Big Oil vs. The Truth About Extended Drains
The secret is out. Big oil makes big money on conventional motor oils and short drain intervals. Two of the biggest oil companies, Valvoline and Pennzoil, have recently taken potshots at extended drains (waiting longer than 3,000 to 5,000 miles to change your oil) in the oil change industry press. AMSOIL has been speaking out against them, and AMSOIL has something they don't have. Proof.
Conventional oil companies speculate that synthetics can't provide extended drains, due to additive loss and combustion by-product contamination. That's exactly what Valvoline and Pennzoil did in the February issue of National Oil & Lube News. They haven't done research to back their claims.
AMSOIL has proof that AMSOIL synthetic motor oils provide extended drain performance. Twenty-five years of oil analysis data show AMSOIL synthetic motor oils provide safe, effective extended drain service in passenger cars.
Oxidation Control-- In conventional oils, oxidation inhibitors deplete quickly, due to the rapid oxidation of petroleum basestocks. Because synthetic basestocks are highly resistant to oxidation, the oxidation inhibitors in AMSOIL synthetic motor oils last. The chemistry responsible for oil oxidation inhibition also provides anti-wear activity, rust inhibition and anti-oxidation activity (control of metal surface oxidation), so a lower rate of oil oxidation also reduces the loss of anti-wear and anti-oxidation activities and rust inhibition.
Viscosity Retention -- Shear stable viscosity index improvers help AMSOIL synthetic motor oils maintain their viscosity in the range appro-priate to each grade over extended drain use. Conventional oils formulated with easily sheared viscosity index improvers often drop out of viscosity specification relatively quickly -- sometimes even before the end of a 3,000-mile oil drain interval. Viscosity loss leaves oils incapable of protecting engines from metal to metal contact and wear in high temperatures.
Contaminant Control -- Dispersants keep contaminants, including combustion by-products, suspended in oil. The rate of dispersant depletion depends on the motor oil's additive treat-rate and the oil's contaminant load. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated with high additive treat rates specifically to allow extended drain intervals.
Acid Control -- Total Base Number CTBN) describes the acid neutralization ability of an oil, with higher TBN oils providing longer lasting acid neutralization. Most passenger car motor oils are formulated with 6 or 7 TBN. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated with 9-11 TBN.
COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTS
Combustion by-product contamination depends, in part, on ring seal. Poor ring seal allows combustion by-products to pass from the combustion chamber into the crankcase where they contaminate the oil. Tight ririg seal keeps them out. Synthetic motor oils encourage a tighter ring seal than petroleum motor oils do.
PROOF
AMSOIL has 25 years of oil analysis data showing our oils provide extended drain service. Big oil can't argue with that data or explain it away.
Our data consistently shows used oils with high TBNs, in-grade viscosities, low soot content and exceptionally low rates of oxidation and nitration (signs of oil degradation). The spectrographic analyses consistently show high values for magnesium, calcium, phosphorus and zinc, important additive elements. The spectrographic analyses also consistently show low values for engine wear elements, including iron, aluminum and copper, indicating excellent engine protection. In other words, the oils consistently provide excellent lubrication and protection over extended drain use.
LEADERSHIP ROLE
AMSOIL President and CEO A. J. Amatuzio's letter to the editor of National Oil & Lube News shows the company's leadership position on the issue of extended drains. AMSOIL will not let the market-driven half-truths of big oil go unchallenged. The public deserves to know the truth.
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