Tag Archive for: motor oil

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Today’s Most Popular Motor Oil Viscosity Rankings

Here are our best-selling passenger car engine oil and diesel motor oil viscosities for the past year. These statistics are based on our sales only, so these numbers are not indicative of sales in the overall motor oil market.

Passenger Car/Light-Truck Motor Oil Sales Rankings

One of the first things we looked at is how much market share 5W-30 still holds. Automakers have been steadily moving to 5W-20 and 0W-20 motor oil for several years. If one adds the market share of 0W-20 and 5W-20, they eclipse 5W-30 by 12.59%.

The 0W-16 viscosity was introduced in 2018, but sales literally didn’t move the needle. It was suggested for only a couple of Honda and Toyota models in 2018. It will be interesting to see if 0W-16 starts to make strides in 2019.

Chart Passenger Car Viscosity 2018

Diesel Engine Oil Sales Rankings

The story in the diesel engine oil space over the past few years is 5W-40 replacing 15W-40 as king of the hill. The 5W-40 grade is now a common (and very viable) all-season choice in many diesel engines. Again, these stats are based on our sales and not the overall diesel engine oil market.

Chart Diesel Oil Sales By Viscosity 2018

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What Is The Shelf Life Of An Opened Bottle Of Motor Oil?

A reader asks: How long is motor oil usable after the bottle has been opened?

Our answer: Once the seal has been cracked on a bottle of motor oil, the remaining oil should be used up within one year. This guideline also applies to transmission oil and gear oil. Opened bottles of both synthetic and conventional motor oils would have a similar lifespan.

Three Reasons Why Motor Oil Should Be Used Within A Year Of Opening

  1. Condensation- After the seal on the bottle has been broken, the interior is more prone to condensation. Once the oil level in the bottle is lowered, there is more open space for condensation to develop.
  2. Oxidation- As the motor oil becomes exposed to oxygen over time, the chemical makeup of the motor oil changes. Simply put, once the oxidation process has started in motor oil, the capabilities of the oil are severely limited and unpredictable. Therefore, that partial bottle of motor oil that has been sitting on shelf for several years should be used in an oil can or sent to recycling.
  3. Additive Fallout- Over time, the ingredients that make up the motor oil formula can start to degrade. This compromises the capabilities and service life of the motor oil. This process would likely take much longer than a year. This can happen in sealed bottles that have been stored for too long as well.

Motor Oil Storage Tips

  • Store motor oil in dry conditions. Don’t leave motor oil bottles out in the yard or in the back of the truck.
  • Do not store the oil in temperatures below it’s cold-pour-point. If the motor oil freezes and “gels”, this will shorten the lifespan of the motor oil.
  • The ideal storage temperature range for motor oil is between 0°C (32°F) and 29°C (85°F).

Shelf Life Of Unopened Motor Oil Bottles

The shelf life of sealed, unopened motor oil, transmission fluid or gear oil is roughly 5 years. Please note the storage tips above to maximize the shelf life of new motor oil.

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Should I Switch To 10W-30 Motor Oil For Summer?

AMSOIL OE Synthetic 10W-30 Motor Oil

Is there any need to switch to 10W-30 engine oil during the summer months?

Update- May, 2024

A reader asks: I use 5W-30 motor oil in my Infinti G35 during the winter and my owner’s manual suggests that it is suitable to use 10W-30 in warmer temperatures. Is there any real benefit to switching to 10W-30 in the summer and back to 5W-30 in the fall?

Answer: There is absolutely no need to switch to 10W-30 motor oil in the summer if 5W-30 is an acceptable grade for your engine. Some car manufacturers still advocate the use of 10W-30 (or even 10W-40) as an appropriate engine oil option for summer use. However, with the capability of modern 5W-30 options, this seasonal change is completely unnecessary.

Today’s 5W-30 motor oils provide consistent protection at both extremes of the temperature spectrum. During hot operating conditions, they are resistant to thinning, breaking down or boiling off. They will not be degrading to the point where they might cause deposits. Remember also that a 10W-30 and 5W-30 are essentially the same viscosity at operating temperatures. So there is no tangible advantage to switching over to 10W-30 for summer driving.

Was Switching To A Different Viscosity In Summer Ever Necessary?

There used to be a time when switching to a heavier motor during the summer was a necessity. Four or five decades ago, engine oil technology was far less advanced and engine tolerances were less precise. Thicker engine oil was needed in summer to combat wear and oil consumption. These thicker grades did not pump well in extreme cold, so a seasonal oil viscosity change was once a common part of regular maintenance. This habit does still linger, but today’s motor oils (especially synthetic oil) negate the need for a seasonal viscosity changeover in either gasoline or diesel engines.

AMSOIL’s 5W-30 Engine Oil Options

We offer the full line of AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-30 engine oils. These products are engineered to withstand extreme hot or cold climates. Expect consistent year-round performance and protection with these products.

Ultra-Premium- AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic 5W-30

Premium- AMSOIL Extended Life Series Synthetic 5W-30

Value-Priced- AMSOIL OE Series Synthetic 5W-30

High-Mileage Vehicles- AMSOIL High-Mileage Synthetic 5W-30

Conclusion

Enjoy the convenience of keeping one engine oil grade on hand and take solace in the fact that using 5W-30 for year-round use will not compromise engine protection.

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No AMSOIL Motor Oil For The 2014 Ram EcoDiesel Yet!

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Update August 2016: Chrysler now requires API 5W-40 motor oil for all model years of Ram 1500 with the EcoDiesel engine

Finally someone is offering a diesel engine option for a modern day half-ton, but we can’t offer an engine oil for it just yet. Here’s why…

If you have a 2014 Dodge Ram 1500 equipped with the brand new “EcoDiesel” 3.0L diesel engine and are looking for AMSOIL synthetic engine oil for your truck, please stand by. At the moment, AMSOIL cannot make a definitive motor oil recommendation for this engine and are performing due diligence to see if any of their current products will meet the Dodge spec or require reformulation.

What we do know so far is that these engines require a synthetic 5W-30 with low volumes of sulphated ash, phosphorous and sulphur (also known as “SAPS”). The required engine oil specifications are “ACEA C-3” (from the European Auto Manufacturers’ Association) and Chrysler “MS-11106”.

Why Can’t Just Any Oil Be Used?

Tip: Do not use just any 5W-30 diesel engine oil in this new RAM 3.0L engine. The reason that a low “SAPS” motor oil is required is because this engine is equipped with very sophisticated emissions components that can be fouled when exposed to high volumes of certain motor oil ingredients. For this reason, it is vital to stick to an oil that meets the aforementioned specifications. Dodge is not trying to make your life complicated by suggesting an engine oil that may not be offered at every parts counter. This engine really does require a motor oil with specific fundamentals.

We have seen this situation for years with many European auto brands, so rest assured that eventually product options will expand. The reason that this engine requires an motor oil that could be considered “Eurocentric” may have something to do with the fact that it is manufactured by VM Motori, an Italian engine maker.

Would You Like to Receive Email Notification When We Have an Oil For the EcoDiesel?

We suspect that AMSOIL will have a synthetic motor oil option available for the EcoDiesel engine in the very near future. If you would like to be informed as soon as this happens, contact us using the form on the right of this page and we will email you as soon as an announcement is made. Simply put “EcoDiesel” in the comment section.

We will NOT keep your info on an email list forever or use your email address for any other reason.

While we can’t offer an engine oil for the EcoDiesel Ram just yet, we can offer a host of synthetic options for transmission and differential. Just contact us for more information.

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