Mobil 1 vs Amsoil Case Study

[frank_f15]

Amen, 3k changes with today's oil? It's all pretty good.

It's got to be a waste of money.

not only a waste of $$$ but also a waste of oil.

 

[kenmac]

In the 31 years I worked in lube oil production design/startup/etc (until 1998). I NEVER heard of Amsoil. Be interesting to know whether they buy their base stock (like Castrol do) or make their own and whether it's from PAO or hydrotreated. Mobil 1 is a true synthetic made from Poly Alpha

Amsoil uses 100% pure PAO base stock. They
use to buy from mobil & other suppliers. Don't know if they still buy from mobil

 

[ray66v]

I was suprised to see the Amsoil 5w30 turn into 15w40 after 10K. If I wasted to run a 15w40 oil, I would run a good diesel synthetic.... I have never used Amsoil, and that article will keep me with mobil 1...

I am sure both of these companies have done extensive testing on these products, and their results varied.

Its just ONE study, I would not draw any conclusions, either way, based on one study. While this study has the appearance of a well performed test, there could be flaws, or possibly bias. Also, apparently, the manufacturer's were not given a chance to review the tests, the data, and respond? If this is indeed correct, it will certainly show up elsewhere.

 

[DieselPower]

Just looked at the data. Interesting that metals kind of level off at around 12k. TBN (total basic nitrogen) keeps going down. It's a measurement of corrosivity of the oil, less means the oil can be more corrosive, but the data show that the metals aren't going up after about 12k miles.

Ralph

Actually TBN stands for total base number (or tractor by net ), and is a measurement of the oils reserve alkalinity (reserve capacity to neutralize acid). It is NOT a measurement of the oils corrosion properties. It is a guideline used to estimate the ability of the additive package to neutralize acid contamination.

 

[DieselPower]

Did anyone else happen to notice that the two graphs are exactly the same?

 

[RWEST]

I always thought, 12 or 15k on motor oil, was a little nutty

Back when Mobil 1 first came out, with its claims of "Good for 25,000 miles", the hype pulled me in. I ran 2 Broncos (351 Windsors) and an Expedition (5.4L) doing 20K OCI's, changing filter every 4K, and never had any problems - got over 100,000 on each vehicle before trading them in. No knocks/ticks/rattles.. I do wonder what an analysis would have shown, and what the inside of the engines looked like, tho...

 

[nmu98]

I am sure both of these companies have done extensive testing on these products, and their results varied.

Its just ONE study, I would not draw any conclusions, either way, based on one study. While this study has the appearance of a well performed test, there could be flaws, or possibly bias. Also, apparently, the manufacturer's were not given a chance to review the tests, the data, and respond? If this is indeed correct, it will certainly show up elsewhere.

I guess i need to add that Mobil 1 is so easy for me to buy, and I have to work to get amsoil... Your right, i doubt either compnay makes bad oil. I guess that story just gave me the warm and fuzzy feeling i needed to stop wondering about using amsoil.

 

[dogtired]

Valvoline SYNpower offers 4x wear protection than Mobil1

4 times better than Mobil 1

 

[KML]

Valvoline SYNpower offers 4x wear protection than Mobil1

4 times better than Mobil 1

Buyer beware:

Valvoline and Castrol both use hydrocracked petroleum base stock in their "synthetics". In many countries those oils can't even be called synthetic but Castrol filed a law suite and won oil companies the ability to market any heavily modified petroleum base stock oil as a synthetic in the good ole' USA.

This isn't an attack against these companies, heck, I use valvoline 50W racing oil by the case because it's one of the best oils in it's class but their "synthetics" aren't all their marketing departments give them credit for. I'm not saying they're bad oils, just not made using the same process that Mobil 1 and many of the other, more expensive, synthetic oils use.

 

[Tig]

Ahh, the good old oil discussion......
One of our favorites around here