What are Synthetic Lubricants?
Synthetic
oil
is oil consisting of
chemical compounds which
were not originally
present in crude oil
(petroleum) but were
artificially made
(synthesized) from other
compounds. Manufacturers
are able to create
“tailor-made” molecules
which are of uniform
size and shape and can
slide together much
easier, hence creating
less friction. Although
in use in the aerospace
industry for some years
prior, synthetic oil
first became
commercially available
when AMSOIL
introduced the first
synthetic motor oil in
the world to exceed API
automobile service
requirements in 1972.
What Advantages are
offered by Synthetic
Oil?
The technical advantages
of synthetic motor oils
include:
-
Measurably better
low and high
temperature
viscosity
performance
-
Decreased
evaporative
loss-less oil usage
-
Resistance to
oxidation, thermal
breakdown and oil
sludge problems
-
Extended drain
intervals with the
environmental
benefit of less
waste oil created
-
Superior shear
stability and film
strength
-
Reduces exhaust
emissions
-
Increases horsepower
-
Improves fuel
economy
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About Conventional Oils
Conventional petroleum oils are refined from crude
oil which is pumped from within the earth. The
refining process, however, does not remove many of
the impurities inherent in the crude oil. These
impurities detract from the lubricating ability of
the oil and contribute to deposit, sludge and varnish
formation. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are
constructed in the laboratory and contain no
impurities. The basestock of conventional lubricants
generally contain molecules of all shapes and sizes,
positioned in every direction. Because of this lack
of molecular uniformity, conventional lubricants cannot compete
with synthetics in terms of friction reduction.
Conventional lubricants also contain wax components
that tend to congeal in cold temperatures.
Why AMSOIL?
Let’s put aside the fact that AMSOIL has been producing
synthetic lubricants for automotive applications
longer than anyone else and is now one of the
largest independent makers of synthetic motor oil on
the planet. Simply put, pound for pound there is not
a better line up of synthetic lubricants, air and
oil filtration and car care products anywhere.
Check out our
Applications page and find an
unparalleled line of products for automotive,
recreational and industrial applications.
Are AMSOIL Motor Oils More Expensive?
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are more expensive than most petroleum oils, but comparing
AMSOIL and other motor oils is like comparing apples
and oranges. AMSOIL motor oils’ performance so far
exceeds that of conventional motor oils, they’re
really a different class of product. AMSOIL is a
premium product that rightfully commands a premium
price. That being said, AMSOIL synthetics are priced
very closely to most brand name synthetics.
If you have walked through any motor oil section lately, you
will note that there is no such thing as inexpensive
motor oil anymore. Conventional
motor oils have never been priced closer to AMSOIL
products. AMSOIL products are an even greater value
when you have an
AMSOIL Wholesale Account with us. As has
always been the case, in terms of value and quality
the over-priced conventional products in the store
don’t compare.
Better for the Environment
By safely extending drain
intervals, AMSOIL synthetic lubricants dramatically
cut the amount of oil consumed and emissions
produced. This is not a new fad that AMSOIL is
jumping on board with; it is the way AMSOIL has
always operated.
In addition to the extended
drain intervals, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are
specially designed to protect engine components,
extending the life of the engine and reducing the
need for replacing engine parts. They are also
thermally stable with a strong resistance to high
temperature volatility (burn-off), preventing sludge
deposits and keeping engines clean. Low volatility
and clean operation reduce oil consumption and
emissions.
The advanced lubricity
(slipperiness) of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants has
also been proven to increase fuel economy. This
reduces dependency on foreign oil and overall fuel
consumption. The resulting improvement in fuel
efficiency and reduction of emission levels
contribute to the conservations of natural resources
and protection of the atmosphere.
A Word about Store Brand Synthetic Oils
While most are relatively competent products, many
brand-name synthetic motor oils contain additive
packages that are no more robust than their
conventional brethren. That is the reason that most
store brand synthetics do not recommend drain
intervals beyond 5000 km’s. Their high prices do not
reflect this mediocrity.
A Word about Extended Drain Intervals
Some AMSOIL products have 25000 mile or one year
drain intervals and this tends to
immediately
put
many people off. While we have seen these intervals
met and often exceeded many times (backed up with oil analysis), we
do not recommend installing these products, slamming
the hood and forgetting about your oil for a year.
If you intend to push the “one year” products out to
12 months, we recommend monitoring the situation
with oil analysis and we can certainly help you with
this. Remember there are caveats on the product
labels suggesting that “Severe Service” operation
will reduce the drain interval. What constitutes
“Severe Service” operation are things like frequent
short trips, excessive idling, frequent towing,
frequent operation under very dusty conditions
etc.
Don’t feel that because you are buying a one
year/25000 mile oil, that you HAVE to run it that
far to get value from the product. What we tell
people is that if you are currently running out to
5000 km and if your vehicle is mechanically sound,
you can safely double or triple your current
interval. This saves time and money and you can
still sleep at night. If you would like real
convenience and savings, consider
By-Pass Oil Filtration. These
systems clean your oil 15 to 25 times greater than a
standard oil filters and allow you to extend your
drain intervals indefinitely with oil analysis
dictating when your oil should be changed. If you
are logging big miles, this takes all guess work out
of when to change your oil and can save scores of
oil changes over the life of your vehicle. Consider
the savings in terms of time, money and waste oil.
If you
are intending to use the
6 month/12000km XL line of motor oils
and your vehicle is mechanically sound, you will
have no problem reaching either milestone. Despite
our misgivings about lengthy service intervals on
product labels, credit must be given to AMSOIL.
While everyone else is telling their customers to
dump their oil early and often, AMSOIL is telling
their customers to push their motor oils to the
limit and to put them to the test with lab analysis.
AMSOIL Product Application and Drain Interval Chart
Any
questions?
Contact us.
Related Articles:
FAQ: About Synthetics
Improving Fuel Economy with
AMSOIL Products
Ten Reasons Synthetic Motor Oil is Superior to
Conventional Oil
Ten Myths About Synthetic Lubrication
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