To cut all the foreplay, I'm just going to straight out say that, from all of my research, Amsoil is the greatest gift to automotive since the racheted wrench, and this is why:
http://www.amsoil.com/
This is their main website.
http://www.amsoil.com/performancetests.aspx
This is what has lead me to believe that they are so awesome. I've been reading up on other oil websites and such, but this is the most comprehensive testing shown of all of them.
http://webstore.ansi.org/ansidocstor...=ASTM+D4683-04
That is a description of the ASTM (American Society for Testing Materials) D-4683 test. Basically, they have this tapered bearing machine and they run the oil through this machine at 150 degrees celcius, the machine is called a TBS Viscometer or tapered bearing simulator-viscometer. It tests for cP, which is a measurement of viscosity... at 150*C or around 302*F.
If you care, to get the cP of something here is the formula to get it:
Force = Pl x (Area of plate) x (speed) / (thickness)
Changing speed to Distance per second distance / time :
Force = Pl x (Area of plate) x (distance) / (thickness) x (time)
Rearranging to solve for the Poise value for tar:
Pl = Force x (thickness) x (time) / [(Area of plate) x (distance)]
or:
Pl = Nms/m3 = Ns/m2
This will get you the measurement of a Poiseuille. But the majority of the world uses "c" of P, or centa-poise, or 1/100th of a poise, thus cP, because water has a viscocity of 1.002cP, which is the closest most universal lubricant that is closest to 1.
Amsoil 20w-50 motorcycle oil has a cP of 6.02cP at 150*C, or 302*Fand Amsoil 10w-40 motorcycle oil has a cP of 4.52. So think about that for a minute, Amsoil is 6 times more viscous than water at over 300*F. So next time you are spanking someone at the tracks, you can tell them that you raped them... with a great lube! The stability of the oil is just amazing.
But most of you don't ride motorcycles, so what about cars? Well, one of the tests they use is a "Thin film oxygen uptake test" or TFOUT. In this test they determine the oxidation stability of engine oils for gas powered automotive engines. This test is run at 160*C or 320*F using a high pressure reactor that is pressurized with oxygen along with a metal catalyst (something to make the metal react) package, a fuel catalyst (something to make the fuel go boom) and water in a partial simulation of what an oil may be subjected to in a gasoline engine. To make this clear, your engine will get to about 320*F when you're racing on a race track running your car as hard as you can on a hot day, and even then, that's a bit high. Usually your car runs around 180*F (80*C). In the tests that I read, Amsoil, at 500 minutes, was still stable, throughout all this abuse. And of course, they use the most commonly used oil, 10W-30. What does this mean for you? It means that the oil has superior heat and oxdidation resistance meaning less sludge and carbon buildup and an extended oil life.
And what about the stability of regular automotive engine oil as compared to motorcycle oil? Well, the cP of regular automotive engine oil is 3.23, so meaning it's 3 times more viscious or lubricative than water at 150*C. A-freaking-mazing. While Pennzoil is only 3.05 times more viscous. This may not seem like much, but at the quantum level every little minute number counts.
These two tests are probably the most important tests for which oil is best for your motor, however, Amsoil also has a few more tricks up its sleeves:
- In the NOACK test (a test, using a NOACK machine, that shows how much an oil evaporates in high temperature service.) Amsoil wins. The more an oil evaporates the thicker and heavier it becomes, contributing to poor circulation, reduced fuel economy (drivetrain has to work harder), and increased oil consumption, wear and the biggie, emissions. Amsoil loses 5.44% while Pennzoil loses about 9.5% in weight.
-In the Pour Point Test (a test that shows the lowest temperature at which a lubricant will still flow) amsoil seriously wins again. At -58*F, or 14*C it still can flow enough to start your motor. While name brand oils like Havoline (-27.4*F) and Pennzoil (-34.6*F) fall way behind. 20 degrees is the difference between being in the shade and being in the sun.
-Amsoil protects against wear. Plain and simple. You hear commercials say that all the time, but what the hell does it really mean? Who knows? I DO! In the standard four-ball method (a test where they run the lubricant through a 4-ball bearing machine at 40kg of pressure at 150*C (302*F) at 1800rpms for 1 hour and then measure the size of the scar on the ball) Amsoil's scar was only .45mm which is about a 1/100th of an inch. In comparison, Pennzoil's scar was 1.8mm, being the worst oil at this test.
So in conclusion (I love using this literary device), if you don't use Amsoil, then you're doing a disservice to your car. Amsoil is King. The end. You can go on with your lives now. Thank you for your time.