VOA, Amsoil Signature Series 0W-20, w/TBN & TAN

[btanchors]

I know this has been done before (by a different lab), but since it has been over a year and I am using Blackstone for most of my UOAs, I wanted a VOA performed by the same lab. So here it is. See the previous VOA here.

It looks very close, at least within perhaps a 20% margin of error, to the other VOA. I like what I see in the VOA, and am anxious to see how this performs in my 2011 Tundra, and 2010 Camry.

 

[buster]

Thanks for sharing. Nice oil. This oil contains a very high level of calcium for long drains. Tbn is strong, but that doesn't mean much. Most of the newer oils are using newer detergent and additive systems that are retaining their Tbn better, despite the lower initial Tbn. I think this is one of those "Looks good on paper" type oils. Good oil, no doubt, but I don't get excited by VOA's anymore.


Also, a common fallacy is that higher the initial TBN the better long drain oil it is. Not so.

Quote:
This is one reason why higher levels of TBN’s can mislead you into thinking it is better when in fact all it is stating is that it has higher levels of detergents to keep the engine clean but the base oil can oxidize(or breakdown) faster than one with higher levels of antioxidants which prevents the acids by neutralizing the attacking acids as oppose to cleaning up the by products of the oxidized oil.


Old Amsoil formulations had 12 Tbn's but would thicken due to oxidation. This is an example of where having a higher Tbn didn't help because the base oils weren't up to the task of handling the oxidation.

 

[Tempest]

Higher TAN is probably an ester as part of the base oil mix.

Sure is nice clean oil with no extra junk floating around. Amsoil QC appears to be on the ball.

 

[buster]

Amsoil has excellent quality control processes.

 

[MolaKule]

Quote:
Higher TAN is probably an ester as part of the base oil mix.


I dunno. I have four different esters here of 4 different viscosities and the spec sheets show TAN's of between 0.01 and 0.2.

 

[Tempest]

Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Quote:
Higher TAN is probably an ester as part of the base oil mix.


I dunno. I have four different esters here of 4 different viscosities and the spec sheets show TAN's of between 0.01 and 0.2.


Any other ideas what could cause the high TAN? The Zrod VOA also showed a high TAN.

 

[btanchors]

Tempest - yes, in fact the Z-rod TAN was almost identical - 4.8 vs. 4.6.

 

[ltslimjim]

The part of the TAN seen in this VOA is not the sort that is corrosive to metal, AFAIK.

This oil HAS aready proven to be a good performer, not just a 'good on paper' oil. It's done well in actual performance from my experience.

Most Amsoil's formulation have higher starting TAN, IIRC.

While I don't know formulation specifics to say what part contributes to this number I can tell you it isn't a result of combustion byproducts in it's virgin state!

 

[Artem]

Originally Posted By: Tempest
Originally Posted By: MolaKule
Quote:
Higher TAN is probably an ester as part of the base oil mix.


I dunno. I have four different esters here of 4 different viscosities and the spec sheets show TAN's of between 0.01 and 0.2.


Any other ideas what could cause the high TAN? The Zrod VOA also showed a high TAN.


From what i've read, the high TAN aids in quick cleanup of the engine during the first X amount of miles after being poured in and it drops down quickly before eventually building back up as the oil becomes corrosive from use.

I wouldn't worry about it at all.

 

[Turk]

Perhaps Pablo will chime in.

 

[buster]

[censored] Labs TAN numbers seem to run high. Even the M1 figures are around 3-4. I don't know much about it but I wouldn't be concerned. I'm sure Amsoil/Mobil know what they're doing. I'd be curious to hear what they think about it.

I wasn't implying at all that the SS line is a paper tiger. Not at all. GREAT oil.