Amsoil experience
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 3,140
Likes: 17
From: Wisconsin
Something just don't add up here, but who am I to say? The oil being thin as water in 90+ weather wouldn't bother me in the least. Oil does not have to be "thick" to lubricate as many think, at that temp I would expect it to run right off the dipstick only leaving a film, as it should. The fact that it was "black as tar" would concern me, especially on fresh Amsoil after 1400 miles. When I drain the Amsoil out of my '08, it is still clear after 5000 miles, the color is a bit darker, more to a dark brown instead of the "like new" golden color, but not black. My shovel is always black but we know that is just blow by because of tolerance, shouldn't be nothing like that on your '08. Let us know how it goes with your new oil .....
Tourer
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 252
Likes: 3
I normally just read the threads but I want to respond to this one. I switched to mobil 1 15-50 syn. you can buy at walmart for 23 bucks for a 5 qt. jug. This oil is designed for heavy duty use such as towing vehicles. I have 15 hundred miles on my last change, ridding in 90 to 95 degree heat, and the oil is still clear. I have no motor noise or issues. Go figurer.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 540
Likes: 3
From: Nooga, TN
I am certainly not disputing your story in any way. I have run Amsoil in many applications and have not had this experience. It is usually one of the more shear resistant oils out there. This resistance to shear leads to a pretty good viscosity stability. It would have been nice to have a UOA to better understand what happened. Could have been a bad batch from Amsoil or something like that. I run mine here in the south with 90 to 100 degree days and try to keep an eye on the oil. At the end of 5000 miles it still looks good and retains the viscosity very close to original. Very interesting experience which I will file in the mental bank to look out for. I will never say Amsoil is "the best", but I feel it is one of the top brands out there.
Banned
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 6,259
Likes: 5
From: NW NC
I myself am curious if you did the oil change yourself. No oil should do that but I am a die hard Amsoil fan and never had a problem. Point being that I do change my own oil and am meticulous about it in that I make sure I get every drop of the old oil out. If someone else changed your oil who knows what they did or used.
Cruiser
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 210
Likes: 1
From: West Chester, PA
While Bradd Penn V2 may be an excellent mineral based oil, it is still a mineral based oil. In the summer while riding in 90+ degree temps & high humidity, if I get stuck in a traffic jam, it's not uncommon to see my oil temp hitting 250 degrees. I don't know about you, but personally I would not want anything other than the best "all" synthetic oil in my engine at those temps...
Road Warrior
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,979
Likes: 4
From: Central IL
No Ron, the mechanic had already contaminated the motor oil with the primary oil before I had a chance to save some. Not only that but, I don't care to litigate with an oil company over their oil. It would be just more money to fight it in court and not worth it in my opinion. Like my signature says, " Some things you just have to learn yourself ". I am done with Amsoil.
I didn't mean litigate with them Dave. I meant they would probably appreciate the chance to see what happened to the oil. And it would tell you exactly what happened. I'm not taking Amsoil's side. I'm saying with a statement like you just made on this forum. It could change a lot of Biker's mind's about using Amsoil. Just Saying!
I believe he stated in a later post that he put Syn3 in it.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 828
Likes: 2
From: USA
Did you put the Amsoil in yourself, Dave? Or, if you had it done, do you know the guy well enough to be confident that he installed Amsoil?
The reason I ask is that if you brought it to a shop or dealer and asked them to put Amsoil in, it's pssible that they screwed up and put something else in. I know it's not probable but it IS possible. I have been using Amsoil since 1992 in cars, motorcyles, boats and even a lawnmower and have never encountered a problem of any kind. However, any company can have a bad production run. Even a company with a good reputation like Amsoil.
The reason I ask is that if you brought it to a shop or dealer and asked them to put Amsoil in, it's pssible that they screwed up and put something else in. I know it's not probable but it IS possible. I have been using Amsoil since 1992 in cars, motorcyles, boats and even a lawnmower and have never encountered a problem of any kind. However, any company can have a bad production run. Even a company with a good reputation like Amsoil.
Road Warrior
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 1,396
Likes: 146
From:
Well, I've been running Amsoil for years in both my twin cams. I just changed the oil in my bagger Tuesday. The Amsoil had over 4000 miles on it including a California trip from Colorado, which included a Pacific Coast Highway run. The oil was still very thick at over 200 degrees when I drained it. That baggers 103 is really quiet with Amsoil.
Sorry, but I think there is more to this story than has been posted. That oil must have been contaminated or some such.
Sorry, but I think there is more to this story than has been posted. That oil must have been contaminated or some such.