Should I try Amsoil?

Kissfan79 · Post by **Kissfan79** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:09 am

Hey guys....I am currently (and have been) using Mobil 1 5w-30 synthetic. I noticed a local convienince store a couple of miles from my house started selling Amsoil 5w-30 synthetic for $5.20 per quart. I pay $3.78 for one qaurt of Mobil 1. ShouldI pay the extra $1.50 give Amsoil a try?Jim

Kissfan79 · Post by **Kissfan79** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:21 am

What would make you go with Castrol full synthetic over Mobil 1....just out of curiosity?Jim

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 11:30 am

Really, if you are going to change it every 3000 miles any major brand of 5/30 or 10/30 depending on where you live, will be adequate. I have used synthetic, Pennzoil, since the 13km mark and have changed it according to the manual. Not because I have to, just because.

goodvibe · Post by **goodvibe** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 12:32 pm

Castrol synth (and others) in this country is hydrocracked (refined) dino oil called group 3 and can't even be called synth in europe. The exception is a 'made in Germany' 0w30. Mobile, redline, synergyn, and amsoil are true synth group 4 and/or 5 oils.

goodvibe · Post by **goodvibe** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 1:30 pm

I thought you knew. I overstate some things for newby's etc. Let us know how it goes.

esjones · Post by **esjones** » Fri Jun 11, 2004 9:45 pm

Quote, originally posted by goodvibe Â»Castrol synth (and others) in this country is hydrocracked (refined) dino oil called group 3 and can't even be called synth in europe.I have heard this about Castrol before. How does the buyer know what is 'true' synthetic and what is not?

engine1 · Post by **engine1** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 1:02 am

Actually all major oil refiners use hydrocracking to prepare some of the base oil schedules, but all synthetics must be of a schedule IV or V base product to be called a synthetic. Primarily the base oil is always the same but it is the additive package (ad-pac) that changes depending on the grade of oil.

goodvibe · Post by **goodvibe** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 4:19 am

That's almost correct and dino still comes in group 1, 2 ,and 2+. Group 3 dino is considered synth in the US and Dino most other places. These can be and are mixed. Castrol blends are a mix of 2 and 3 for instance and you'll find gp 1 used as a carrier for add packs or mixed with 2 in cheaper oils. I'm not positive but I think only 2+ and 3 use hydrocracking. The higher the group, the less likely it is to varnish and have longer service. The adds do more for wear, friction and cleaning. US Castrol is group 3 and not 4(PAO) or 5(ester) but may have some added for viscosity reasons in certain weights. Mobile tried to get a court ruling against Castrol being able to advertise these oils as synthetic but lost in court. In Europe their synth formulas are different chemistries than here. Castrol GTX is a great clean dino. Thier US synthetic is better but not what I consider synth.

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sat Jun 12, 2004 5:49 am

Quote, originally posted by goodvibe Â»Castrol GTX is a great clean dino. That's what I've been using. Haven't felt the need to switch to a synthetic, or neosynthetic.

Evanshall · Post by **Evanshall** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 10:56 pm

So were all agreeing Castrol CTX is really one of t he best then??? atleast in this type of car??

joatmon · Post by **joatmon** » Sun Jun 13, 2004 11:45 pm

I'm not sure if it's one of the best, and I doubt we can all agree on anything but for me, I think the castrol GTX is good enough. Other people swear by the synthetics, a lot of Mobil 1 users here. I think most oils are good enough, as long as you change them periodically and keep enough oil in the engine to do the job. That's my opinion though, and I am not an expert.

savedbyzero · Post by **savedbyzero** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 12:50 am

Amsoil, yes...others, no...amsoil is true synthetic.

goodvibe · Post by **goodvibe** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 2:54 am

Amsoil buys the basestock for their true synth from exxon/mobile but use a different add pack. I agree that their top oils are a bit better than MI overall. Amsoil XL-7500 is only recommended for a 7500 mi. schedule and is group 3 and not true synthetic at over $5 qt. This is why many of us are upset at Castrol for the group 3 oil thing. Other oil companies were bound to jump on higher available profits. It's a cheaper product at a premium price and a normal consumer won't have a clue about what he's buying.

jake75 · Post by **jake75** » Mon Jun 14, 2004 11:33 pm

Quote, originally posted by Kissfan79 Â»Hey guys....I am currently (and have been) using Mobil 1 5w-30 synthetic. I noticed a local convienince store a couple of miles from my house started selling Amsoil 5w-30 synthetic for $5.20 per quart. I pay $3.78 for one qaurt of Mobil 1. ShouldI pay the extra $1.50 give Amsoil a try?JimI thought Amsoil was like Amway, only sold by the disciples. Surprised to see it at a retail store.

Kissfan79 · Post by **Kissfan79** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:07 am

LOL...me too. I was shocked to see it in the shelf.Jim

johnsoax · Post by **johnsoax** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 7:36 am

I still just use $1.89 a quart Quaker State. Change every 5k.Never had a car last less than 100k miles on it yet. Infact, every car but one is still running (the one was in a very bad accident that broke every engine mount and screwed up the transmission.)

DavidPIL · Post by **DavidPIL** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 11:26 am

Hey Kissfan...I know this was posted a while ago but if you can get AMSoil for that much, I'd try it at least. I bought 5 Quarts of Redline for nearly $8 a Quart and would have rather of found the AMSoil locally for what you found it at.Yeah, it's a bit much to pay but it'll just be a one time thing most likely, unless I find it does something totally amazing to the Vibe.Some people mention that a certain oil makes their engine more noisy or they don't notice a difference in buying a more expensive synth oil. I personally haven't moticed big changes between synth and dino oil, I see the most difference in the oil filter. Have gone from OEM to Fram to Mobil One (oversized) to K&N (oversized as well) with Mobil 1 synth oil and really, only when I switched to the K&N filter, did I notice anything majorly improve. The K&N is apparently a higher flow/less restrictive filter.Obviously, these are only my personal opinions and experiences but I would suggest trying the AMSoil with different filters to see if you notice any improvements... if not and you change your oil every 3K to 5K then just go with a less expensive Synth or blend.Dave

Kissfan79 · Post by **Kissfan79** » Tue Jun 15, 2004 2:36 pm

I stopped in to pick up something today and I did notice that it was the XL-7500 Amsoil. Given that ....I will probably just stay with Mobil 1. If it were the regular Amsoil...I'd probably try it.Jim

Should I try Amsoil?

Should I try Amsoil?

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Re: Should I try Amsoil? (goodvibe)

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Re: Should I try Amsoil? (Kissfan79)

Re: Should I try Amsoil? (Kissfan79)

Re: Should I try Amsoil? (DavidPIL)