Originally Posted By: dnewton3
Bean - I was not able to view your charts at work, as the server blocks them. Here at home, they are very well laid out; nice work!
I do take issue with some of the presumtions, which very greatly affect the numbers. As I said in one of my other posts, 10k mile OCIs is not uncommon by the OLM (verified by UOAs) for some trucks, like my Dmax. That puts a huge change in the OCI calculations; can you rerun the charts based upon a 10k mile OCI? How many of those "No" blocks become a "yes" even when using the "retail" dino price? Esentially, that would cut the costs in half, making the dino much more attractive.
Thanks. I did leave out the 10k OCI (which I admit, I didn't factor in HDEO oil) so in all reality, the current numbers in that chart are probably applicable much more to gas vehicles than diesels for sure. This changes the calculation, and inherently the outcome, for both Amsoil and the dino HDEO oils.
The reason I left the 10k out is because it is not objective enough for me to create concrete numbers with. I have no comparative data for Amsoil that
could show longer OCI's than I posted on the spreadsheets, and that would be speculation. The first plateau of basis I had to work with was simply recommended and/or warrantied OCI duration.
Concerning HDEOs, Amsoil can run successfully up to 50k on some of their oil, but I haven't updated those spreadsheets to reflect more speculative, less concrete numbers. Unfortunately, I am trying to present numbers that may reside in a happy medium for average results, and the length I know for a fact are recommended and warrantied were those numbers. The further I deviate from what we know for sure to specific scenarios, the less applicable I feel it can be to everyone...although I am certainly not discounting the possibility for some!
I'll see if I can get to changing the chart at some point. If you are wanting to see a specific cost/benefit analysis, whether I may agree with it or not, feel free to PM me the changes you would like me to make and I will post up a calc.
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Granted, that's not applicable to all vehicles. But it's not exclusive of all vehicles, either. As we both likely now agree, the situation is very dependent upon many factors.
I agree with you, as there are a ton of independent variables here.
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I firmly believe we're at odds on the prices for "normal" folks, but that's ok. I simply don't agree that I would have to pay retail shelf prices for dino HDEO (I haven't had to in four years), but you'll discount Amsoil to the special prices? We're just not going to be in agreement on that one. Like I said, shelf retail for Amsoil in my area is $8/quart; that greatly affects your charts as well.
I think we will disagree and that is okay.
I have seen Delvac, for one, for several dollars over $12.99 a gallon before, so I felt like I was being fairly generous there, for the average price every individual could go out and buy the oil on any given day.
The "Special prices" with Amsoil, to the contrary, are not really the equivalent of "sale" prices though. These prices can be found every day from any number of dealers around the country.
Basically, as I mentioned before, a random individual can get Amsoil at a PC price (with a PC purchase at least, but often without) 47 days from now, but can they be guaranteed to get a 2-for-1 sale on X brand HDEO at their nearest auto parts store? Unfortunately, unless they live in a huge, high competition market, I don't believe they can. This is also why I included the PC price in the top portion of the computations. Just trying to avoid the independent variables we have been discussing, and sale prices are definitely one of them.
As to the end of that comment, you finding Amsoil for $8/quart on a shelf at a store is 10x more rare than the traditional means of distribution for Amsoil. The oil is sold, by far more, through independent distributions (generally individuals) and can be sold at retail or discounted. I, personally, know for a FACT that you can find dealers who will sell Amsoil all day long
deeply discounted. In fact, some are so big and push so many products that they work off of the commission they receive from Amsoil FAR MORE than they do the price they sell products over retail. Trust me here, as I guarantee I am not peeing down your back and telling you it's raining...so to speak.