Re: Tell me about AMS-OIL? AMZ-OIL?

Posted by Steve - IN on April 30, 2002 at 23:57:11 from (12.222.1.20):

In Reply to: Tell me about AMS-OIL? AMZ-OIL? posted by ShepFL on April 30, 2002 at 21:28:34:

Here's an opinion on Amsoil and synthetics in general. You know what they say about opinions and everyone having one, but there's some experience that goes along with this.

Some years ago I used to race cars on road tracks and ovals. In one racing series they gave us free Valvoline petro oil in return for a sticker on the side of the car (before Valvoline had their own synthetic). The Valvoline went in the transport truck and the expensive synthetic went in the race car.

How come? Because of what we used to see when we opened up the bottom end of the engine after using synthetics. It looked like it did when it was assembled. After 300 to 500 miles racing with 40 or 50 wt petro oils we'd be in for new rod bearings at a minimum. They were worn and ugly, and we ran very, very loose bearing clearances. We found we could get whole season's use on a set of bearings with synthetics, and they still looked good... using the same loose clearances. Add to that the engine ran cooler, and dynoed out slightly little better. I was sold on synthetics.

A few downsides: 1. A nervous factor because the synthetics seem to thin out faster with heat (water temp of 210-220 in a race) so you don't see as much oil pressure. 2. They're supposed to protect cylinder walls better. Never saw that, but then we were using "dura-moly" or stainless dykes rings which were a lot stronger than the cylinders. 3. The synthetics are also a lot more expensive.

How do you justify the extra expense in a tractor? The thing I learned in racing was synthetics stay cleaner longer. We had a dry sump in racing and the outside plumbing that went with it -- so opening it up to change oil was always tempting fate. We got to where we'd change the filter after every race, and that was it.. used the same oil all season. Now in my old age, I do the same thing with my three tractors. Pour in the expensive synthetic, and change the filter every year. I'm going on three years since an oil change. Haven't dropped the pan to look -- but I bet I wouldn't be disappointed.

I've never done an accurate cost accounting of the petro vs. synthetic over three or more years. I just remember the looks of bearings run on petro oil (the best 40 or 50 wt super dooper "racing" stuff they had) versus the synthetics. And it gives me a good feeling to think I'm doing my old tractors a favor.

Amsoil isn't the only game in town. There's Redline, and Mobil 1 synthetics for starters. Now everybody seems to have one. People will tell you synthetics leak. I've never seen that. People will tell you they damage bronze parts. Never seen that either. There's a crude expression I picked up at a bull ring race track long ago. It goes -- "Like giving a dead man an enema. May not help, but ain't gonna hurt anything." At worse, this is the case with synthetics. Average experience is that they'll last longer and stay cleaner. Of course, your mileage may vary, and this stuff isn't FDIC insured. Caveat emptor and good luck.

Steve

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