AMSOIL vs SYN3

Reply Subscribe

Thread Tools

Search this Thread

Apr 25, 2009 | 10:58 AM

#61

gdkenoyer

Tourer

Joined: Jun 2007

Posts: 293

Likes: 0

From:

Quote:

Originally Posted by skratch

...did you know that the byproduct of combustion is the formation of sulphuric acid in your engine? me, i'm gonna get that outta there instead of letting it set, or circulate through....

ah, that's what the TBN in an oil analysis test is for.

But since an UOA plus TBN pretty much covers the cost of a do-it-yourself oil change, the ROI is a bit iffy.

Those that do spring for the UOA can get a pretty good idea of how their engine is doing as to wear and even if it's running rich.

Me, i'm a bit too cheap.

Apr 26, 2009 | 09:18 PM

#62

Chicago Spike

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 1,738

Likes: 7

From: St. Charles, IL

Quote:

LARRY: Nothing but accolades for this sample from your Twin Cam. Universal averages show typical wear

Quote:

levels for this type of engine after about 3,560 miles use on the oil. Wear metals were found low and

properly balanced for this engine type, implying no evident poor wear issues existed at parts sharing the oil.
Insolubles read low at 0.2%, showing good oil filtration and no combustion problems. The trace of fuel is not
a problem at this level, and the viscosity was 20W/50. The 7.0 TBN (<1.0 is lowest limit for use) shows lots

of active additive left. Nice report

This is from my Road Glide with oil that was in there from last summer, my father passed away early September and my bike was neglected and the oil sat in the engine all winter. It had over 4,000 miles on it. When I can figure out how to post a PDF file, I will

Apr 28, 2009 | 07:33 PM

#63

ELGOLD

Cruiser

Joined: May 2007

Posts: 220

Likes: 0

From: Toronto

Used Amsoil since 1000 mile oil change. I guess I was swayed by all the info on the web. Really if you change oil often enough it won't matter as long as youre using a good quality product. Most people I know change oil every 5K or so. Therefore the oil is still pretty good at that point.

Apr 28, 2009 | 09:40 PM

#64

wldbill

Road Master

Joined: Dec 2006

Posts: 1,236

Likes: 7

From: Bellingham, WA

Quote:

Originally Posted by skratch

uh, no, its cause you can find a walmart in the middle of bfe. Its not like theres an amsoil dealer on every street corner if you need oil in the middle of a long ride.

You pays your money, you takes your chances.......

exactly!!!!!

Apr 30, 2009 | 12:57 PM

#65

Chicago Spike

Road Warrior

Joined: Nov 2006

Posts: 1,738

Likes: 7

From: St. Charles, IL

Quote:

Originally Posted by skratch

uh, no, its cause you can find a walmart in the middle of bfe. its not like theres an amsoil dealer on every street corner if you need oil in the middle of a long ride.

i dont care how 'good' your oil is, it is still gonna get contaminated just as fast. even if the viscosity rating is still good at 5k, i'm gonna change it anyway. did you know that the byproduct of combustion is the formation of sulphuric acid in your engine? me, i'm gonna get that outta there instead of letting it set, or circulate through....

you pays your money, you takes your chances.......

OK, all oils have acid nullifiers in the mix.
As for not being able to find AMSOIL on the road. So what? What happens if the Wal Mart or any store for that matter, doesn;t have your particular brand or weight? You gonna keep riding? No, you will add what you can find. So, you can do this with AMSOIL or any oil for that matter. They can be mixed without any harm coming to the engine. You can even add natural oil if you have to.
As for the "I'm gonna change it no matter what" crowd, go ahead. I'm not here to say do this or do that or even use this or use that. Oil is like politics, everyone has their own opinion and that is why there is more than one flavor of ice cream. I am just through with paying theoil companies more money than I have to. They have enough of my money as is. My oil tests just fine after 10,000 miles when it gets changed once a year in the fall.

Apr 30, 2009 | 01:26 PM

#66

iclick

Extreme HDF Member

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 11,615

Likes: 50

From: Baton Rouge, LA

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chicago Spike

As for not being able to find AMSOIL on the road. So what? What happens if the Wal Mart or any store for that matter, doesn;t have your particular brand or weight? You gonna keep riding? No, you will add what you can find. So, you can do this with AMSOIL or any oil for that matter. They can be mixed without any harm coming to the engine. You can even add natural oil if you have to.

I think this is a good point, although if you use Mobil 1 15w50 or even 20w50 VT you will likely find it at some auto-parts store in almost any community. Most modern bikes use very little oil but if you worry about needing any on a road trip just carry and extra quart with you. If not, as you say any oil will mix with any other oil. To me finding a given brand on the road isn't a big selling point one way or the other, but finding it in your locale and the price of the oil are important factors.

Quote:

As for the "I'm gonna change it no matter what" crowd, go ahead. I'm not here to say do this or do that or even use this or use that. Oil is like politics, everyone has their own opinion and that is why there is more than one flavor of ice cream. I am just through with paying theoil companies more money than I have to. They have enough of my money as is. My oil tests just fine after 10,000 miles when it gets changed once a year in the fall.

Another good point here, and this is a quandary I find myself in now. I have 2700 on my present oil and am leaving on a 2800-mile trip in about 10 days. Since my normal interval is 5K to change or not to change is the question. I decided not to change, as 5800 miles isn't a big stroke for modern synthetic oils and highway mileage is the easiest on oil anyway. I'm leaving it in.

Last edited by iclick; Apr 30, 2009 at 01:30 PM.

Apr 30, 2009 | 06:37 PM

#67

rdam

Outstanding HDF Member

Joined: Oct 2006

Posts: 2,263

Likes: 36

From: Georgia Mountains

I use Blackstone for OA on my 6.0L diesel. They are pretty careful about how they word the narrative, and I'm fairly certain they would NOT say something like "this oil is good for another 5000 miles". Regardless of the type of oil, shearing reduces the viscocity and the oil needs to be replaced in the 6.0. I have run Amsoil in it and Mobil 1 and the results are similar.

If you google "blackstone labs amsoil", you'll see lots of real people showing real lab reports recommending oil changes at near normal intervals. I am just NOT going to stretch Amsoil/Mobil 1 or ANY other oil to 10,000 miles on an air cooled $20,000 bike.

I LIKE changing my oil....it makes me feel like I have a clue (I don't). I did my bike 2 days ago as a matter of fact.....Mobil 1 V-Twin 20/50 in the engine and primary, Amsoil Severe Gear 75/140 in the tranny (because the Indy had it, and the KN oil filter I needed)

Jul 16, 2009 | 08:52 PM

#68

vandykemc

Tourer

Joined: Jan 2008

Posts: 326

Likes: 0

I agree, I just bought Amsoil 20-50 today to change my oil with when I do my 20k service. The shell station just below me has it so its real convenient.