409,000 Miles on 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.

For additional trucking testimonials, click through to our fleet testimonials page.

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.

Cold Crank Simulator Test

The Cold Crank Simulator Test, ASTM D-2602, measures oil viscosity at -15 degrees below zero C to evaluate an oil's fluidity in cold temperatures. Fluid oil helps engines start easier and lubricates them faster than cold-thickened oil does. Maximum allowable viscosity for 15W-40 oils in the Cold Crank Simulator Test is 3500 cP. The lower the viscosity, the better the oil's cold temperature starting characteristics. AMSOIL 15W-40 Marine Oil maintains an exceptionally fluid, highly protective 2342cP in the Cold Crank Simulator test!

Although the size reduction makes it difficult to read, Graph 1 shows Cylinder Bore polish on Detroit Diesels. Where conventional oil shows about a 15% cylinder bore polish the AMSOIL engine showed only a trace amount of polish.

Graph 2 compares Piston Deposits on Catepillar Diesels. Using the Mack rating method - number of demerits - the conventional heavy duty diesel oil had a 450 rating compared to AMSOIL's rating of about 220. That's less than one half the deposits!

Graph 3 shows reduced oil consumption on Cummins diesels. Where the conventional oil produced about 950 miles per quart of oil used, AMSOIL had nearly 2200 - 209% more miles per quart of oil!

Graph 1 above compares piston ring and liner wear on Caterpillar Diesels. Top Plus Second Ring Gap increase in 0.001 inches. Conventional oil in this Caterpillar Diesel showed a wear factor of 24 as opposed to the AMSOIL lubricated engine which had only 15!

Graph 2 compares piston ring wear on Cummins Diesels. Again AMSOIL showed 37% less ring wear.

Graph 3 shows the protection against ring breakage. Conventional oil produced five broken rings PER ENGINE. AMSOIL HAD NO BROKEN RINGS ON ANY ENGINE DURING THE TESTING PERIOD!

NOACK Volatility Test Din-51581 actually measures the amount of oil evaporated from your crankcase in a given amount of time. High oil volatility leads to high oil consumption, deposit formation, oil degradation and poor fuel efficiency. AMSOIL 15W-40's volatility is extremely low - low enough to beat strict European CCMC standards. Most U.S. oils can't beat CCMC standards.

8.2% FUEL ENCONOMY INCREASE

AMSOIL took the early lead in developing fuel efficient, low viscosity lubricants for trucking and other heavy-duty diesel applications with the introduction of its Series 3000 Synthetic 5W-30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil. Independent testing verifies its outstanding fuel economy benefit: trucks equipped with Series 3000 in the engine and AMSOIL lubes in the drive train had an 8.2 percent improvement over conventionally lubricated trucks! Take a look at this link for some savings projections with only a 2 to 5% improvement and then seriously think about that 8.2% savings and what it could mean for your business.

Lubricants Recommended for "The Big Trucks"!

• HDD Series 3000 5W-30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil **
• AME 15W-40 Heavy Duty Diesel & Marine Oil
• SAE 30 Diesel Oil

Other Recommended Products

Synthetic Gear Lubes (API GL2-5, API MT-1): 75W-90 (especially our new Series 2000 75W-90/75W-140), 80W-90, 85W-140! All of these products will assist in obtaining higher fuel mileage, have long drain intervals and help to avoid costly repairs.