AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil

After 409,000 miles without an oil change, the AMSOIL-protected Mack E7-400 engine in this truck was as wear-free as an engine in comparable service treated to twenty times the oil changes.

Colonial Heights, Virginia -- "I didn't see any surprises in there at all. Based on what we had with the V-8, it came out the way we expected," said owner/operator Haywood Gray of his 1990 Mack E7-400 engine.

It came out in good shape, exactly what you'd expect for a well-maintained engine with 600,000 miles -- yet the engine's oil had not been changed for 409,000 miles! Here's the story:

Gray began using AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil (AME) in the E9-400 V-8 engine of a 1984 Mack truck after the engine accumulated 45,000 miles. For 280,000 miles, Gray changed his oil at 40,000 to 60,000 mile intervals though his oil analysis reports showed, without exception, that the oil was good for continued use. At 325,000 miles, Gray increased his oil drain interval to 100,000 miles.

The engine was torn down at 600,000 miles when Gray decided to sell the truck. The cylinder liners, bearings, pistons, rings and oil pump, all treated to extended oil drain intervals, were found to be in excellent condition.

Gray continued using AMSOIL AME in the engine of his new truck, a 1990 Mack with a E7-400 engine. With the new truck, instead of using 100,000 mile drain intervals, Gray began basing his oil drains on the findings of a used oil analysis program.

After 630,000 miles total and 409,000 miles without an oil change, the E7-400 engine was torn down by the local Mack dealership in December 1996 and its parts were examined by an engine rater from Lubrizol, a major oil additive manufacturer.

 

Findings:

After over 600,000 miles, the last 409,000 on the SAME Synthetic Oil the pistons, rings, cylinders, crossheads and bearings show hardly any wear!

Additionally, lead and iron content was far below expected levels according to synthetic oil analysis that was done on the oil from this truck. The following two charts show that AMSOIL Heavy-Duty Diesel Oil, even after going 409,000 Miles using an AMSOIL bypass oil filter, still was well within the acceptable limits according to Mack specifications. In fact, you will notice that the lead content is was less than one sixth of the limit required by Mack specifications.

 

Looking to the left you will also notice that the iron content is at only about 1/3 the limit required by Mack specs. That's after 409,000 miles on the same oil, folks! By simply changing a couple of filters every 25,000 miles and doing an oil analysis each time, Haywood Gray probably saved himself over 1,000 quarts of oil and about 30 hours worth of work. Do you think he put those thirty hours to good use? I would have.

The engine showed light to moderate wear throughout, just as an engine in similar service and lubricated with conventional oil changed at 15,000 to 20,000 mile intervals would show. In fact, according to the engine rater, the parts he examined -- cylinder liners, pistons, rings, bearings, valve train components -- could have been put right back in the engine and would have continued to provide the good, dependable service they had provided all along -- after 409,000 miles without an oil change!

 

Discussion:

Many factors enable AMSOIL Synthetic Oil to be safely used 20 times longer than petroleum oils may be used.

Stability -- AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil (and other AMSOIL Synthetic Oil Grades) is far less prone to thermal and oxidative breakdown than are petroleum oils. Stability inhibits the formation of carbon deposits, varnish, sludge and acids, which helps the engine run clean and protected.

Neutralization ability -- While rapid TBN loss often renders conventional oils unfit for continued use, 12 Total Base Number (TBN) AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil offers lasting protection against engine corrosion.

Viscosity retention -- Some conventional oils' viscosity slips out of specification within a few thousand miles of an oil change. AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil neither loses viscosity as shear-prone oils do, which promotes wear during high temperature operations, nor gains viscosity as oxidation-prone oils do, which promotes wear during startup and cold temperature operations.

 

What Makes AMSOIL So Good?

"Synthetic basestocks, top-quality additives, and most importantly, more experience formulating synthetic motor oils than any other oil company," says AMSOIL Director of Technical Sales Dave Anderson.

"AMSOIL first put a long-drain synthetic diesel oil on the market in 1975 and since then has introduced three other long-drain synthetic diesel oils." (This is in addition to its regular synthetic oils)

 

Does AMSOIL Offer a Warranty?

"Yes. The company warrants that the use of its lubricants will not cause mechanical damage to any mechanically sound equipment when used in full compliance with their recommendations.

"AMSOIL recommends standard extended drain intervals for each product and application or drains determined according to the findings of used oil analysis, like Haywood Gray's are. Either way, diesel operators who use AMSOIL for extended drains are fully protected.

"Studies have proven time and again that extended drain intervals with AMSOIL are a win/win situation. Truckers win with less downtime and oil expense and they win big with reduced engine wear."

 

AMSOIL 15W-40 Aces Test!

Haywood Gray has his used oil tested regularly to ensure the ongoing serviceability of the oil and well-being of the engine.

In the engine oil report card, wear metals tell the whole story. A high wear metal content indicates a high rate of engine wear. In fact, most engine manufacturers publish upper limits on wear metals content at which an oil must be changed to assure continued engine protection.

Even after 409,000 miles, AMSOIL protected better than Mack limits required. Now that's protection!

 

What is Oil Analysis?

Oil analysis is a maintenance management tool that allows users to monitor equipment condition for maximum equipment life, maximum lubricant drain interval length and optimal downtime scheduling. Oil analysis saves users significant money by reducing equipment replacements and repairs, reducing the volume of lubricant purchased and destined for disposal and, most of all, by reducing downtime.

Customers like Haywood Gray "trendline" their oil analyses. Trendlining involves comparing the results of previous oil analysis reports to those of the most recent report to establish trends in wear metals content, viscosity, acid content, acid neutralization ability and other characteristics as specified. Departures from established trends indicate a change in engine or lubricant condition and the information they provide may be used to correct abnormal conditions before they cause damage or failure.

 

Oil Analysis Program

The AMSOIL oil analysis program puts technologically advanced testing equipment in the hands of experienced diagnosticians to deliver accurate, reliable, useful results. Now you can order oil analysis kits online!

Series 3000 Heavy Duty Diesel Outperforms the Competition!

Four Ball Wear Test

Four Ball Wear Test (ASTM D4172B) shows SERIES 3000 5W-30 wears far less than other synthetic and conventional oils now used by the trucking industry! AMSOIL SERIES 3000 OIL produces LOWER soot and solids per mile than the competition and as a result can withstand more stress than conventional oils. In fleet demonstrations Series 3000 had better TBN retention and Better viscosity retention than any of the competition.