Amsoil filter caused engine destruction ?

[badnews]

c/p from another board - what happened here ?





I was running amsoil in my 07 when the motor went out. The truck had 48k miles on it at the time of the failure. The amsoil that was in it had 12k miles on it. Prior to putting amsoil in I had just been letting the Toyota dealer service it every 5k. The amsoil I was running was 25k oil, however I was going to change it the day after my engine went out, I already had new oil purchased. I was driving down the road and had just pulled back into my lane after passing someone. When I noticed the oil light come on. I quickly pulled to the side of the road and shut my truck off. I checked the oil and it showed full on the dipstick. When I tried to restart it it would barely crank. I had it towed into the dealer and when they drained the oil it was full of metal. They told me the cause of this was the amsoil filter starving my engine for oil. Amsoil had a bulletin on their website that the filter I was using (E057) was not for Toyotas. So Toyota did not warranty the engine. Amsoil also did nothing for me and acted as if they did not care. I would like to hear your opinions on this.

 

[racer12306]

Sounds pretty simple if he was using a filter that Amsoil didn't recommend for Toyotas.

 

[JHZR2]

Is it just me or is this a case of not following the directions?

Let me see...

-truck likely still under warranty, doesnt amsoil suggest following manufacturer's recommendations?
-no UOA performed (at least not mentioned) prior to juming feet first into a 12k OCI?
-Using the wrong filter (which Amsoil had a bulletin out on in fact)?

Am I missing something else here? I guess that EO57 doesnt have a bypass? Otherwise Id think that oil would bypass if the filter was too restrictive...

 

[Gary Allan]

The 057 has a bypass. The whole scenario doesn't quite add up. A filter just doesn't catastrophically clog. The odd thing is, in every application that I can think of, if a filter does clog, it's transparent in operation. Toy's appear different in that regard, but ..again, if it was apparent at high speed, it would be just as a apparent with cold oil at start up.

 

[labman]

Since we have one bad report, everybody should panic and replace their Amsoil filters with Purolator. In this case, the engine was actually destroyed, not just the filter.

 

[demarpaint]

Odd that it would be destroyed in 12,000 miles. Sounds like 5000 mile OCI's at the dealer was the way to go. I could see Toyota and Amsoil bailing on the guy, a sad state of affairs for that person.

 

[pcfxer]

Originally Posted By: demarpaint
Odd that it would be destroyed in 12,000 miles. Sounds like 5000 mile OCI's at the dealer was the way to go. I could see Toyota and Amsoil bailing on the guy, a sad state of affairs for that person.


You are right, he did not educate himself and has paid the price. It literally takes five minutes to use the auto-look up guide on Amsoil's website.

I have had one instance with a car that was under warranty, however it was being raced. So, the dealer said heck no, but Amsoil said, "Heck yeah, let us know what you find." So we did and they paid for two oil changes and filters...after finding out that crank had too much end-play and it was not oil related.

 

[WishIhadatruck]

Was the EO57 spec.'d for the truck originally? Why would he have been using it otherwise? If so, did he buy it and start using it prior to the bulletin?

 

[ARCOgraphite]

Badnews:
No one blows up a Toyota around here except me - got it buddy?!

 

[ottotheclown]

I totally agree with the idea that keeping to Toyota and the 5,000 oci. This long oci thinking with warranty at stake is nutty logic. Too, it sure can cost you a bundle, tough in these times very tough....

 

[John K]

I couldn't find the bulletin on Amsoil's site, anyone have a link?

 

[Billy_D]

A filter on some Toyota's engines needs to be replaced every 5k-6k miles. Going 25000 miles before changing his oil while the car is still under warranty is just stupid.

 

[badtlc]

Originally Posted By: Billy007
A filter on some Toyota's engines needs to be replaced every 5k-6k miles. Going 25000 miles before changing his oil while the car is still under warranty is just stupid.


He wasn't going 25k.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: WishIhadatruck
Was the EO57 spec.'d for the truck originally? Why would he have been using it otherwise? If so, did he buy it and start using it prior to the bulletin?


Now that is an interesting question. Lets say he bought a few filters, and some oil from Amsoil, then decided he didn't want to use their product anymore for what ever reason. He did however use up his remaining stash of Amsoil, and their filters. Not visiting their site, and not reading their literature he continued on his merry way. Destroyed engine, lawyer time.

Not his fault if Amsoil didn't notify every customer that bought the filter in question. Notification would have to be a lot more than visiting their site, or getting the magazine they send out. They would literally have to mail each customer a letter via registered mail informing them the filters were bad. Now if Amsoil did that they'd be off the hook, if no he has one good case against them.

If my little story is something near what could have happened he has a case against Amsoil. JMO


BTW- No Amsoil bashing, just stating opinion. If it were me Amsoil would be getting a letter from my lawyer.

 

[hate2work]

This what the TSB says...

===============================================================

Technical Service Bulletin
Date: 06/30/2009 Product Description: AMSOIL EaO09, EaO10 and EaO57 Oil Filters Subject: Toyota Applications
OBJECTIVE:
Inform customers of an issue regarding the oil sensor tripping in the following applications: • All Toyota/Lexus Vehicles • Pontiac Vibe Featuring the 1.8L Toyota-Built Engine.
ISSUES:
A small number of customers with Toyota, Lexus and Pontiac vehicles with Toyota-built engines have reported that their vehicles’ oil pressure light has illuminated prior to reaching the end of the AMSOIL-recommended 25,000- mile drain interval.
TECHNICAL DISCUSSION:
To protect the engine, the OEM has engineered the oil pressure sensor to trigger the oil light when there is insufficient oil pressure to maintain an adequate level of protection. Each filter is equipped with a by-pass valve, so when the filter is at or close to capacity, the engine is continually supplied with adequate lubrication oil, although unfiltered. However, if the filter reaches maximum capacity, the level of restriction can become significant enough to trigger the oil pressure warning light. In extreme situations, oil starva- tion could occur.
Premature oil filter capacity can be attributed to a number of factors such as poor air filtration, a leaking air intake system or excessive contaminants being produced in the combustion process. As discussed in the AMSOIL Technical Service Bulletin Using AMSOIL in Engines with Possible Sludge Issues,1 certain engines are prone to accumulate sludge, including some engines from Toyota/Lexus.
RECOMMENDATION:
When used in conjunction with any Toyota/Lexus applica- tion, or with the Pontiac Vibe featuring the 1.8L engine built by Toyota, AMSOIL recommends changing EaO09 and EaO10 Filters per the OEM-recommended change inter- val. AMSOIL no longer recommends the EaO57 Oil Filter
for Toyota/Lexus applications, however, it is still recommended for other applicable vehicle makes and off-road equipment. Customers operating any of the above listed applications with an EaO09, EaO10 or EaO57 Filter in service beyond the OEM-recommended interval should change the oil filter at the earliest opportunity. If the oil light is triggered the filter should be changed immediately to avoid damage. AMSOIL also offers WIX Filters as an al- ternative to the Ea Filtration line and recommends the WIX 51348 Oil Filter for Toyota/Lexus applications that previ- ously called for an EaO57 Filter. If a WIX Oil Filter is used, AMSOIL recommends changing it at OEM-recommended intervals.
REFERENCES:
1AMSOIL Technical Service Bulletin Using AMSOIL in Engines with Possible Sludge Issues, MO-2005-09-29, 09/29/2005

 

[NHHEMI]

As another poster brought up, was the filter in question originally spec'd for this guy's application? How did he come up with that part # to use to start with? I would also like to know if Amsoil made an effort to make that TSB available and most of all EASY TO FIND? How proactive were they in getting the word out so people wouldn't use these filters on Toyota's and end up with a toasted engine?

Sounds to me like Amsoil shares "some" resonsibility for this IF the filter # was originally spec'd for the guys vehicle. If this is a case of using something not specific to the vehicle the guy is on his own BUT if it is the correect filter # for his vehicle( pre TSB )then Amsoil has at least some blame in this.

As another member posted above the guy may have bought it pre TSB and in that case Amsoil is responsible 100%. But we all know they will duck and run regardless of fault. I agree a lawyer needs to get involved.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: NHHEMI
As another poster brought up, was the filter in question originally spec'd for this guy's application? How did he come up with that part # to use to start with? I would also like to know if Amsoil made an effort to make that TSB available and most of all EASY TO FIND? How proactive were they in getting the word out so people wouldn't use these filters on Toyota's and end up with a toasted engine?

Sounds to me like Amsoil shares "some" resonsibility for this IF the filter # was originally spec'd for the guys vehicle. If this is a case of using something not specific to the vehicle the guy is on his own BUT if it is the correect filter # for his vehicle( pre TSB )then Amsoil has at least some blame in this.

As another member posted above the guy may have bought it pre TSB and in that case Amsoil is responsible 100%. But we all know they will duck and run regardless of fault. I agree a lawyer needs to get involved.


Exactly. The end user isn't always the person to blame. Try walking in the shoes of the guy that put his faith in a product and is now out an engine. Then when he calls to find out what happened he hears you should have read the TSB. Maybe they should have put the TSB in the box.

 

[c3po]

Originally Posted By: badnews
c/p from another board - what happened here ?





I was running amsoil in my 07 when the motor went out. The truck had 48k miles on it at the time of the failure. The amsoil that was in it had 12k miles on it. Prior to putting amsoil in I had just been letting the Toyota dealer service it every 5k. The amsoil I was running was 25k oil, however I was going to change it the day after my engine went out, I already had new oil purchased. I was driving down the road and had just pulled back into my lane after passing someone. When I noticed the oil light come on. I quickly pulled to the side of the road and shut my truck off. I checked the oil and it showed full on the dipstick. When I tried to restart it it would barely crank. I had it towed into the dealer and when they drained the oil it was full of metal. They told me the cause of this was the amsoil filter starving my engine for oil. Amsoil had a bulletin on their website that the filter I was using (E057) was not for Toyotas. So Toyota did not warranty the engine. Amsoil also did nothing for me and acted as if they did not care. I would like to hear your opinions on this.


I am wondering if the Amsoil cleaned the engine out, what kind of oil was being used at the Dealer, was it Dino Oil.

Maybe the guy was doing some short trip driving and the engine had some junk in there. JMO

 

[demarpaint]

I doubt Amsoil made the engine so clean it failed. Obviously there were some issues with those filters, and my guess is the guy didn't know about the issues until after he had the problem.

He claims it had only 48,000 miles when it failed, and 5000 mile OCI at the dealer. JMO

 

[hate2work]

Yes, the EAO57 was the filter Amsoil spec'd for this application. I'm basing that on several posts by others on various forums that mention it.

It looks like the TSB came out at the end of June last year, not sure when the guy bought the filter.