PQIA Test Results - AMSOIL SAE 5W-30 Motor Oil

[cheesepuffs2]

You are the one who seems to be getting wrapped up, not me. The reason I brought this oil up is because it is a product that gives demonstrated performance at a very good price point. It has an actual dexos2 license and verifiable manufacturer approvals.

I'm not wrapped up either, same here. I'm just against products that ride the coattails of a reputation and charge out the nose for just the name and perception.

I don't see how any of us win when we cave to buying an oil like that. If anything, that sets a precedent that more oils can be up-charging us for merely perceived benefits. No thanks.

 

[Pablo]

I'm not looking for a specific quantity of any one component within the VOA. That's pointless since every oil is the product of it's entire formulation and not all components appear on a VOA anyway, nor am I a tribologist. I'm comparing this oil against other commodity Dexos approved oils, of which there are many to choose from.

Question for you: Why should I buy Amsoil OE over Mobil 1?

That's a good answer, but none of this is new.

Amsoil has had this type of product for 20 years or so. Nothing new. The interesting or ironic part that some people forgot or actually don't know is Amsoil used to get nearly the same beating for something 180° different. Too much additives and not being API/DEXOS compliant. Maybe no one remembers that.

Also Amsoil purposely does not get DEXOS listed because they refuse to pay the fee to GM. But it's fully chemically and test compliant.

By definition you will see no difference in any compliant oil. So just buy the lowest cost oil and be done with it. I stand by OE having enough additives ("hidden" or not) and good base oils to produce some very good UOA's and no dirty engine or other complaints.

And lastly people need only contact me about the $10-$20 preferred customer fee.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

That's a good answer, but none of this is new.

Amsoil has had this type of product for 20 years or so. Nothing new. The interesting or ironic part that some people forgot or actually don't know is Amsoil used to get nearly the same beating for something 180° different. Too much additives and not being API/DEXOS compliant. Maybe no one remembers that.

Also Amsoil purposely does not get DEXOS listed because they refuse to pay the fee to GM. But it's fully chemically and test compliant.

By definition you will see no difference in any compliant oil. So just buy the lowest cost oil and be done with it. I stand by OE having enough additives ("hidden" or not) and good base oils to produce some very good UOA's and no dirty engine or other complaints.

And lastly people need only contact me about the $10-$20 preferred customer fee.

It's irrelevant to me that it's not new and that feels like changing the goalposts.

So Amsoil cuts their costs by not paying the Dexos fee to GM, but where's the savings for the consumer?

You can stand by OE producing good UOAs (UOAs mean less than many people here seem to think, anyway) and keeping engines clean, but so can cheaper oils that aren't even discount level products, so I ask you again to sell me on this product over Mobil 1.

Your ability to waive the fee is great, but I am referring to Amsoil corporate here. The list price, which is what the vast majority of consumers are paying because they don't know Pablo on a niche forum, is uncompetitve. Heck, the price  with the fee waived is still uncompetive because it's four quarts of OE for the price of five quarts of Mobil 1.

 

[4WD]

 

[#18FAN]

View attachment 148108

Over and over and over good grief give it up.

 

[kschachn]

Also Amsoil purposely does not get DEXOS listed because they refuse to pay the fee to GM. But it's fully chemically and test compliant.

I thought the reason was that the ash level was slightly beyond the limit for a dexos license? That is what used to be stated on the PDS.

 

[Pablo]

I thought the reason was that the ash level was slightly beyond the limit for a dexos license? That is what used to be stated on the PDS.

You are thinking of Sig Series.

 

[kschachn]

You are thinking of Sig Series.

Ahha all right, sorry for that.

 

[FowVay]

You know, for decades Amsoil was hammered because they didn't sell an API licensed product. So after numerous complaints from consumers and dealers they decided to offer two product lines to give people what they asked for. So now they get hammered for that action too. There's just no pleasing some people.

As for the post about my price, I have a local dealer that gave me a 5 year preferred membership because I too complained about the cost of joining. I simply couldn't ask him for anything more. I complained about shipping costs and Amsoil frequently gives free shipping on $49 purchases and always has free shipping on $100 purchases. So while it didn't cost me anything, an average Joe can pay $20 per year for the preferred pricing or $75 for 5 years for the same. This works out to $15 per year over the course. **EDIT: Amsoil currently has free shipping on $49 orders now through 11 April.

Here is a clip of my order with personal information redacted to show precisely what I was charged on my credit for my most recent purchase. I don't know what else can be said. The cheapest synthetic oil purchases seem to be from WalMart for Quaker State. If your life's motivation is to get the absolute lowest price on anything then that's the route to take. I am personally thankful that $0.08 per oil change doesn't destroy my household budget.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

So you have to order 16 quarts at once and personally reach out to a distributor to get a decent price.

We're two different customers with two different ideas of what's right for us, which is fine, but personally I am never ordering four gallons of oil at a time as I don't like sitting on a big stash. Personal preference.

It's not about the 8 cents "destroying" household budget. Hyperbole much? It's about the principal of this whole thing.

If you want to jump through silly membership hoops or waived fees just to get a run of the mill product at a half decent price, then go right ahead. To me, that's more than a run of the mill level experience to get something totally mundane. I'll stop into Walmart on my way home and get the Pennzoil for less money and greater convenience, for my time, and I trust the product more because they don't skirt getting the actual approvals.

Like I said earlier, Amsoil isn't a charity, and when it comes to purchasing consumables for my vehicles, I am not a charity either.

 

[FowVay]

So you have to order 16 quarts at once and personally reach out to a distributor to get a decent price.

I don't have to do anything. I choose to buy this product in the quantity that I buy it in because I have four personal vehicles I maintain. Buying in quarts is inefficient. I would buy in 20 liter containers if they sold it that way but they don't. I bought Amsoil for the next maintenance event because it was the same price as anything else I would buy, it was convenient, and I honestly can't stand going to my local WalMart. I could buy from a neighboring autoparts store but they're not price competitive.

I am not an Amsoil fanboy and I detest some of the idiotic youtube videos and on-line diatribe pushed by very ignorant people that sell the product. However, for my vehicles that require nothing more than a simple API licensed product I feel that the OE product line from Amsoil will perform as well as any other API licensed product from any other company.

People are free to buy whatever they want, in any quantity that they choose, and pay whatever price point that their wallet will afford. I don't see the reason for arguments and disagreements over what one person chooses to do over what another person chooses to do all because someone posted a PQIA analysis of an oil.

I've often wondered why Amsoil chooses to market their product the way they do and I have concluded that they can't be held liable for what their "independent" dealers say or do since they're not corporate employees. Also, there's simply no other way on planet earth to get the kind of market exposure that they get than to have every Tom, ****, and Harry touting the benefits of the product. Amsoil is likely the most exposed motor oil in the world because of this. Whether good or bad, it's still publicity for them.

 

[MSCH]

when a difference makes no difference, buy amsoil. It will make you feel smarter but almost everyone else will think you are a bonehead.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

I don't have to do anything. I choose to buy this product in the quantity that I buy it in because I have four personal vehicles I maintain. Buying in quarts is inefficient. I would buy in 20 liter containers if they sold it that way but they don't. I bought Amsoil for the next maintenance event because it was the same price as anything else I would buy, it was convenient, and I honestly can't stand going to my local WalMart. I could buy from a neighboring autoparts store but they're not price competitive.

I am not an Amsoil fanboy and I detest some of the idiotic youtube videos and on-line diatribe pushed by very ignorant people that sell the product. However, for my vehicles that require nothing more than a simple API licensed product I feel that the OE product line from Amsoil will perform as well as any other API licensed product from any other company.

People are free to buy whatever they want, in any quantity that they choose, and pay whatever price point that their wallet will afford. I don't see the reason for arguments and disagreements over what one person chooses to do over what another person chooses to do all because someone posted a PQIA analysis of an oil.

I've often wondered why Amsoil chooses to market their product the way they do and I have concluded that they can't be held liable for what their "independent" dealers say or do since they're not corporate employees. Also, there's simply no other way on planet earth to get the kind of market exposure that they get than to have every Tom, ****, and Harry touting the benefits of the product. Amsoil is likely the most exposed motor oil in the world because of this. Whether good or bad, it's still publicity for them.

You're being pedantic, I'm saying that you have to (in the sense that it is a requirement) purchase gallons by the case to achieve the price point you're touting.

I would think Amsoil is definitely not the most exposed oil in the world. Those Tom, **** and Harrys pushing Amsoil are a drop in the bucket compared to the global marketing budget of XOM, one of the largest companies in the entire world.

 

[ARCOgraphite]

So a run of the mill synthetic 5W30. Not bashing it, just nothing OMG special.

It's nice they list all the approvals and satisfactions. It's not their Signature series or one of their other Specialised performance series.
Just Amsoil's oil change tool alone - that lists lube specs and quantity - is worth someone paying a bit more for this solid lubricant
So, nothing especially"newsworthy" here.

 

[OVERKILL]

We're two different customers with two different ideas of what's right for us, which is fine, but personally I am never ordering four gallons of oil at a time as I don't like sitting on a big stash. Personal preference.

It's not about the 8 cents "destroying" household budget. Hyperbole much? It's about the principal of this whole thing.

If you want to jump through silly membership hoops or waived fees just to get a run of the mill product at a half decent price, then go right ahead. To me, that's more than a run of the mill level experience to get something totally mundane. I'll stop into Walmart on my way home and get the Pennzoil for less money and greater convenience, for my time, and I trust the product more because they don't skirt getting the actual approvals.

Like I said earlier, Amsoil isn't a charity, and when it comes to purchasing consumables for my vehicles, I am not a charity either.

I'm a consumer. This is a site for consumers who tend to be especially value-conscious.

I think you two are talking past each other a bit. Also, cheesepuffs2, your bit above there that I've bolded and underlined puts you in a rather select group on this forum. There are two major "groups" on this board, those that are highly value-driven and tend to hoard the best perceived value (this can be Supertech) they can score and those that buy "premium" oils (typically trying to get a deal on it) and also tend to hoard it. Note the common theme, we've had numerous threads on how much oil people buy and have stashed:

Grand Total BITOG Member Combined Oil Stash

To make this work everybody post their current stash amount and the BITOG running total. Lets keep it to motor oil, not ATF or gear lube or additives, and not count vintage oil that we do not intend to use in a vehicle. Keep it in quarts. We can convert to gallons later. I am betting there are...

bobistheoilguy.com

Post your latest oil purchase or even filter.

Similar to the lastest oil change thread What was your latest oil purchase be it on sale or whatever. My last latest buys.

bobistheoilguy.com

I'd wager the group that doesn't maintain a considerable inventory and instead just performs value-driven TOU shopping (describing your approach) is quite small compared to the other two.

IMHO, buying OE isn't about "value", it's about getting a product that says AMSOIL on it for a similar price to Quaker State, Pennzoil, Mobil 1...etc. Supporting a smaller "all American" company who put out a low-cost line for those who are price conscious. I think that's the angle, and I expect it's reasonably effective with the target audience.

For somebody who doesn't care what brand is on the bottle, or where it is made, this approach probably seems ridiculous, but there IS a group that this caters to.

Being in Canada with oil being expensive and coupled with the periodic sales of various brand-name products at Canadian Tire and Parts Source (you can never count on what is going to be on sale), and also having a preference for particular products and lines, I tend to maintain a considerable inventory, currently mostly consisting of M1 EP 0W-20 and M1 0W-40 procured during those aforementioned sales. But, I also have a fair bit of HPL Super Car on-hand. The procurement of this product is challenging with the massive cost of shipping and so @Rand was nice enough to bring a couple cases with him the last time he came up here, saving me that.

Many of us also maintain an inventory of filters. This was a wise move with the FRAM Ultra since it was later altered, and if you are ordering them (like the Fleetguard ones I run on our boat) then you typically get a discount. I'm currently stocking AMSOIL EaO's.

Maintaining an inventory also makes sense for somebody like @FowVay who is making orders of product, to minimize the shipping cost. If he's somebody who doesn't shop at Walmart or doesn't have one nearby, the perceived "simple convenience" of just popping in there, well, isn't. I personally don't shop at Walmart I'd also argue that having an inventory and just being able to change your oil whenever, not having to worry about stopping at Walmart/AutoZone/Pep Boys and that they'll have value-conscious product in stock, is more of a time saver and ultimately ends up in jumping through fewer hoops. It takes me less time to login and order from the AMSOIL website than it does for me to get shoes on, out the door, into the Jeep, let the idle settle and then back out of the driveway, let alone drive to the store, grab product, wait in line...etc.

 

[wpod]

Amsoil is the most fun brand to complain about.

 

[FowVay]

personally I am never ordering four gallons of oil at a time as I don't like sitting on a big stash. Personal preference.

haha, I also ordered six 5-quart containers of Mobil-1 5W-40 Euro for another batch of vehicles that require it. So add 30 quarts of Mobil-1 to the 16 quarts of Amsoil and you have my purchase for February. This amount of lubricant will be depleted by the end of April.

I can appreciate your approach to not hording but in my situation I go through quite a bit of product. I shop and source my product from the most accommodating source and try to support my local friends and neighbors whenever possible.

 

[cheesepuffs2]

I think you two are talking past each other a bit. Also, cheesepuffs2, your bit above there that I've bolded and underlined puts you in a rather select group on this forum. There are two major "groups" on this board, those that are highly value-driven and tend to hoard the best perceived value (this can be Supertech) they can score and those that buy "premium" oils (typically trying to get a deal on it) and also tend to hoard it. Note the common theme, we've had numerous threads on how much oil people buy and have stashed:

Grand Total BITOG Member Combined Oil Stash

To make this work everybody post their current stash amount and the BITOG running total. Lets keep it to motor oil, not ATF or gear lube or additives, and not count vintage oil that we do not intend to use in a vehicle. Keep it in quarts. We can convert to gallons later. I am betting there are...

bobistheoilguy.com

Post your latest oil purchase or even filter.

Similar to the lastest oil change thread What was your latest oil purchase be it on sale or whatever. My last latest buys.

bobistheoilguy.com

I'd wager the group that doesn't maintain a considerable inventory and instead just performs value-driven TOU shopping (describing your approach) is quite small compared to the other two.

IMHO, buying OE isn't about "value", it's about getting a product that says AMSOIL on it for a similar price to Quaker State, Pennzoil, Mobil 1...etc. Supporting a smaller "all American" company who put out a low-cost line for those who are price conscious. I think that's the angle, and I expect it's reasonably effective with the target audience.

For somebody who doesn't care what brand is on the bottle, or where it is made, this approach probably seems ridiculous, but there IS a group that this caters to.

Being in Canada with oil being expensive and coupled with the periodic sales of various brand-name products at Canadian Tire and Parts Source (you can never count on what is going to be on sale), and also having a preference for particular products and lines, I tend to maintain a considerable inventory, currently mostly consisting of M1 EP 0W-20 and M1 0W-40 procured during those aforementioned sales. But, I also have a fair bit of HPL Super Car on-hand. The procurement of this product is challenging with the massive cost of shipping and so @Rand was nice enough to bring a couple cases with him the last time he came up here, saving me that.

Many of us also maintain an inventory of filters. This was a wise move with the FRAM Ultra since it was later altered, and if you are ordering them (like the Fleetguard ones I run on our boat) then you typically get a discount. I'm currently stocking AMSOIL EaO's.

Maintaining an inventory also makes sense for somebody like @FowVay who is making orders of product, to minimize the shipping cost. If he's somebody who doesn't shop at Walmart or doesn't have one nearby, the perceived "simple convenience" of just popping in there, well, isn't. I personally don't shop at Walmart

Fair points. I agree with you that stashing oil is obviously very common here on BITOG. If we can expand that to "DIY oil changers consumers" as a whole though, I'd wager that the majority of people changing their oil aren't hoarding much more than they can use at one time, and that naturally will included many potential Amsoil OE customers.

Not to get off topic here too much, but I am weary of stashing oil filters in particular, because I agree that stashing Ultras worked out nicely for those who may have done that, but with so many issues with filters I don't personally think the risk is worth the reward. For example I went on a string of using only Wix, but then they started leaking at the seam of the canister for some people, and if I stashed Wix filters during that time frame then I could have ended up with a bunch of problematic filters if my luck went the wrong way. I buy filters one at a time as needed. Nothing wrong with either way, that's just my preference.

Regional pricing and availability is definitely critical to this conversation and can make or break the deal. I'm in the US and my local Walmart is clean, well stocked on oil, and it's not out of the way for me at all, so that's where I'll continue to purchase jugs from. I'm lucky that in the US our PCMO prices have stayed relatively flat. There are a lot of bargains here, even with commodity oils. My local Walmart regularly has M1 0W-40 FS available on the shelf for $29.97 for a five quart jug. Pennzoil Platinum always on hand for a few bucks less than that. That's why when I see this Amsoil OE for $40 a gallon, it's like, for what? My personal needs as a PCMO customer carry no weight or preference toward Amsoil, so to me, it's a bad deal. Even with the $10 membership fee waived, it's still not a good deal, imo. I'm not bent out of the shape about it, I just don't understand how it can be justified, unless, like you and I said, somebody *really* just wants to see that Amsoil logo on the bottles, but since this forum leans more data driven than that, I'm surprised that anybody here is interested in what I see as being a gimmick.

At the end of the day, I don't really care what oil people are using in their personal vehicles, or how they spend their own money. But I'm not going to see this, and within my own context/local oil pricing and availability, say "gee whiz, what an alluring product". And no disrespect to @Pablo but of course he's biased because he sells the product. A salesman doesn't exactly sway me in a conversation like this because a salesman isn't likely to be objective in this type of conversation. His goal, and the goal of Amsoil corporate, is to take our money. My goal is to *keep* my money, or at least get the most value for my money. If other people see value in this product and it gives them the warm and fuzzies then that's cool. We're entitled to our own opinions as customers seeking the most fitting solutions to our individual needs. I think my points have merit though, and I don't think some of the counterpoints made earlier in this thread gave a real apples to apples comparison.

 

[userfriendly]

You're being pedantic, I'm saying that you have to (in the sense that it is a requirement) purchase gallons by the case to achieve the price point you're touting.

I would think Amsoil is definitely not the most exposed oil in the world. Those Tom, **** and Harrys pushing Amsoil are a drop in the bucket compared to the global marketing budget of XOM, one of the largest companies in the entire world.

The do it yourself engine oil market is a drop in the bucket.
So we are discussing a drop in that bucket.

 

[userfriendly]

when a difference makes no difference, buy amsoil. It will make you feel smarter but almost everyone else will think you are a bonehead.

You mean like a lifted bro truck that never leaves the pavement taking up 3 spaces on the mall parking lot?