they are doing. Less people will be changing their own oil in the future.

The XL oils look really good. I'm really curious if their top tier line is really any better? By Jan they should all be GF-5 I'm told.

 

[oilboy123]

I don't think the OE/XL are real close to the higher end Amsoil oils yet, but they are getting closer.

I guess as the Boomers age they are feeling less motivated to change their own oil.....
I'm not their yet, but I am a boomer.

 

[galaxy]

Currently, the top line doesn't list a SN or GF5...curious to see if this will be updated? I know tons of people who don't run the SSO, ASL, ASM, etc due solely to warranty concerns.

 

[sangyup81]

If I had to take a quick guess, their top of the line doesn't use any Group III, the XL uses some Group III, and the OE uses all Group III.

That or they find some other way to save the $$ to make OE and XL cheaper than the SSO and ASL.

 

[Steve S]

Most people do not run the Amsoil long enough to need their long life oils in the first place.

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: buster
The XL oils look really good. I'm really curious if their top tier line is really any better? By Jan they should all be GF-5 I'm told.


Amsoil claims their top line oils they are better, they claim they last longer, they generally have superior specs across the board, I'd say it is safe to say their top line oils are "better" oils. But we know where this conversation goes from here. "Are they better for 5K OCIs?" "Do they provide less wear?" "Do they return better UOAs?" "Are they worth the extra expense in a stock 2010 Toyota Corolla?"

The API and ILSAC standards are great for keeping the less expensive oils in line, but I honestly don't think they mean much when talking about $9-$15 a quart oils from reputable companies. If Amsoil, Red Line, Motul (300V), etc. can't blend an ultra-premium oil that won't pass basic API engine tests with flying colors (besides the zinc and phosphorus caps) they should just go out of business now.

 

[CompSyn]

Originally Posted By: galaxy
Currently, the top line doesn't list a SN or GF5...curious to see if this will be updated? I know tons of people who don't run the SSO, ASL, ASM, etc due solely to warranty concerns.


The top line SSO, ASL, ASM will become SN/GF-5 sometime during the first quarter of 2011.

 

[Ben99GT]

Originally Posted By: CompSyn
Originally Posted By: galaxy
Currently, the top line doesn't list a SN or GF5...curious to see if this will be updated? I know tons of people who don't run the SSO, ASL, ASM, etc due solely to warranty concerns.


The top line SSO, ASL, ASM will become SN/GF-5 sometime during the first quarter of 2011.


Are they going to actually be API licensed, because they aren't now.

 

[CompSyn]

Originally Posted By: Ben99GT
Originally Posted By: CompSyn
Originally Posted By: galaxy
Currently, the top line doesn't list a SN or GF5...curious to see if this will be updated? I know tons of people who don't run the SSO, ASL, ASM, etc due solely to warranty concerns.


The top line SSO, ASL, ASM will become SN/GF-5 sometime during the first quarter of 2011.


Are they going to actually be API licensed, because they aren't now.


Fortunately no, Amsoil’s top tier synthetics will continue to NOT be API licensed. Those who want Amsoil formulated synthetics that are fully API licensed can choose from the entry level OE or the next step up, XL.

 

[buster]

So what changes are being made then? Is Amsoil not up to where they should be?

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: CompSyn
Originally Posted By: galaxy
Currently, the top line doesn't list a SN or GF5...curious to see if this will be updated? I know tons of people who don't run the SSO, ASL, ASM, etc due solely to warranty concerns.


The top line SSO, ASL, ASM will become SN/GF-5 sometime during the first quarter of 2011.


Why the delay? I thought it would be a matter of a simple label change. I thought they exceeded the spec. I could swear I read that here a few months back. I wish I could find the thread.

 

[Torino]

Those API ratings are very expensive to obtain. Are they worth it? probably not if your product just plain performs. Its a bit like a personal resume'. You either produce or you don't. Just my opinion. John--Las Vegas.

 

[CompSyn]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: CompSyn
Originally Posted By: galaxy
Currently, the top line doesn't list a SN or GF5...curious to see if this will be updated? I know tons of people who don't run the SSO, ASL, ASM, etc due solely to warranty concerns.


The top line SSO, ASL, ASM will become SN/GF-5 sometime during the first quarter of 2011.


Why the delay? I thought it would be a matter of a simple label change. I thought they exceeded the spec. I could swear I read that here a few months back. I wish I could find the thread.


I'm not sure why. But if I had to guess, it's because Amsoil first focused on their API licensed products within the XL line in addition to bringing the new API licensed OE line to market November 1st.

It's also interesting to note that if you go to API EOLCS licensee Directory found here:http://eolcs.api.org/ Amsoil is one of the first companies to have API licensed SN/GF-5 products listed.

Others have yet to update their lists to include SN/GF-5:

CONOCOPHILLIPS COMPANY, EXXONMOBIL OIL CORPORATION, SHELL LUBRICANTS - SOPUS PRODUCTS, SCHAEFFER MANUFACTURING COMPANY, THE VALVOLINE COMPANY, QUAKER STATE CORPORATION, PENNZOIL PRODUCTS COMPANY.

 

[Gary Allan]

I'm waiting to hear that it's obvious that Amsoil was premature in getting licensed since all the majors haven't done it yet.

It's probably requires a committee or dept to clear the paperwork to submit to API for the major blenders.

 

[buster]

So GF-5/SN do matter then? I mean, Amsoil is upgrading their chemistry to meet this spec right? I have a feeling it's a fuel economy issue.

Everyone rants and raves about how API specs are meaningless.....hmmm

 

[CompSyn]

Originally Posted By: buster
So GF-5/SN do matter then? I mean, Amsoil is upgrading their chemistry to meet this spec right? I have a feeling it's a fuel economy issue.

Everyone rants and raves about how API specs are meaningless.....hmmm


Not meaningless but I believe the API officially licensed engine oils are important to those who prefer officially licensed engine oils. However, others who prefer maximum performance engine oil formulations not limited to API standards and inflexibility in manufacturing have that covered too.

Since Amsoil makes both API officially licensed engine oils and top tier synthetics that exceed the API specs, there’s something for everyone. Choice is good!

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: CompSyn
Originally Posted By: buster
So GF-5/SN do matter then? I mean, Amsoil is upgrading their chemistry to meet this spec right? I have a feeling it's a fuel economy issue.

Everyone rants and raves about how API specs are meaningless.....hmmm


Not meaningless but I believe the API officially licensed engine oils are important to those who prefer officially licensed engine oils. However, others who prefer maximum performance engine oil formulations not limited to API standards and inflexibility in manufacturing have that covered too.

Since Amsoil makes both API officially licensed engine oils and top tier synthetics that exceed the API specs, there’s something for everyone. Choice is good!


The flip side is officially licensed engine oils can also exceed the API specs too. They are also top tier synthetic oils, that are actually recognized by the API, and not below the radar. PU, PP, Edge and a few others come to mind.

 

[Mike_dup1]

AMSOIL's reasoning.............

Quote:
AMSOIL OE Synthetic Motor Oils are ideal for capturing increased sales in the installer market. Because they are API-certified (meet API SN/ILSAC GF-5 requirements), recommended for OEM drain intervals and competitively priced, they effectively overcome all potential objections from installers. Installers now have a choice between offering their customers standard drain intervals with
OE Synthetic Motor Oils, extended drain intervals with XL ynthetic Motor Oils, or both.

Although OEM-recommended drain
intervals continue to rise, the installer
market has mostly been resistant to this
change. In fact, 90 percent of do-itfor-
me (DIFM) oil change businesses
continue to recommend 3,000-mile drain
intervals to their customers. The DIFM
market is expected to account for 80
percent of all oil changes by 2018, and
penetrating this market is essential to
ensure future growth.

 

[buster]

Makes a lot of sense to me. My point was though, what is Amsoil testing to ensure GF-5/SN compliance?

 

[CompSyn]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Originally Posted By: CompSyn
Originally Posted By: buster
So GF-5/SN do matter then? I mean, Amsoil is upgrading their chemistry to meet this spec right? I have a feeling it's a fuel economy issue.

Everyone rants and raves about how API specs are meaningless.....hmmm


Not meaningless but I believe the API officially licensed engine oils are important to those who prefer officially licensed engine oils. However, others who prefer maximum performance engine oil formulations not limited to API standards and inflexibility in manufacturing have that covered too.

Since Amsoil makes both API officially licensed engine oils and top tier synthetics that exceed the API specs, there’s something for everyone. Choice is good!


The flip side is officially licensed engine oils can also exceed the API specs too. They are also top tier synthetic oils, that are actually recognized by the API, and not below the radar. PU, PP, Edge and a few others come to mind.


PU, PP, and Edge are Group III synthetics. Top Tier synthetics are commonly referred to as Group IV/V - PAO/Ester formulations.

What Amsoil is saying is that the API specs are set for petroleum based "refined" Group II and IIIs which gives way to limitations on the PAO/Ester formulations.

Originally Posted By: buster
Makes a lot of sense to me. My point was though, what is Amsoil testing to ensure GF-5/SN compliance?


Not sure! Maybe Amsoil can confirm compliance in their own in-house lab. Or maybe they confirm compliance with an independent lab like SwRI. Either way, since Amsoil has a number of XL and OE oils that are officially API SN/GF-5 licensed, they must know what it takes to formulate a product that beats the spec.

In the end we are taking Amsoil's word that the non-licensed oil does in fact meet or beat the specs. Can we trust Amsoil?