Amsoil for the Camaro?

[BowtieBelle]

[SPCBA]

Originally Posted by cbass

Just curious. Can you go into detail what you meant by broke down? As you see I spend a lot of time on oil and details like this interest me.

To describe the gibbs, it was black, contained sludge, and smelled burnt. In another thread Johnny B pointed out that under the conditions I put it through with driving back and forth and 2 straight track days that any oil would have the above description. I wanted to find a better oil as well as get a real oil cooler in my car. Also in full disclosure I have not had the z-rod anaylized by a lab. I just switched but I like it and It feels good and looks good with my own meager disgnostic tools like my temp gun and the magnets. Also it hasnt given me that burnt smell or any sludge on 2 track days.

[SPCBA]

"Mobil 1 is a blend of synthetic and dino oils. It was originally a pure synthetic, but Mobil successfully lobbied to continue using the 'synthetic' description while changing the formulation to a blend. They can do that in the US [where their lobbying dollars get traction] but countries like Japan and many Euro community members actually require that products are described acurately."

"The word came from a special type of test called Gas Chromatography. A person at a lab in NJ tested a few M1's (only a handful of labs in the U.S. have the ability to do this type of test) and he says that there were some Group III base stocks in there. Yes, the same thing that Mobil brought a complaint to the NAD of the BBB Castrol for several years ago."

hmm wonder how accurate. I have heard and read that mobil one was just filtered and had some synthetic additives.

Maybe a intelligent conversation of group or class I, II, III, IV and blends should be discussed and hammered home so people understand the difference and the advertizing and labeling lies that are allowed to exist in this country.

[cbass]

Originally Posted by SPCBA

"Mobil 1 is a blend of synthetic and dino oils. It was originally a pure synthetic, but Mobil successfully lobbied to continue using the 'synthetic' description while changing the formulation to a blend. They can do that in the US [where their lobbying dollars get traction] but countries like Japan and many Euro community members actually require that products are described acurately."

"The word came from a special type of test called Gas Chromatography. A person at a lab in NJ tested a few M1's (only a handful of labs in the U.S. have the ability to do this type of test) and he says that there were some Group III base stocks in there. Yes, the same thing that Mobil brought a complaint to the NAD of the BBB Castrol for several years ago."

hmm wonder how accurate. I have heard and read that mobil one was just filtered and had some synthetic additives.

Maybe a intelligent conversation of group or class I, II, III, IV and blends should be discussed and hammered home so people understand the difference and the advertizing and labeling lies that are allowed to exist in this country.

I don't think Mobil 1 lobbed anybody. As far as I heard Mobil 1 sued Castrol for marketing Syntec a synthetic oil. Mobil 1 lost in court and since then Mobil 1 is not the only one that has switched to less expensive Group III and still continued to call it a synthetic oil.

Amsoil XL is group III stock and they continue to market it as a synthetic oil.

The point is buy what makes you feel comfortable and do a UOA if you are worried about wear. That will be more valuable than anything else.

[tonyko1]

If people changed their spark plugs the way they change their oil, then they would be tripping over spark plugs.

Anyways, keeping oil at proper level and change when you feel the need, via mileage or hard, stop-n-go traffic, whatever, it is your money.

I read a good treatise on the Oil Life Monitor, (OLM) which Ms. Bowtie so eschews. I am going to change my oil next month since it will be a year since the last change. OLM show 70% life and it has about 3800 miles on the oil, and it is still reading on the full hash mark and still looking clean with no discernable smell other than oil. And it has Mobil 1 in it. I am going to pony up the $25 for the oil analysis and compare to what the OLM states.

40 yrs ago, it was normal to change oil every 1000 miles then it went to 3000 and then 7500, and now some BMWs state 10k. Seems the quick oil change places have us convinced 3k is the norm. Given the bulk recirculated oil they use, they may be right.

[Russell James]

Originally Posted by BowtieBelle

My guy uses it in his SS and I just switched. When I checked the oil it wasn't dirty at all (been using Valvoline Durablend) so I don't trust the oil monitoring system a bit. It started complaining at me wanting a change at 5k but after looking I think I could have gone ten.

So here I am making the switch to full synthetic; the car has 66k now and I figure it would be better for it. I'd never heard of Amsoil till Zachary told me about it and he swears by it in his SS. Anyone here use it? V6 or SS. Thoughts?

With the V6 and timing chain issues, you want to use a high quality synthetic and change it often. I'd go 4 - 6 k max, but that's just me.

There has been recalibrations done on the V6's to lower the change interval mileage due to the timing chain wear... which tells me better oil and changed more frequently will be a good thing for that motor.

I also use the Amsoil Signature series in my SS, good stuff. Stay away from the OE series, no better than Mobil 1. Most the mass market oils are junk lately from the EPA removing so much of the anti wear additives. Amsoil Signature Series, Redline, Joe Gibbs... have stayed top of the line. A good source to check with is Comp Cams. The cam is the highest wear item in an engine, the cam companies know what oils are good and what are crap.

[SPCBA]

amsoil z rod has alllll the antiwear additives and then some. Goodluck with the oil guys n gals.

[Blue17CamaroZL1]

<---AMSOIL user here with my cammed V8

I know an AMSOIL dealer personally so I have direct access to it.

[mbcuz38]

Amsoil is top notch stuff, I used to use strictly Mobile 1 but outside studies have been done showing Amsoil is extremely difficult to break down, even after tons of miles put on the oil. I use signature series, probably put about 4000 miles a year on my Camaro. With Amsoil's filter the signature series is 25,000 mile oil but I still change it yearly. I have used their gear lube for years, it quite's down rear end noise and makes everything feel smoother.

I became a dealer for Amsoil a little while back, if anyone is interested I can definatly look into it for you as I can probably beat most store prices, but you would have shipping costs. I usually get it for all my friends and some local customers but I would be happy to help anyone out.

[charlietuna]

Originally Posted by mbcuz38

Amsoil is top notch stuff, I used to use strictly Mobile 1 but outside studies have been done showing Amsoil is extremely difficult to break down, even after tons of miles put on the oil. I use signature series, probably put about 4000 miles a year on my Camaro. With Amsoil's filter the signature series is 25,000 mile oil but I still change it yearly. I have used their gear lube for years, it quite's down rear end noise and makes everything feel smoother.

I became a dealer for Amsoil a little while back, if anyone is interested I can definatly look into it for you as I can probably beat most store prices, but you would have shipping costs. I usually get it for all my friends and some local customers but I would be happy to help anyone out.

As a dealer what would you recommend for my zl1 I'm approaching the 1500 mile mark.

[mbcuz38]

Originally Posted by charlietuna

As a dealer what would you recommend for my zl1 I'm approaching the 1500 mile mark.

I would say the signature series 5w-30, that's also what amsoil recommendations in their system as well. You could play with the winter weight a bit depending on where you live, the temps you drive it in, and application IE racing the car, etc... but the signature series is 25,000 miles oil with an amsoil filter. Whatever you decide to use I would say make sure you stick with full synthetic.

I usually only put 3-4k miles a year on my car, so its kinda overkill but I change it yearly and call it good.

[cbass]

Originally Posted by mbcuz38

I would say the signature series 5w-30, that's also what amsoil recommendations in their system as well. You could play with the winter weight a bit depending on where you live, the temps you drive it in, and application IE racing the car, etc... but the signature series is 25,000 miles oil with an amsoil filter. Whatever you decide to use I would say make sure you stick with full synthetic.

I usually only put 3-4k miles a year on my car, so its kinda overkill but I change it yearly and call it good.

What is your recommendation to stick with a full synthetic based on?

[Deftones]

+1 for Amsoil. It's great stuff. It's in my motor, rearend and soon to be in my tremec.

[mbcuz38]

Originally Posted by cbass

What is your recommendation to stick with a full synthetic based on?

I've seen a fair amount of test results, not just amsoil's, showing less sludge buildup and less harmful chemical buildup inside the motor oil. Im by far no oil expert nor do I claim to be, but my regular job is an operations manager at a manufacturing facility and I've seen bearings and gears with regular oil, and with synthetic lube and you can see the difference. Wear marks, how bearings feel after long duration with regular oil and synthetic, etc...

Im not going to say your going to get more horsepower or feel a huge difference at the drag strip or on the street racing, but I've seen the results and I am a believer in synthetic oil. I think the people who stick with dino oil and change it regularly probably won't have an issues, I guess its for if you want to go with longer change intervals and extra piece of mind.

Some tests I've read online claim that people have tested Amsoil full synthetic and have been unable to get it to break down after very extended use in neglected motors, I have not personally seen that myself, and you know the old saying...Believe half of what you see and nothing you hear.

At any rate, thats what I base my opinion of synthetic vs. regular oil on.