A guy recently tried to push Amsoil products (Oil and filters) on me. Currently use Mobil 1 10W-30 synthetic and Volvo OEM filters. Any advantage to switching and is 25,000 miles between oil changes possible with any oil?

Jim

A salesman will tell you anything to make a sale!Doesn't make it's so. What your already doing is probably THE Very best you need to do.25k miles seems way too excessive to me,I feel it's more the dirt than the oil wearing out that causes the most harm! Good luck!
 

I've been using the Amsoil Series 2000 0w30 engine in 2 cars for about a year now and I believe it's the best oil from everything that I've read on it BUT the stuff is VERY expensive, about $8 per quart when you figure $20 membership needed to order from them (can't buy it in any store) plus S&H for one case, about $85 delivered for a case of 12. I still use OEM oil filters because I'm not convinced that Amsoils oil filters would be any better. So far, I've not left the oil in for even 10K miles. One of my cars has almost gone 7K miles since I changed it (5K the first time) and I'm thinking of having it tested soon as they do that. I'm a guy who use to be very anal about oil changed and rarely go much past 2K using good petroleum oil so it bothers me thinking about older, higher mileage oil left in the engine for 10K miles and scares me to think about going further than that.
Now, I do pamper my cars and I don't skimp on anything for them (don't go the cheap route) but as for price, I'm still not sure Amsoils prices are justified when I think that Mobil 1 is a good product and a 5 qt container can be purchased at Walmart for $17 (less than 1/2 the cost of Amsoil). I'm not presently putting on alot of miles on my cars anymore so I don't need to change synthetic oil very often either, thus maybe the Amsoil isn't breaking me.

I'm planning to switch my trans over to synthetic ATF soon too.

You can read about specs, etc from their website www.amsoil.com but some will think that their tests, etc might be biased too. If anyone knows of any independant research comparing Mobil 1 to Amsoil, I'd also like to see it.
 

The guy was trying to do you a favor, as well as making a (very) few bucks for himself.
I've been running AMSOIL for over 24 years now. I did oil analysis on an number of cars, including my 85 245turbo. The oil was still suitable for use after 11,500 miles, 3 times the recommended oil drain interval.

If you can accept the recommended extended drain (backed by over 30 years of oil analysis and experience, AMSOIL becomes the least expensive option in cost per mile/hour of operation.

Mobil 1 is excellent oil, but AMSOIL is better in wear protection and fuel economy, along with some other standards.

I currently use AMSOIL Series 2000 in all my vehicles. Don't drive as much as I used to, so don't rack up as many miles. Usually change oil yearly, or use oil analyis to extend the drain. The service life of AMSOIL is 25-35,000 miles OR 1 year for non-turbo/non-diesel applications (AMSOIL filter change at 1/2 interval).
For turbos/diesels the service life is double the manufacturer recommended drain, or longer based on oil analysis.
 

How are you getting your AMSOIL? Is that in US dollars? I am a licensed distributor, and I can tell you one thing, I have never sold AMSOIL at that high of a price unless it was a small order, i.e. one quart.

I agree to, if there was such a price difference, I would go Mobil 1 as well. But there simply isn't. In fact, when you factor in the longer drain interval, it ends up being considerably cheaper then running Mobil 1.
 

Jim: Something else that you can do to help your engine, no matter what lubricant you use (fans of both Mobil-1 and Amsoil are very laudatory about the performance characteristics of both), is to install an oildrain plug that has a magnet built into it ("ipd" sells them, among other sources) AND a magnet 'band' that fits around your oil filter. You might be amazed at how much/many little itty-bitty metal shavings you will find on your (magnetic) oildrain plug at the next oil change; it's a bit messier to see the metal collected by the oil filter's magnet, and cutting it by any means that I am aware of will add metal to the mess, but I am sure that it is technical possible to do it; or you just live with the knowledge that the magnet IS working, and sleep a little easier at night.

Something else to consider is that many people found, back in the 70's and 80's, that the use of 'synth' seemed to promote seals to leak. What was happening was that the 'synth' was cleaning the crud and gunk out of its lodging places, the buildup of gunk on the seal;s being what KEPT them from leaking in the first place. A good changeover-regime would be to have your PCV-flame trap-throttle body, etc., system cleaned thoroughly, then switch to the Mobil-1 or Amsoil, and monitor your oil at the dipstick AND on the garage floor or driveway. If the 'synth' is showing up on the ground as a leak, and it turns out to be your rear main (or front, less commonly) seal, then you probably needed the seal work done anyway. New seals AND synth should keep you on the road, worry-free, for many miles. An oil analysis at say 5,000 or 7,500 miles should tell you a lot about how your chosen product is holding up. A quick session with a calculator should reveal its cost effectiveness, the oil analysis should show its mecanical/chemical effectiveness.--PD. (Mobil-1 for me, so far, with a turbo-diesel, but still open to the idea of Amsoil. As noted, salesmen...well, they SELL; but r-e-a-d the company's own literature, look for an unbiased comparison of dino/Mobil-1/Amsoil --if such exists--, and go from there; verbal claims are just that. Caveat emptor.)
 

For $20, I'm a "dealer" for a year (or preferred member, $10 for 6 months) although I have no intentions of trying to sell oil for profit and at their prices, I honestly can't think of trying as most people wouldn't consider it. I'm in the car business myself and most people in the business don't use synthetics, just a few of our customers do but I wouldn't say it's common and those that use synthetics use Mobil 1.
When I need more oil for myself (like once a year), I call the dealer order # on my dealer card, tell them what I need and it's at my doorstep the very next day.
If I'm paying too much, then Amsoil is ripping me off right?

I'd think that I'd be better off just locating a "real" Amsoil dealer (a guy who enjoys selling it) locally and just buying it from him instead BUT I was once told by someone at this site that I'd be better off becoming a "preferred member" or dealer, like I'd get a better price.

Doesn't seem right to me either.
 

I was always hesitant to buy items that are not competing freely with other similar items, like being sold in a store next to each other.
What so special about Amsoil that I can'd find it on the shelf next to Mobil-1?
 

Very good point and one that I too have always wondered about but I can only surmize that it's done that way to give their so-called oil dealers a career opportunity as weird as that might seem. At their prices and lack of easy availablity, I can't imagine their dealers could seriously make enough profit to make it worth their while. Their lack of public advertizing is equally strange to me. I'd think that Amsoil would do far better as a company if they dummied up, lowered prices, advertized and sold their products wherever Mobil 1 does.
 

You certainly won't get it any cheaper from a "real" AMSOIL dealer, since you are paying the same prices he would be paying!

I've got several shops and auto parts stores selling the product at recommended retail plus shipping, and they don't seem to be having any great customer resistance. More a case of telling the customers that they are getting a premium product at a fair price---and of course, most of them use it themselves!
 
Re: Why Amsoil is not sold in stores?[850][1994]   [post reply]
Dick in Falls Church -- Sunday, 9 December 2001, at 9:41 a.m.

Depending on your location, you may be able to find AMSOIL in stores.
A few years back, Wal-Mart discussed carrying AMSOIL products. They told AMSOIL how much they wanted on a yearly basis, and how much they would pay. AMSOIL told them that AMSOIL does not discount the oil. Discussions ended.
Salvo Auto Parts in Baltimore carries AMSOIL, and sells a bunch. Fairfax Auto Parts in No. VA carries AMSOIL, and sells a fair amount. Several other local parts chains around the country carry AMSOIL.

In many cases, the local parts stores won't carry AMSOIL because they don't perceive a demand for it. By the quart it is more expensive than most other synthetics.
 

Their lack of public advertizing is equally strange to me. I'd think
> that Amsoil would do far better as a company if they dummied up,
> lowered prices, advertized and sold their products wherever Mobil 1
> does.

Well, look at it this way. Take a tiny company, started out some 30 years back with one man formulating, blending in small quantities, and bottling in gallons. Has a great product, and no way to get anyone to learn about it. Has great resistance from existing oil companies and auto manufacturers.

Not sure what you mean by "dummied up". Hard to lower prices if you use more expensive materials. On the other hand, both Castrol and Mobil "reformulated" (read "cost-engineered") their synthetics. Did either drop their prices? I don't think so.

AMSOIL is still a small company, and their advertising budget is nowhere near that of the large oil companies. They focus their money on specialty pubs-- Sno Goer, Trailer Life, American Iron, Custom Rodder, etc.

For about 20 years, Mobil probably spent more on advertising Mobil 1 than AMSOIL had total sales. Had they had to pay for advertising from sales of Mobil 1, it never would have happened. Took almost that long to build a base of customers and consumer acceptance.