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Author Topic: Does anyone use synthectic oil?? Post a Reply Back to Topics
Desertbums

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Message Posted: Oct 17, 2009 3:43:33 PM

I've used AMSOIL motor oil for about six years in my 2003 Elantra. Not sure if my gas millage is any better because I switched over when I got the car new. I get an average of 26.6 MPG. I have been thinking about using other products from AMSOIL, like the air cleaner, oil filter, and grease for the joints. AMSOIL has been around for a long time. Any thoughts?
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FarmTech
Champion Author Virginia

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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 9:09:29 AM

IMHO, Amsoil is TREMENDOUSLY OVERRATED. It is over-priced for what it delivers.

Here are two that are even better in many race professionals' and Certified Master Mechanics' opinion:
1) RedLine Synthetic Oils
2) Torco Synthetic Oils

FYI to Everybody: Only use FULL Synthetics AND NOT all Full Synthetics are even remotely the same.

AMSOIL has some great products, made with good technology, but the technology has now been around for quite some time. You can find the same, or better, quality for a much lower price.

Unless it is a specialized, high-performance engine (and perhaps even then), I use either Valvoline or Pennzoil FULL Synthetics. Use them ALONG WITH the RIGHT oil filter and you will gain not only maximum performance from your engine, but more importantly, maximum mileage and life.

THE REAL TRICK with Full Synthetic oils is that you need to start using them early in engine life. You can either start with Full Synthetics or break the engine in to about 15,000 miles, then switch. If you try and start using Full Synthetics after the engine has substantial mileage, it will usually find all kinds of leaks. What happens is the seals of the engine "harden" or become fully formed in place between 25 and 50K miles. When you introduce a Full Synthetic oil, it penetrates so well, that it will go through the minute areas between the seals and rotating engine parts. Then you have to break down the engine and replace the seals, which is not cheap.

Many manufacturers now are going with Full Synthetics right from the start.

The Right Oil Filter is only those that get 98% or better of all particles on the first pass. The filter must also use synthetic media, NOT paper media. There are some good studies done by independents, but they are dated. One of the most thorough of those was done in 2000 by Russ W. Knize, who did some updates in 2008.

My top choice is the Purolator Pure One, and it does NOT have the flow restrictions that Mr. Knize was concerned with in his study. Once the oil has saturated all of the media, the flow rate is very good.

With Full Synthetic oil, you can ACTUALLY SAVE MONEY. The trick is to buy your Full Synthetic oil on sale or at a deal -- see next paragraph. How you save money has to do with when you change your oil. I can go to 10 or 12,000 miles before I need to change the Full Synthetic oil. If it is an older engine that gets hard use, I may change the filter out at 5 or 6,000 miles. Most of the time, the filter change is not necessary. If you calculate what it would cost to do a Conventional Oil and Filter change every 3,000 miles and add it all up, you can see the savings. I am averaging over $25 by this method.

How you can really save money is look for deals when Full Synthetic oils are on sale. You can also save even more by buying them in the 5-qt. jugs at discounters like Wal-Mart. I buy the individual quart cases on sale and the 5-qt. jugs at Wal-Mart, as many of my engines use 6 or 7 qts. at each change. I start with the 5-qt. jug and finish with individual quarts. If all you need is 5 quarts per change, then the jugs are all you need.

GB Member delgadobb's post has some great tips. I have found a number of independents that will do a change for around $10 labor and the Disposal Fees, making an average of $15 with my oil and filter. I mostly do my own changes because I have a garage, floor jacks, stands and lifts. I simply carry the used oil to Advance Auto Part or other places that accept used oil at no charge.
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retcap201
Champion Author Austin

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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 7:34:30 AM

yes
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delgadobb
Rookie Author Nevada

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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 7:01:31 AM

Yes, full synthetic all the way for both vehicles. We converted each after the initial break-in period.
I would've been happy to pay someone the labor to use my oil & filter (Purolator PureOne), but they all still want the full $70-90 because "it's a synthetic oil change". Huh? The labor's no different.
So, I do the changes myself, it's pretty easy with the right tools & gives me a chance to check the underside of the car (once found plastic debris from road wrapping around exhaust & starting to fuse to it). By carefully planning purchases with promotions and/or rebates, I've got to the point that the oil changes cost me about $15-20. Considering that I'm picking a quality filter & getting 6,000-8,000 miles between changes (often with one filter change along the way), it's a no-brainer for me. I could probably go to 10K miles or more but why bother if it's not costing a lot & the oil is getting dirty?
We have pretty boring cars (Toyota Prius & Kia Optima) so it's not like it's a performance thing - although both cars have done wonderfully with synthetic oil. Both cars run trouble-free & my mechanic buddy is amazed how good each engine looks after lots of cross-country travel (about 120K between the 2 cars). Synthetic has likely helped our mileage as well, as we both exceed listed ratings & mileage improved on the conversion from regular oil - tho it's hard to say 100%.
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bearone2
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 7:01:13 AM

yes
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krazkar
Veteran Author Calgary

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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 6:53:36 AM

I have used synthetics for many years. Mostly Castrol.
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russells350
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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 6:41:35 AM

no
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smugutu1234
Veteran Author Tallahassee

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Message Posted: May 7, 2013 6:38:50 AM

No
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forestghost07
All-Star Author Miami

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Message Posted: May 2, 2013 4:40:07 PM

im anxious to try Amsoil but cant find it locally, really dont want to order heavy (read $$ ship) cases of oil on line.

Anyone know where it's avail. in south Fla?

I run syn. oil in my SUV but not my '72 sports car which specifies 20W-50. Amsoil HAS a syn. 20W-50
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bradley3533
Veteran Author Texas

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Message Posted: Apr 28, 2013 4:56:45 PM

yes
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kellyoneal
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: Mar 19, 2013 4:07:45 PM

yes
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toms1120
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Message Posted: Feb 17, 2013 11:37:27 PM

Yes
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russells350
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Message Posted: Feb 13, 2013 6:55:57 AM

no
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kellyoneal
Champion Author Louisville

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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 11:43:59 PM

yes
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Norm1947
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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 11:21:38 PM

yes
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xtremecheap
All-Star Author Arkansas

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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 6:16:47 PM

Yes
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Moe86
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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 5:52:49 PM

No.
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jonjon57
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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 11:19:18 AM

No
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Vin63
Champion Author San Bernardino

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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 9:12:54 AM

Yes, in my daily drivers.
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borsht
All-Star Author Oakland

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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 2:47:11 AM

Amsoil is the best synthetic. But it costs considerably more too.
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rkain
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Message Posted: Feb 1, 2013 12:48:02 AM

no
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04Ram1500
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Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 11:23:05 PM

Yes
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Carusle
Champion Author Atlanta

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Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 8:56:24 PM

Is a must in our TDI.
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herbiepopnecker
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Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 8:13:23 PM

On my newer car and my old 3 cylinder machine
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jimmy544
Champion Author Boston

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Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 8:07:29 PM

Synthetic oil cokes at a higher temp than does conventional oil and does not contribute so much to sludge and carbon build up in engines. First I ever heard of an oil disappearing in heat. All oils become less viscous with increasing temperature. That just means it flows better.Mostly use Mobile 1 and Royal Purple when I can find it.
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fuelfixer
Rookie Author KW

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Message Posted: Jan 31, 2013 7:20:10 PM

I run with 17% synthetic Shellbourne Fuels. Unlike 100% synthetic oil, it does not disappear from the cylinder walls in high heat. Similarly, when starting up from cold (below freezing), there is oil on the cylinder walls thus preventing metal-on-metal contact. Seems to add a point or 2 in mpg as engine runs with less strain.
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jonjon57
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Message Posted: Jan 27, 2013 7:59:39 AM

No
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Blubird
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Message Posted: Jan 27, 2013 7:52:17 AM

yes
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reamedatthepump
Sophomore Author Toronto

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Message Posted: Jan 26, 2013 4:59:32 PM

Amsoil products are very good. The only product I didn't like was their air filter. I put one in an 88 Mustang and it collapsed due to the edges not being rigid enough. That same Mustang was driven at one point with no oil pressure for 35 km ( about 22 miles ) with no damage to the engine.
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sagnat
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 12:08:33 PM

I run synthetic and semi-synthetic oils in all my cars & trucks.
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russells350
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 7:19:26 AM

no
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barryw8
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 7:01:15 AM

yes
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fatfed
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 6:51:14 AM

no
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Millers37
Champion Author Michigan

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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 6:20:39 AM

Yes I use Amsoil in my Duramax Diesel, does a great job.
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hoofharted
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 5:04:20 AM

Yes
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noblegiant
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 2:33:33 AM

Yes
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igbo
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Message Posted: Jan 20, 2013 2:05:41 AM

Yes.
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Moe86
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Message Posted: Jan 18, 2013 4:13:54 PM

No.
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rual817
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Message Posted: Jan 18, 2013 1:21:35 PM

Castrol Edge is a great oil, So is Rotella T6, and Amsoil, and Mobil 1 Euro. All these Full Synthetics qualify as Great Oils.
I own a VW very few oils pass VW standards. These oils do, along with a few others, but not many. The Germans have such a high standard for lubricity and longevity that few compare. These are just a few of the handful that qualify.
Writer from Mens Health Magazine owned a 01 VW Jetta and gave it back to VW to see what the inside of a 1/2 million mile engine looked like. Long story short. After beaking it down to its bare individual wearable parts, an engineer guaged everything and they were ALL still within specifications. Even the cylinder walls still had the original cross hatching from the original honing. Meaning it hadn't even full broken in yet.
http://blogs.menshealth.com/half-mill-man/the-automotive-autopsy/2012/04/19
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toms1120
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Message Posted: Jan 18, 2013 8:22:47 AM

Yes
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Vin63
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Message Posted: Jan 4, 2013 9:10:00 AM

Yes, and yes on the Amsoil EaO filters that use the Donaldson nano fiber filter media.
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dakine
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 9:01:33 AM

No
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sagnat
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 8:36:00 AM

Full synthetic in two of the cars and semi-synthetic in the other two.
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bearone2
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 7:38:47 AM

yes
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STEVE853
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 7:28:14 AM

No
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Jeff1226
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 7:24:14 AM

no
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toms1120
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Message Posted: Jan 3, 2013 7:14:20 AM

Yes
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sc331mustang
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Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 11:09:51 PM

no
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nickless
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Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 10:51:03 PM

yes
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fiberguy
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Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 10:02:35 PM

no
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russells350
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Message Posted: Dec 28, 2012 9:22:02 AM

no
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