Motor Oil Info

The new AGGRAND Natural Liquid Lime (NLL) formulation incorporates pure calcitic Limestone. The improved formulation boasts an average particle size 600 percent smaller than the previous formulation and nearly doubles the available calcium. Because calcium plays a critical role in overall plant nutrient uptake, it should be part of any long term fertilization program. The new formulation’s suspension agents reduce product separation for longer shelf life.

A plot receiving the AGGRAND fertilization program realized increased vegetable yields over the leading inorganic chemical fertilizer, and in some cases produced larger crops. After one growing season, the soil had more nutrients remaining when compared to the other two plots. Longer term work will be conducted to determine soil fertility trends.

Higher TBN levels well into service indicate increased levels of the additives responsible for neutralizing acids and dispersing soot. Oils that demonstrate higher TBN levels over longer periods are capable of providing increased protection throughout extended drain intervals.

AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel oil 5w-40 was a top performing oil in the area of TBN retention, against four competing API CJ-4 diesel oils. It is important that the slope of the TBN trend line be gradual and span the entire life of the oil. While some oils experienced sharp declines, indicating poor performance, AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel oil 5w-40 maintained high TBN levels throughout the drain interval to provide effective engine protection.

Q: Will switching from petroleum to synthetic  result in a plugged oil filter when the sludge is cleaned out by the synthetic ?

A: This is a common fear, however, switching from petroleum oil to premium synthetics in routinely maintained vehicles will not cause clogged oil filters or passageways, regardless of mileage. Sludge, which is caused by poor quality oil and neglected maintenance practices, would have to be present in significant amounts to plug oil filter and passageways. If there is an excessive amount of sludge present in an engine, it is just a matter of time before oil filter and passageways clog, regardless of the oil you choose.

Q: Will switching to synthetics cause my engine to leak oil?

A: In mechanically sound engines, there’s no risk of synthetic motor oil leaking. In fact, premium synthetic oils are fully compatible with modern seal materials, keeping them pliable to prevent leakage. New engines are built to much tighter tolerances now than they were in the 70′s and 80′s when that notion was promulgated, and is not true anymore.

Q: If a car is factory fill with conventional oil, will switching to synthetic oil void the warranty?

A: No, it will not. Vehicle manufacturers recommend using motor oils that meet certain viscosity grades and American Petroleum Institute service requirements. Whether the motor oil is petroleum based or synthetic will not affect warranty coverage. The manufacturer is required to cover all equipment failures it would normally cover as long as the oil was not the cause of the failure.

Q: Is there any truth to the notion that cars or trucks should be running petroleum oil during the break in period before switching  to synthetic? 

A: A premium synthetic motor oil (like AMSOIL) can be used during break in without any trouble. In fact, dozens of vehicle models(higher end) come factory filled with synthetic oil now. Rebuilt engines may still require break in oils that don’t prevent wear as well and will allow rings to seat, but not factory supplied engines.

Q: What are some of the common misconceptions about synthetic motor oil ?

A: It is interesting how some of these myths hang around for many years. Some of the most common were that synthetics are not compatible with seals (properly formulated synthetics actually extend seal life), that synthetics are too thin to stay in the engine, and that synthetics cause cars to use more oil. Of course there are misconceptions going the other direction, too. Some people think synthetic oil is a super oil that will last forever.

It is true that synthetic oils are more impervious to oxidation, but the additives in synthetic formulations do get used up over time. A motor oil’s formulation includes the performance of both the base stock and additive package.

AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants are Chemically engineered to form pure lubricants. Synthetic lubricants contain no contaminants or molecules that “don’t pull their own weight,” Because true synthetics contain only smooth lubricating molecules, they slip easily across one another. The ease with which lubricant molecules slip over one another affects the lube’s ability to reduce friction, which in turn, affects wear control, heat control and fuel efficiency. AMSOIL synthetic are superior.

Uniformity also helps synthetics resist thinning in heat and thickening in cold, which helps them protect better over a system’s operating temperature range. Synthetic lubricants are designable; they may be made to fulfill virtually every lubricating need.

Conventional lubricants are refined from crude oil. Refining is a process of physically separating light from heavy oil fractions. Crude oil is a natural substance. It contains millions of different kinds of molecules. Many are similar in weight but dissimilar in structure. Because refining separates products by weight, it groups molecules of similar weight and dissimilar structure, so refined lubricants contain a wide assortment of molecules.

However, not all of those molecules are beneficial to the lubrication process. Some of the molecules found in refined lubricants are detrimental to the lubricated system or to the lubricant itself. For example, paraffin, a common refined lubricant component, causes refined lubricants to thicken and flow poorly in cold temperatures. Some refined lubricant molecules also may contain sulfur, nitrogen and oxygen, which act as contaminants and invite the formation of sludge and other by products of lubricant breakdown.

Petroleum oils have met our lubrication needs for more than 100 years. They provide adequate lubrication and protection in many applications and they usually cost less to purchase than synthetics. However, because synthetic lubricants may be used for longer drain intervals than conventional lubes, and components lubricated with synthetics tend to require fewer repairs than those lubricated with conventional lubes, people who use synthetics often end up spending less on lubrication and vehicle maintenance than those who use conventional lubricants.

The saving to industrial and commercial users are well documented by AMSOIL and others. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are the finest lubricants available today. Because AMSOIL uses only the highest quality base stocks and additive chemicals, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils provide maximum protection for virtually every application.

People are looking to save money wherever they can in today’s economy, and an increasing number of customers are motivated to seek motor oil sales or shop around for the best price. In fact, even as the popularity of synthetics continues to grow, data indicates 92 percent of synthetic motor oil customers purchase lower price products recommended for standard drain intervals.

AMSOIL OE synthetic motor oils are ideal for cost conscious customers who want the benefits associated with a synthetic, but won’t pay a significantly higher price than a conventional product. OE is recommended for original equipment manufacturer (OEM) recommended drain intervals and serves as an excellent entry level product. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils can save even more through extended drain intervals. XL Synthetic Motor Oils are recommended for 10,000/six month drain intervals, while the top-tier line is recommended for 25,000 mile/one-year drain intervals.

While the 3,000 mile oil drain interval was the standard for many years, a single oil drain standard based on mileage no longer applies. The industry has seen vehicle manufacturers recommend increasingly longer drain intervals over the past several years, and motor oil manufacturers have had to keep pace. In fact, Ford recommends 10,000 mile drain intervals with its 2011 vehicles, while vehicles equipped with electronic oil monitoring systems often extend drain intervals up to and even beyond the 10,000 mile mark.

Of course, while many customers follow the oil change recommendations set by their vehicle’s manufacturer, many continue to practice the 3,000 mile drain intervals recommended by many installers. AMSOIL  pioneered the concept of extended drain intervals back in 1972 and remains the industry leader today. AMSOIL top-tier Synthetic Motor Oils are formulated for 25,000 mile/ one year drain intervals.