amsoil anyone?
 

hey everyone...
I know that BMW recommends only Castrol fully synthetic 5W;30
and that mobil 1 full syntetic burns very quickly....

but has anyone tried using amsoil on bmw? in my case the m54 motor....
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil and Engine Oil
AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil and Engine Oil

what are your thoughts on using amsoil over castrol or other brands?

Amsoil is great. I bought a ton of it back in the day for all my cars. I hate the fact, that I have to do that. I can't just buy what I need, when I need it.

I would buy it off you.. ;)

We should see if anyone is already a dealer here. Otherwise it would suck. The year membership cost I forget how much, then the oil. Then you would have to ship it to everyone, it would suck.

I just typed my zip into the dealer locator: Dealer Locator

Looks like plenty of places that sell it near me anyways?

Yea i just looked at the other post, and things have changed. Cheaper to become premier too.

Look at the other thread. I won't let it anywhere near an engine I care about.

Are you saying to stick to castrol 5w;30?

I have been using Amsoil for over 20 years and now use it in our X5 and a V8 4Runner. I use the engine oil, diff oil and the transmission fluids. From what I can find out Toyota use Amsoil for their "new" low drag transmission fluids.
I'll never use castrol after they once scammed me!

Quit wringing your hands over 'what oil/what brand' to use, imo...
Castrol, Mobil 1, et al, are all quality synthetic oils. Your 2002 will not care/know the difference, imo.
GL, mD

the European blend or the basic synthetic?

Zulu95, are you multi-level marketing Amsoil? Do you have the opportunity for financial gain off of anyone buying Amsoil? I mean, God forbid if you are. 20 years experience...is that certified?

I'm sorry for the sarcasm folks. It seems we have some in a camp that seemingly believe that only large multi-nationals can make a product worth putting in your beloved BMW...due to a certification process. Maybe this is correct and maybe it isn't.

I have heard claims like Zulu95 for years now. Guys that use the stuff in their race cars that have ranted and raved over the product. Mind you, not a single person that has talked to me about Amsoil in a positive manner has ever approached me with becoming a multi-level marketer...or even asked me to purchase the product from them.

So, why the witch hunt? I don't know. I say: live and let live. If you try something new and you don't like it...stop using it. Have your old oil tested and if you switch to the boutique brand oil...have it tested to see if things have improved, worsened or stayed the same.

BTW, I have zero connections to Amsoil. As a matter of fact, I've yet to try it. Why? Lazy! Ordering oil online is a bit of a hassle. If it was in my local auto parts store...I would've tried it by now.

However, after the recent bashing of Amsoil and Redline in the other thread...I'm ready to give them a go. Who knows...I might even start a business selling the stuff.:rofl::bustingup

I have used both the "regular" synthetic and I am once using the European Blend. I am not selling, nor do I have plans to ever sell Amsoil but I will continue using their product as long as the quality is maintained.

Agree. Oil change interval > Oil brand/type

hey what do you guys think of royal purple?!
Royal Purple XPR 5W30 Synthetic Engine Oil Quart | Product Details | Pep Boys
or
Royal Purple SAE 5W30 Synthetic Engine Oil Quart | Product Details | Pep Boys
and with 35$ off
http://www.pepboys.com/docs/pdf/Oct_...r_exp10-31.pdf



?????????????????????????????????????????????????? ??????????????????????????

No, I don't think Castrol is any better than many other quality, certified, 5w-30 oils. OE BMW is fine, Castrol is fine, Mobil 1 is fine, there are lots more. As long as someone independent is validating the specification other than the web marketing person for the oil company.

Well, it seems I might be one of the ones you are referring to ;)

I don't like Amsoil's marketing method, but that has nothing to do wtih the quality of their oil. It may be great. We all decide to purchase things or not for reasons other than the perceived or validated quality of the product, and that is fine.

As to the quality of their oil, it is an unknown for their premium products. They refuse to independently test it. They say they don't need to. Again, fine, no problem, but don't ask those of us who do rely on real test results to believe that the oil is any good without data to support it. Data from the webmaster at Amsoil just doesn't mean as much to me as data from test protocols designed by the API. So it isn't bad oil to me. It is just unknown oil. And as an engineer who has worked in the engine business for several decades, I don't like putting unknown products into my own engines. Or my customer's.

Amsoil make some API certified products now. That could work. But wait, they put a warning on those products that they will not meet the requirements for oil change intervals that the OE engine manufacturers decided. Companies like Castrol and Mobil 1 test their oil with BMW recommended change intervals and publish that their oil will meet those change interval specs. So what is wrong with the Amsoil product? I can run 24,000 km intervals on multiple vehicles when not in severe service (15,000 miles for those in the US) without issues. But not with Amsoil, apparently. So the only people putting down the quality of Amsoil products are in fact Amsoil themselves.

I don't know what this has to do with large multinationals, you lost me there. I don't have an opinion about the size of Mobil, Castrol, BMW, or Amsoil. I don't see how it is relevant.

Stating facts about oil products isn't bashing. But relating engine failures to a specific engine oil without a failure analysis is.

It seems like a long time since we had an oil thread. Must just be time again. :rofl:

I think that many racers seem to like Royal Purple for racing. I wouldn't necessarily take that as a reason to use the same products on the street.

Their XPR oil products are for specific racing engines and fuels.

Their HPS products do not meet API certifications, and they are quite open about it. Kudos to them. They say why they can't pass those tests; it is because they made a conscious decision to add more of certain additives (like zinc) than engine manufacturers permit.

Their API-certified products are likely as good as any other current API product. I would just ensure that there is an API SM label on the bottle you purchase, since they sell so many different oils. But that is just me.

I actually do stock Amsoil at work, however, I don't really care if the customer wants it or another brand. We started stocking it because a lot of people asked for it, and it isn't readily available.

Are you telling me you will really go 15k between oil changes? They probably put that on there because people will go 15k, then blame the oil company for the 60k failure.

I actually had a customer come in yesterday with an 06 330xi (E90) with about 60k miles. The car looked mint. Popped off the oil cap, and the sludge build-up was HORRIFIC. He did 15k oil changes. I showed him, and told him it might be time to consider trading it in while he could still get good money for it. 15k oil changes are BAD no matter what way you slice it.

I have never run to the change interval lights, but note that my driving style causes the lights to come on at 28,000 km (17,500) on our current vehicle. The X5 was doing short trips for awhile, not enough time to warm up, so it was changed at 12,000 km (7500 miles). Driving habits changed over time, and I went to 16,000 km successfully. My other vehicles have been run to 20,000 km many times, but I have usually changed it at that point based on time, not distance. The X3 has run 24,000 km (15,000 miles) but that is still well before the lights demand it. I've never had any problem with BMW oil change intervals as recommended by the manufacturer, on any BMW vehicle. I do appreciate that if I am towing, doing a lot of idling, too many short trips, then the lights are not a complete indication of servicing requirements.

Many years ago I worked in a shop doing oil changes at 3000 mile intervals.That was appropriate for engines with that level of technology, and those oils. It just isn't applicable these days. We all need to get over it, IMO. I do not accept that 15k oil changes are bad any way you slice it. Look at the pictures I have posted here of a 100,000 mile BMW engine disassembled after 15,000 mile oil changes. It was spotless. The difference in that car and your customer's is the use, not the 15,000 mile interval.

When you refer to sludge, are you referring to byproducts of combustion? Black? Sludge issues often have more to do with engine design and usage than oils. Or is it the white condensate paste that forms due to moisture in the engine, emulsified with the oil? Lots of that around on BMWs, very related to driving habits. If someone is abusing their engine by driving 5 or 10 km each day, and never letting it get warmed up and the condensation burned off, then it isn't much to do with the oil change interval, more than misuse.

Good to be able to talk about engines again after all these threads about cosmetic modifications and custom programming.

edit: Here is a link for those that want to see the pictures.

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...intervals.html

Excellent. I have credit at the local BMW dealer. I am going to pick up some BMW oil. Why not. Those pics of that 15k mile oil change interval engine look great. I will still never go more than 7k mile oil change, because well NYC is not normal use, and I'm not exactly using it normal.

JCL, large multi-nationals simply refers to the likes of Mobil 1, Castrol, Pennzoil, Valvoline, etc.
I would call Amsoil, Redline, Royal Purple, etc., boutiques.


The relevance I'm suggesting is that the larger companies have budgets for API testing...as I'm assuming they do this test to satisfy manufacturer's who endorse their oil for service life of various components.

It makes no sense to me that Amsoil would test some of their product and not all of it. I'd love to hear their angle...not just on why only some got tested but their take on the entire testing process and it's relevance for real world usage.

Amsoil is quite clear about not wanting to certify their more expensive oils. See their web site.

The point is, they can afford to certify their lower price point oils. The theory that as a boutique producer they can't afford to certify their other oils doesn't wash.

Edit: I looked them up. Is over $75m annual revenue and 90,000 dealers a boutique company? No Exxon, but no corner store either.

Are you kidding? $75 million is absolutely CHUMP change compared to the multi-nationals.
Yeah, 90k dealers that are probably not making much money off of Amsoil sales.

Multi-nationals are reporting BILLIONS in profits...not millions.:bustingup

Amsoil's earnings of $50- $75 million is probably gross revs...not profit! I don't know since it's not publicly traded. But, this is not a company that can go toe to toe with a multi-national.

Of course it is tiny compared to a multi-national oil company, I acknowledged that.

I just don't think over 75 million in revenue (not profit, revenue) fits the description of a small store, which is what a boutique is. If by boutique you mean highly specialized, then that has nothing to do with their ability to fund a certification program.

And I think that portraying them as a small struggling independent fighting the good fight against the evil oil companies is just buying their marketing pitch hook line and sinker. The only reason this came up is because it was suggested that they are too small to be able to certify their oils. Nonsense, they certify some of their oils, this is all just part of the image they want to create for themselves.

Boutiques...specialty and small.
Frankly, I'm surprised companies like Amsoil even exist today. If not for racers and the 90k dealers and the way it's marketed...they probably wouldn't. Nope, they'd be gobbled up and added to the long list of multi-nationals that love crushing entrepreneurs. I know that is a broad brush stroke kind of statement. I have no idea about how Amsoil is run...sounds like people that rep for the company appreciate the ability to offer clients the product. People that use the product seem to also benefit.

Anyway, I've grown tired of this. You win...the multi-nationals are the most honest and fair playing businesses on the planet.:confused: Now I want to throw up!;)

I bought a ton of Amsoil back in the day. Mostly for family cars and my own. I put it in my Lexus GS430. My engine started making noise. I couldn't pin point it, but it was noisier. I let it be for 4k miles, and then got concerned. I drained it, and was horrified at how burnt up looking it was. Black. I mean I would drain my Mobil 1, after 5-6k miles, and never seen it this disgusting.

I sold whatever I had left over of my 5w30.

My friend had a Ford Focus, boosted. In my order he also got Amsoil for his car. Boosted car specific oil. Supposedly the shit. 2k miles, he changed it out due to the same noise concerns, and the fact that the oil on the dipstick was black.

I haven't looked into Amsoil till now. And after reading JCLs argument, I am going to give BMW oil a shot. I think I will pass on Amsoil yet again.

Errrr... What a minute. Anyone see the album??? It opens a series of pictures and there are 2 sets for what looks like the same motor. The second set actually looks like what the engine should look like after 93K miles.

That clean motor looks like it is a rebuild motor. I mean is it clean... Sure, but not even a hint of varnish anywhere? It is a little strange. Looking at the later pics, now that motor looks like it has some mileage on it and varnish in all the right places. The clean motor looks like it was disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled. My best guess is it was an engine overhaul and the guy was just trying to show off the new bling. IMHO that motor does not look like it has ANY hours on it.

Slick...I'm using BMW as well. I'll be replacing my Mobil 1 this weekend.

I have no experience with Amsoil as I've mentioned too many times now. I'm sure there are more stories like yours out there. If that was happening widespread today...I think we'd hear more about it. I haven't.
JCL has made a very valid point about why they have tested some oil and not their more expensive stuff. Makes no sense to me. I'd love to get an explanation.
Also, I would've given Amsoil a try by now if it was convenient. It's not. So, it's just easier to get the oil from my dealer and as I mentioned...no funny noises with my timing chain.

Ha, nope never looked at the photo's. Guess I'll have a peak and see.:D

These aren't ProStock motors...
change your oil when you want, use the brand/viz you want, etc.

From all I have read, (considerable), current oils are so good compared to then, and engines so differently/lesser stressed in general, that I think those monthly oil arm wrestles are parsing grains of sand.

Run whatcha like, when you like...
GL, mD

We like to call it picking fly sh!t from pepper. ;)

Amsoil is a fantastic synthetic oil. Best on the market, theyre fuel system cleaner is also top of the line, just saved a friend of mine from having to buy a new catalytic converter. They use synthetic base stocks with premium additive packages. The only over the counter stuff i recommend is pennzoil 5w-40
Not all oils are the same, through lab tests and tests i conducted on my own through analysis of miltiple oils through mas spectrometer reading and wear tests Amsoil was the top contender with pennzoil in 2nd.

BTW JCL Amsoils marketting method is the same thing as snap on, matco and mac and those are the biggest and best in tools. Heck i wear my snappy coat and theres guys thatll start askin me bout my tools and be like "yeah snap ons the business!" Amsoil works the same way bud

Beamertruck

Any one of the Amsoil products may be fine. We don't know, because we don't have independent verification (like API certifications) and they refuse to test their so-called better oils according to standard tests. So it is an unknown oil. They can change it any time they like. User history with the old recipe may not carry over to the new recipe.

They test their less expensive oils (so cost of testing isn't an issue) but they advise that those oils won't run manufacturer's recommended change intervals. Lack of confidence in their own product? Or just trying to keep the myths alive? Maybe both.

Why use their fuel system cleaner when Techron is available almost everywhere, and has been tested by the engine manufacturers and recommended by them (even though they don't generally sell it)?

I just get tired of oil companies that spend more on internet marketing than testing. Look at the test results they promote on their website. Shameful. Lots of claims, relying extensively on word of mouth referrals. People who say it is great, without data. And the cycle just continues.

I don't see the same intent to deceive from Snap On or Mac.

Final point: Why are you promoting this product and selling it on this board without having a supporting vendor membership? That is very disrespectful IMO.

Here we go again....

I was thinking the same Ricky.

I still side with JCL on this. And after using amsoil, I am not surprised by JCL's comments. Like I said earlier, I think in this thread actually. I bought a shit load of it, with even possible hopes of reselling it. Not one person, in my family or friends that did try it, no one was impressed, and no one wanted a second round. I too raise the bullshit flag on this one.

I'm just sick of beamertruck searching archived/old threads which have the word amsoil in them and then spouting off a post about how amazing of an oil it is with his banner, basically he's just free advertising and JCL is right, he should be a paid vendor here. I don't advertise my business on this site because I don't pay to do so.

The mods also are notoriously absent here, I feel like most days we get to "police ourselves", which is scary in fact considering how decent most of our threads are even when heated. I haven't seen a moderator delete posts, move threads etc in a while, or maybe they just clean up threads behind the scenes.

I read your posts when you bought your case and I'd never buy into the claims unless they spent the money testing all their oils, I fully agree with JCL.

Using T6 works great on my M54, and V-power in my tank, no complaints here from Shell. I wouldn't hesitate to use German Castrol 0w-30, BMW 5w-30, or Pennzoil Ultra 5w-40 either.

I absolutely hate it when an engine is not clean internally. I also am very particular about feeling confident I am a great caretaker of my engine. And, my engine is stressed a lot more than a stock engine.

I hear so much about this or that oil is the best. I have no idea how anyone can be sure from driving experience. We know what our experience has been but we don't know if it would have been different using something else.

I say use a reputable synthetic brand in the specified weight that gives you warm fuzzies.

I use Royal purple and change it at 5,000 miles. I hear about oil lubricates better after it has some miles on it and that it is overkill and wasting money. My simple logic, or lack thereof, is that clean oil is not going to make my engine dirty. Besides, I really like the purple bottle with the yellow cap.

I buy Mobil1 because the color of the bottle matches the color of our X5. Bonus, it matches the block of the engine also!

I like the part how fuel cleaner reverses the degradation of a cat. Must have platinum ions in it that restore the used up catalyst? I would only expect leaded fuel or excessively rich running to destroy a cat, neither of which is going to be fixed with fuel treatment.

The inital post states M[1] oil burns off quickly? I've run the 0-40 LL-01 M[1] for over 200k miles (about 50/50 SII change and 60% SII change), and have YET had to add SINGLE quart between changes. This has been on I-6 and V8 BMW engines. Even track days in 100 deg plus temps.

If your BMW burns oil, other issues are in play!

some bmw's burn oil, some don't. same with coolant, some mysteriously lose enough coolant to trigger the low level light between oil changes, but don't actually have any leaks.
under average driving conditions, I wouldn't worry about a quart between oil changes. anymore than that should get checked out. I think there is an SIB that says how much oil consumption is normal...

I think BMWs position on oil burn leans toward the excessive side. If their "normal" oil burn rate were not to consider improper engine break-in, they would have a lot of "no charge" engine rebuilds on their hands.

Broken in correctly and maintained well, I have yet to own a BMW that has needed a "top off" between changes.

BMW's position on oil consumption is exactly the same as many other manufacturers, and is the basis for qualifying 'excessive' for purposes of warranty repairs. It is in the order of 1 qt per 1000 miles. All that means is that you won't get warranty repairs to reduce oil consumption if you are using, for example, a quart every 2000 miles.

There is a difference between customer expectations, and warranty claims. Many would feel that a quart per 1000 is excessive.

I have used up to a quart per 5000 miles/8000 km, but only on the 3.0 X5. The same engine in lighter vehicles used next to no oil, as it wasn't working as hard due to the lighter vehicle.

I don't worry about adding a small amount of oil between changes. I haven't had to with recent 20,000 km oil changes.

Best thing you can do is stick with whatever oil the engine has been running. Switching oil isn't all that great of an idea. Also, if you do switch, stick to what ever you switch to.

This is a good listen for people wanting to learn a little about oils. Hit the little play button under the first picture. This is seriously worth your time to listen.

Synthetic Oil with Lake Speed, Jr. & Audi R8 | Adam Carolla's CarCast

Hate to revive this thread (again) but engines with high mileage may burn a small amount of oil due to seals being worn, its pretty normal to burn around 1/2-1qt between changes after youve reached the 100k mark. Main cause of oil consumption is improper break in. Most people fail to allow the seals to fully seat, of course propper break in process can prevent many other things but im just talkin bout oil consumption here

Sorry to share this. I do 5K oil and filter changes. NO burning or leaks. 180K on my 01'3.0 auto. What oil do I use? The 5/30W syn that follows all the certification and API guidelines. I buy 5 qt units from Walmart - Super Tech. Might go up to 5/40 if I can find it.
Locate the information on lubrication. It's all about certification. It's like the guy who buys a BMW when a MDX would have been just as good. It's more about driving style and how often you change it than the silly brand names.

:thumbup:

:iagree:+1

This is a detailers phrase but it is applicable here, as I abide by this mantra.

"Use what you love and be sure to use it often" this goes for all quality synthetic oils for our bimmers regardless of brand.

I personally love Rotella T6 so I change the oil with 8 quarts and an Oem filter every 9 months regardless of mileage (it's very rarely more than 5k), and I have no consumption issues, sludge etc and I imagine my M54 is very happy with me

Check this out (Link from FB): https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...7650061&type=1

I fully support the 5000 (min) and 7500-9000 (max) oil change interval.

Engine Oils that I used: (not that I am insisting these are best, it's my personal preference)
* Fuchs
* Castrol
* Total Quartz

And I always use Genuine BMW Oil Filter

Note: Following the BMW specs for your specific vehicle specs

Those facebook pictures are just negligence, IMHO. This is how mine looked like after about 93K miles following BMW's maintenance schedule using various oils => http://www.xoutpost.com/985690-post1.html

There's 2 parts to BMW's oil/filter change maintenance schedule: 1) per Service Indicator and 2) Annually - whichever occur first.

Last time I saw an engine like that it had gone just over 50,000 miles on the original oil and filter, in dusty conditions. Not a BMW. We got to install a new engine for him.

24,000 km worked well for me, no oil consumption or wear. I make sure to change it out after two years or so, not annually.

In 2006 I worked on a 2002 745Li who never changed his oil (don't know why, it was free) since new. He was around 45k miles and engine was running rough. Records didn't show any maintenance or visits. First thing, changed the oil, it came out clumpy. So pulled the valve covers, looked like someone had filled the engine with bearing grease. Spent a day cleaning goop off the valvetrain. Put new oil in with a little ATF, drove it for an hour, changed the oil again. Ran fine. Charged customer time for cleaning the engine + 1 oil change, first one was covered by warranty/maintenance plan. Feel sorry for the next owner, that engine probably didn't last 100k.

That is the point at which the safety factors are all used up, something like 2 or 3 or 4 times the published spec, IMO. The one I recall was actually a Ford pickup. No oversized sump. It was used extensively on gravel roads, and the air intake was full of dirt as well. When we pulled it down, it was amazing it was even running.