Sounds like whatever you are using is working fine for you.<br /><br />Seeing that you are in Calif., I do know that the 4 liters like a 40 wt oil, so I would suggest with the miles you have using an HDDO, (Heavy Duty Diesel Oil) in a 15W-40. Dello 400 is a great oil. Also a Hydrocracked petrolium oil that has a lot of bang for the buck. This is requested if you have taken care of this vehicle, and changed oil regularly, (Which it appears you probably did) If there is major sludge build-up, the HDDOs will soften the deposits and could cause problems. If you feel it is a clean engine, you will be fine. You could go easily 5,000 miles between changes with this oil, and as much as 7,500 if most of your driving is highway.<br /><br />If you have been using a 10W-30 oil, you may notice a very slight loss in fuel economy, minor at best though.<br /><br />Watch it for the first 1,000 miles, and if it seems to get dirty very fast, change it at 2,000. Its going to clean your engine as you drive even if you think it is clean.
Sorry, I got busy.<br /><br />This is entirely up to you, I have seen it go both ways, If your engine is well maintained, you should be fine, I changed my Ford Ranger over at over 100,000 miles and had no problems at all, if you have any leeks now, they will be worse with synthetics, if it is a seal leaking and it isnt cracked, the leak should stop durring the first oil change. Esters have a way of softening seals and helping them seal better after a short tirm. If it is a gasket, it will get worse and stay worse. Just get it fixed like you should anyway.<br /><br />What is your reason for possably wanting to change?
It is a synthetic.<br /><br />The Council of Better Business Bureau's National Advertising Division (NAD) ruled that "synthetic" is a marketing term. The ruling spells out that it is the responsibility of the marketer who is labeling the oil to define what it is.<br /><br />The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) removed all definitions of "synthetic" from their specifications relating to oils.<br /><br />The American Petroleum Institute (API) does not define what a "synthetic" is.<br /><br />Synthetics from highly refined group III base stocks perform similarly to other types of synthetics. They far exceed most engine requirements and cost much less. Consumers demand them because they can get the basic performance of a synthetic without the cost of a group IV or V base oil. For many engine owners it makes more sense to spend a third less money (over oils like Amsoil) for more than enough engine protection.<br /><br />Member LubeDude, you are defining "synthetic" only in Amsoil's terms. Like most oil marketers, Amsoil believes their synthetic is the "best" and all others should follow. They have gone to great extent to convince potential buyers and distributors of their product the same.<br /><br />
Unfortunately Amsoil hasn't convinced anyone of that. Amsoil still can not get their high-phosphorus oil API certified. They have not convinced the oil and additive industries, vehicle and engine manufacturers like Ford, GM, Daimler-Chrysler, the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association, or the Engine Manufacturers Association. They have not convinced the technical societies and trade associations such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), Society for Automotive Engineers (SAE), and American Chemistry Council (ACC).<br /><br />
That is Amsoil's exact word-for-word sales statement. <br /><br />We really have no idea what quality or type of base stocks Amsoil uses, or how much PAO is in their oils. There is no indication of what makes their synthetic PAO oil any different from other synthetic PAO oils.<br /><br />
Drew Chemical Corporation, in conjunction with Mobil Chemical, developed and patented the first polyol ester synthetics in 1958. Mobil Oil's Jet Engine Oil II was based on the fluids produced at Drew Chemical. <br /><br />The first "synthetic" was actually synthesized by C. Friedler and J.M. Crafts in 1877. Standard Oil synthesized hydrocarbons in 1929. The first polyalphaolefins (PAO's) were synthesized in 1937. A lot of development went on in the 40's and 50's by several companies. In 1968 the U.S. Army developed the MIL-L-46167 specification, which was only satisfied with a PAO synthetic oil. In 1972 AMSOIL was formed. They re-labeled the MIL specification oils and marketed them to the motoring public through a multi-level "pyramid" type organization.
No cringe from me. Some here are very partial to certain oils, claiming theirs is the "best" and finding fault with others. But really the API has taken the guess work out of worrying about what oil to use. Meeting the vehicle's oil specification and maintaining it are what's important. I have absolutely no problem using a bargin sale oil if it meets the spec. And I used to test oils for a living. Both the Mobil and Castrol are excellent oils.
I believe you're repeating what I've already said in my first post: "Many years later Amsoil followed and simply marketed their synthetic to the public first."<br /><br />The importance of who marketed an oil first is irrellevant today, 2005. It is the history behind synthetic invention and development that is facinating. Amsoil had little to do with that.<br /><br />Amsoil uses the illusion that being "first" is somehow identified with quality, superiority, value, and performance. As with any product marketed, that is simply not true. Member LubeDude's statement that other oils are still "catching up" is example of that.<br /><br /><br />
Per legal ruling, that is exactly what the oil industry does. It's the way it is.<br /><br /><br />
Please check your grouping. Group IV is the PAO base stock. Group V are esters. <br /><br />Amsoil consists mostly of group IV PAO's along with a very small percentage of group V esters.<br /><br />I will reiterate once more that oil grouping is used for interchangeability and read-across formulation. It is not a performance measurement.<br /><br />Group III synthetic oils are fine oils. Because an oil is highly refined from a petroleum base does not make it inferior. There are benefits to a petroleum based oil.
Amsoil is a fine oil, as most PAO oils are. But there is nothing special about it.<br /><br />As an oil professional I do question quality and consistency of Amsoil.<br /><br />The API uses consistent professional industry standards, controlled testing, unbiased third-parting checks and balances, and a quality control enforcement program for all the oils they certify. <br /><br />Amsoil does their own thing. They pay people to test their own oils and they interpret and provide their own results. They only say they meet the specs. Consumers have to totally rely on marketing's word. Amsoil is one of the few oils that can not become API licensed because it does not meet the API standards.<br /><br />I have not personally tested Amsoil motor oil in a laboratory. My experience with Amsoil comes strictly from using it for years in my own vehicles. I stopped using it because it did not live up to claims of improved mileage, better performance, cost savings, or less wear, etc. In fact in many cases petroleum oil was better. For the cost, Amsoil did not make sense. Other less expensive oils performed as well or better.<br /><br />
Member LubeDude I understand that you sell Amsoil and you are very passionate about your brand. But what exactly do you mean by "beat any oil hands down"? Do you mean price, availability, performance, protection, etc? Please explain. For example what makes it better than Synlube, Redline, Royal Purple, or Mobil, and why? I would like your words, not Amsoil's. Thank you.
It is not "better" for many consumers. <br /><br />It does not meet the API specification (warranty) for most vehicles. It is extremely expensive. It is not readily available. It provides no better mileage, performance, and engine protection than other less expensive 100% synthetic oils that are API certified.
I Appreciate your feedback.Can you answer one other question?Does Amsoil not meet the API standards because the company will not subject its oil to the testing standards or because it won't pass the standards?Thanks.
Several of Amsoils oils in fact are API Certified, I dont have the information as to which ones here with me at the time, but the reason isnt that they are not good oils, Its because your government and manufactures have decided that certain chemicals such as phosphorus can only be at a certain level for certain reasons. Amsoil wouldnt meet those standards as they believe they should be there for the extended drain intervals. There feelings is that Phosphorus isnt a problem with a healthy converter and will not kill one with the amount they actually use. This is the reason that the new oils are not a good choice for older flat tappet cammed vehicles. They have lowered the amount of certain Additives that are essential for these to servive, like ZDDP and phosphorus and why I reccomend an HDDO for these older vehicles.<br /><br />My reson for using Amsoil has allways been only if you are going to extend your drain intervals, At this point, it is the "ONLY" oil that is actually designed for this purpose.
The EPA oil definitions you mention can be found in 40CFR435. But they refer to drilling oils that are used with drill machinery to extract oil and gas from the ground. Not much to do with motor oil. <br /><br />Drilling oils have an environmental impact when in direct contact with soil or water (usually in the form of drill cuttings). Synthetics react differently than petroleum oils when in contact with the environment and they produce a different biodegradation rate ratio. The EPA has established drilling oil definitions so their environmental regulations could be followed clearly by oil drilling companies.<br /><br />Actually, the Clean Water Act, Section 311(a)(1) defines "oil" as, "oil in any kind or in any form including, but not limited to, petroleum, fuel oil, sludge, oil refuse, and oil mixed with wastes other than dredged spoil." According to the EPA, they have interpreted this definition to include crude oil, petroleum and petroleum-refined products, as well as non-petroleum oils such as synthetics, vegetable, and animal oils.<br /><br />But it doesn't matter what the EPA classifies oils as. The EPA has no regulation on motor oil makers. Believe it or not, oil companies could bottle anything and sell it as motor oil. Thus we have the API to standardize oils and ensure consumer confidence. <br /><br />The EPA is only concerned with emissions that the engine produces (using whatever oil/substance the auto manufacturer recommends). They are also concerned with environmental impacts when the oil is extracted from the ground (ie: the use of drilling oil) and how oil is disposed of as used oil (the EPA defines "used oil" as any synthetic or petroleum oil).<br /><br />Mobil used the EPA's definition of drilling oils as argument in the Castrol "synthetic" case. It did not work. The EPA definitions have absolutely nothing to do with manufacturing automotive oil.<br /><br />The problem with defining "synthetic" is that it would limit synthetic oil to one formula, and probably one brand. No synthetic oil contains 100% synthetic oil. There are additives, etc. Each synthetic formula is different, and everyone's interpretation of what is "best" is different. Some oil makers could simply put .0001% "synthetic" in their petroleum oil and call it "synthetic" oil, while others use 75% group IV PAO.<br /><br />Clearly there is a reason why the courts did not want to define "synthetic". There is no reason why a "synthetic" oil maker can't label his oil with exactly what's in it. And there is no reason consumers can't think for themselves. <br /><br /><br />
According to the API, of all the Amsoil oils only the lesser XL-7500 and the semi-synthetic blend are certified.<br /><br />
Two problems. First, not everyone uses Amsoil as an extended drain oil. Without the extended drains the Phosphorus does not deplete. It compounds the problem. Second, most automobile engine makers do not recommend extended drain intervals. You can actually void your warranty doing that.<br /><br />
The people who designed the emission system and supply the warranty do not agree. Testing supports their stand.<br /><br />
Modern oils are loaded with wear additives, and they will protect a flat tappet engine better than the oil the engine was originally designed to use. Heavy duty diesel oils (HDDO) meet the same API's phosphorus standards as non-diesel oils.<br /><br />
Most engine manufacturers do not recommend extending drain intervals. They designed the engine.<br /><br />
Incorrect.<br /><br />Oils like Royal Purple advertise extended drains. Other oils like Mobil are ok for extended drains, but recommend following the manufacturer's change interval for warranty purposes. Oil sampling and testing have shown that even inexpensive petroleum oils can be used for extended change intervals, especially when using the bypass filtration and top-off oil like Amsoil recommends.<br /><br />Member LubeDude, Amsoil is a fine synthetic oil. Castrol is a fine synthetic oil. Guess which one has the higher markup on price.
