Interesting Discussion about AMSOil
Road Captain
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 699
Likes: 52
From: Clarington, Ontario
If a licensed or unlicensed oil displays an improper label or unauthorized labeling data, API will require the marketer to cease and desist from committing the violation and will request verification that the violation has been corrected.
Above is an line from the API website regarding enforcement action, if the product displays the starburst and/or API spec and doesn't meet the standard, then API can take enforcement action.
I personally don't think that Amsoil is going to put API standards on their product without meeting the standard. Too much corporate liability. They dont have the starburst but they claim it meets API standards.
Just my spin..
Above is an line from the API website regarding enforcement action, if the product displays the starburst and/or API spec and doesn't meet the standard, then API can take enforcement action.
I personally don't think that Amsoil is going to put API standards on their product without meeting the standard. Too much corporate liability. They dont have the starburst but they claim it meets API standards.
Just my spin..
Cruiser
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 171
Likes: 0
From: Buckley, WA
I use AmsOil in all 3 holes and can tell you I am happy with it. When I changed the oil at 10k miles the only hole that was "dirty" was the primary and it was well within what one would expect in the primary. The engine oil looked great with just a bit of black and the tranny oil looked brand new with no metal at all on the magnetic plug. I change to the Amsoil at the 1k service and haven't looked back. The engine every 5k and the primary and tranny every 10k. Just returned from Sturgis and going to do the 15k engine change and the oil looks great and level stayed the same from the last oil change. Nothing added. I think synthetics are the way to go and any quality oil will do the job well. Just keep with the maintenance schedule and you will be OK!!
Road Master
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 949
Likes: 1
From: Louisville, KY
whew...my head is spinning...lol
i think it goes to show with all these testimonials that as long as you change at specified intervals that you should have great results regardless the oil brand....my .02
i think it goes to show with all these testimonials that as long as you change at specified intervals that you should have great results regardless the oil brand....my .02
Cruiser
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: South Austin Texas
I wil NOT use Amsoil -
I'm not against synthetics. I think they are superior lubricants and do a better job. I just happen to be one who had a bad experience with Amsoil and I know that I am not alone.
The Amsoil site says you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year between changes. I believed that and did that in my 2004 F150 and last year I had to spend $3500 having the engine rebuilt due to "sludge build up" from not changing the oil often enough. I talked to four different mechanics and all but one said change to oil every 3,000 miles. The only one who told me something different was an Amsoil dealer. He said the most you could go was 7500 miles unless you had a special filtration system that cost several hundred dollars.
However you can go to the Amsoil site right now (to their "Know The Facts" page) http://www.amsoil.com/images/KnowTheFacts.gif
and they don't say anything about using any kind of special filtration system at all other than a $15 Amsoil oil filter. They simply tell you to change the oil and Amsoil filter every 25,000 miles or 1 year.
I believed in their product because of everything I'd heard everyone tell me. Only one person told me he'd had to replace an engine because of their product and I did not consider him a reliable source of information about anything much less the Amsoil product.
But I learned the hard way and will not use their poducts in my vehicles ever again.
I'm just one person. There are plenty who will tell you otherwise. It's a decison you will have to make for yourself. As for me I've got a truck that stickered for $30,000 and a Harley that stickered for $18,000. I can't justify saving $150 a year and putting that kind of investment at risk when I know I can use any other oil, make more frequent oil changes, and not have to worry about it.
The best way to determine when to change the oil no matter what kind you use it to LOOK at it. If it is dirty, change it. Doesn't matter if its 3,000 miles or 5,000 miles or what ever.
Regarding synthetics - I intend to use Red Line lubricants this next change - this weekend. If I have problems with this product or not I'll let people here know. But there is already a decent amount of positive feedback here on Red Line Lubricants. 'Course there is also a decent amount of positive feedback on Amsoil. But the positive on the Amsoil is mixed with negative feedback as well. I haven't found any negative feedback on Red Line.
The Amsoil site says you can go 25,000 miles or 1 year between changes. I believed that and did that in my 2004 F150 and last year I had to spend $3500 having the engine rebuilt due to "sludge build up" from not changing the oil often enough. I talked to four different mechanics and all but one said change to oil every 3,000 miles. The only one who told me something different was an Amsoil dealer. He said the most you could go was 7500 miles unless you had a special filtration system that cost several hundred dollars.
However you can go to the Amsoil site right now (to their "Know The Facts" page) http://www.amsoil.com/images/KnowTheFacts.gif
and they don't say anything about using any kind of special filtration system at all other than a $15 Amsoil oil filter. They simply tell you to change the oil and Amsoil filter every 25,000 miles or 1 year.
I believed in their product because of everything I'd heard everyone tell me. Only one person told me he'd had to replace an engine because of their product and I did not consider him a reliable source of information about anything much less the Amsoil product.
But I learned the hard way and will not use their poducts in my vehicles ever again.
I'm just one person. There are plenty who will tell you otherwise. It's a decison you will have to make for yourself. As for me I've got a truck that stickered for $30,000 and a Harley that stickered for $18,000. I can't justify saving $150 a year and putting that kind of investment at risk when I know I can use any other oil, make more frequent oil changes, and not have to worry about it.
The best way to determine when to change the oil no matter what kind you use it to LOOK at it. If it is dirty, change it. Doesn't matter if its 3,000 miles or 5,000 miles or what ever.
Regarding synthetics - I intend to use Red Line lubricants this next change - this weekend. If I have problems with this product or not I'll let people here know. But there is already a decent amount of positive feedback here on Red Line Lubricants. 'Course there is also a decent amount of positive feedback on Amsoil. But the positive on the Amsoil is mixed with negative feedback as well. I haven't found any negative feedback on Red Line.
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Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
My imagination
Ok, all this oil talk, I've been a dino guy my whoile life. Switched to synthetic last night (Amsoil). I had some valve train noise on my '08 RK, the standard noise I hear on all of them. I swear, this morning on the way to work, I barely heard any, it was sooooooo quiet. I'm attributing it to the synthetic.
Oh yeah, and for all you guys who listen to the people who tell you 3000 miles for an oil change, think a little. The owners manual for HD says 5000, most auto manufacturers recommend 7500. Let's see, the car maker still warrants the vehicle with 7500 mile intervals, but the service guy says they are wrong? If you want to change it early (I do) that's fine, but let's not fool ourselves, it's not hurting anything to follow the manufacturer's recommendation.
Oh yeah, and for all you guys who listen to the people who tell you 3000 miles for an oil change, think a little. The owners manual for HD says 5000, most auto manufacturers recommend 7500. Let's see, the car maker still warrants the vehicle with 7500 mile intervals, but the service guy says they are wrong? If you want to change it early (I do) that's fine, but let's not fool ourselves, it's not hurting anything to follow the manufacturer's recommendation.
Road Captain
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 674
Likes: 0
From: Vancouver Island
I've been a firm believer in synthetic oils for many years and have run them in all my vehicles (usually Mobil 1). They are just plain better than conventional oils in all regards (Donny Petersen talks about this on his Tech TV website) but they still need to be changed on a regular basis. I've never subscribed to the 'extended oil change interval' bs and never will.
I switched over to Amsoil (it's what my local indy carries) yesterday with MCV in engine and primary and SVG in trans and the first thing I noticed on the way home was how easy it now is to find neutral when coming to a stop. Big difference.
Anyway, run what you like but synthetic is the way to go in these hot running engines.
I switched over to Amsoil (it's what my local indy carries) yesterday with MCV in engine and primary and SVG in trans and the first thing I noticed on the way home was how easy it now is to find neutral when coming to a stop. Big difference.
Anyway, run what you like but synthetic is the way to go in these hot running engines.