AMSOIL: Do you trust their suggested oil change intervals?

[MikeMike]

ive been using Mobil 1 for my car, changed it twice now (im at 15k miles)
put in mobil 1 at 5k miles, then at 9k or so. now am waiting for 15k miles.

but, my question is, do you really trust AMSOIL's suggestion of 25k miles, or 1 year, with their filter, and their oil?

i mean, their severe duty suggestion is STILL 15k miles, and thats about 3x as long as normal, very interesting.

its also about $20 more to go with Amsoil and filter, than with mobil 1 and filter.

do i jump to AMSOIL? and tell my dad to as well, and brother, and mom?

 

[Specop 007]

I'd take an oil sample in for an analysis report every 5k starting at 10k if I was going to go that long.

In fact, it could make for an interesting post if some ATOT'er decided to undertake that task......

 

[mugs]

I use AMSOIL, but there's no way in hell I'd go 25k miles. I didn't think AMSOIL recommended it either. At very least you need to change the filter and add oil to replenish the additives.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: mugs
I use AMSOIL, but there's no way in hell I'd go 25k miles. I didn't think AMSOIL recommended it either. At very least you need to change the filter and add oil to replenish the additives.

https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx

thats midline, their Series 2000 says 35k miles.

i would do the test, how much does an oil analysis cost?

i guess i would have to get a base line, like say, after 100 miles, and then do it every 5000 miles

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE


i would do the test, how much does an oil analysis cost?

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/standard_analysis.html

If you're going to spend the money to test it frequently, you might as well just change your oil more often.

The way I look at it is, I don't use synthetic oils to save money, I use them to keep my car in good shape. $30 to change my oil every once in a while is not bad preventive maintenance for a $20k car.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: mugs
I use AMSOIL, but there's no way in hell I'd go 25k miles. I didn't think AMSOIL recommended it either. At very least you need to change the filter and add oil to replenish the additives.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx">https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx</a>

thats midline, their Series 2000 says 35k miles.

i would do the test, how much does an oil analysis cost?

i guess i would have to get a base line, like say, after 100 miles, and then do it every 5000 miles

I'm honestly not sure, but I dont think its all that expensive. I know a few people on the TDI forums do for their diesels.

If it isnt too much you could end up getting the money back and then some in savings. If your changing every 5k now and can go to 25k, you've just saved yourself 4 oil changes for the first change. At 30 bucks a pop thats 120 you've saved.

The oil analysis will make sure the oil can in fact go that long in your engine wthout damages. It does you no good to save a bit up front and have to spend a whole bunch later to rebuild your engine.

 

[MikeMike]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE

Originally posted by: mugs
I use AMSOIL, but there's no way in hell I'd go 25k miles. I didn't think AMSOIL recommended it either. At very least you need to change the filter and add oil to replenish the additives.

<a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx"><a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx">https://www.amsoil.com/storefront/asl.aspx</a></a>

thats midline, their Series 2000 says 35k miles.

i would do the test, how much does an oil analysis cost?

i guess i would have to get a base line, like say, after 100 miles, and then do it every 5000 miles

I'm honestly not sure, but I dont think its all that expensive. I know a few people on the TDI forums do for their diesels.

If it isnt too much you could end up getting the money back and then some in savings. If your changing every 5k now and can go to 25k, you've just saved yourself 4 oil changes for the first change. At 30 bucks a pop thats 120 you've saved.

The oil analysis will make sure the oil can in fact go that long in your engine wthout damages. It does you no good to save a bit up front and have to spend a whole bunch later to rebuild your engine.

its $20

i guess ill get amsoil, and do the test early, and then at about 8k miles, and then about 16k miles, which, would be 3 oil changes, or $80, so $40 saved not including baseline test, and then spending $8 more on oil/filter.... then if it does last to 25k, id end up saving nearly $20 or so on oil.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: MIKEMIKE


i would do the test, how much does an oil analysis cost?

http://www.blackstone-labs.com/standard_analysis.html

If you're going to spend the money to test it frequently, you might as well just change your oil more often.

The way I look at it is, I don't use synthetic oils to save money, I use them to keep my car in good shape. $30 to change my oil every once in a while is not bad preventive maintenance for a $20k car.

It is bad preventative maintenance is its not needed maintenance. You dont go out once a month and let all the air out of your tires and put in new air do you?

Same with oil. If the oil is functioning as it should and is still capable of performing its job (cooling, lubrication and cleaning) then theres simply no need to change it. 1 mile or 100,000 miles is irrelevent, the ability of the oil to function as it needs to is the determining factor to when you should change your oil.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Specop 007
It is bad preventative maintenance is its not needed maintenance. You dont go out once a month and let all the air out of your tires and put in new air do you?

Same with oil. If the oil is functioning as it should and is still capable of performing its job (cooling, lubrication and cleaning) then theres simply no need to change it. 1 mile or 100,000 miles is irrelevent, the ability of the oil to function as it needs to is the determining factor to when you should change your oil.

Obviously its ability to do its job decreases as you drive your car, or you'd never change it at all.

 

[rufruf44]

I would take an UOA at 10K miles and see how much TBN is left on that oil before going the whole 25K. 10K on Amsoil should be pretty normal and will be a good gauge. If you do go 25K miles on it, I would recommend changing the oil filter at least once during the interval.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Specop 007
It is bad preventative maintenance is its not needed maintenance. You dont go out once a month and let all the air out of your tires and put in new air do you?

Same with oil. If the oil is functioning as it should and is still capable of performing its job (cooling, lubrication and cleaning) then theres simply no need to change it. 1 mile or 100,000 miles is irrelevent, the ability of the oil to function as it needs to is the determining factor to when you should change your oil.

Obviously its ability to do its job decreases as you drive your car, or you'd never change it at all.

I dont disagree with that. But again, the miles is irrelevent. Its the ability of the oil to do its job. If your oil can go roughly 100,000 miles before reaching a level it should be changed, will you change it at 10k "just because"?

Milage just makes for a good easy way for Joe Public to keep track of the use on his oil, and allows the industry to set a reasonable low end limit as a catch all for any type of auto without risking warrenty and liability issues. I assure you if there was a brand of oil that at 10,000 miles was performing at 99% peak and then magically at 10,001 miles became almost useless the manufacturer wouldnt advertise it as a 10,000 mile oil. Because there are people who do NOT follow proper maintenance intervals, so you'd have people going over. Theres a safety limit built in for the lowest common denominator.

As such, for people willing why not take advantage of that fact and save yourself some time, trouble and money?

 

[beemercer]

I stick to 3K miles regardless of the oil.

 

[Specop 007]

Originally posted by: beemercer
I stick to 3K miles regardless of the oil.

This is exactly the example of unneeded maintenance I'm referring to.

I dont fault you, my grandfather is the same way. 3k come hell or high water. Its changed EVERY 3k.

 

[mugs]

Originally posted by: Specop 007

Originally posted by: mugs

Originally posted by: Specop 007
It is bad preventative maintenance is its not needed maintenance. You dont go out once a month and let all the air out of your tires and put in new air do you?

Same with oil. If the oil is functioning as it should and is still capable of performing its job (cooling, lubrication and cleaning) then theres simply no need to change it. 1 mile or 100,000 miles is irrelevent, the ability of the oil to function as it needs to is the determining factor to when you should change your oil.

Obviously its ability to do its job decreases as you drive your car, or you'd never change it at all.

I dont disagree with that. But again, the miles is irrelevent. Its the ability of the oil to do its job. If your oil can go roughly 100,000 miles before reaching a level it should be changed, will you change it at 10k "just because"?

Milage just makes for a good easy way for Joe Public to keep track of the use on his oil, and allows the industry to set a reasonable low end limit as a catch all for any type of auto without risking warrenty and liability issues. I assure you if there was a brand of oil that at 10,000 miles was performing at 99% peak and then magically at 10,001 miles became almost useless the manufacturer wouldnt advertise it as a 10,000 mile oil. Because there are people who do NOT follow proper maintenance intervals, so you'd have people going over. Theres a safety limit built in for the lowest common denominator.

As such, for people willing why not take advantage of that fact and save yourself some time, trouble and money?

Well, I don't do really short intervals. Recommended oil change for my car is 10k for normal, 5k for severe. When I fit the description of normal, I did it around 10k. I just didn't want to stretch it too far. Now I fit the description of severe driving, and I do it around 7-8k. I have a test bottle from Blackstone Labs all ready to send in for analysis after my next oil change, and if it looks good I'll probably go back to 10k oil changes.