Cphilip,

I can agree and sympathize with you as to waiting on your choice. I had my F150 for 9 years before switching to synthetic and I alternated between Quaker State and <gasp> Castrol GTX... (whoops sorry kilroy, popped your bubble there didn't I)

What did it for me was reading up on the properties of synthetics and what makes them such a better deal. I had known about them since my aviation days and knew that they were the thing to have in high heat/high stress situations.

I looked at the Mobil 1 and the Amsoil product lines before going with the Amsoil Series 2000 20w50 (old, tired engine) in the truck. What prompted me was the 35,000/1 year oil drain interval and the backup warranty. Mobil only wanted to go with the MSCI and I needed more than that to justify the increased per/qt cost.

The XL 7500 is the API licensed/rated oil that Amsoil formulated for the quick-lube market. However I have seen studies with people going 12,000+ miles on this oil (using oil analysis) with no problems. It is a great oil to get started with if you need time to see if you are getting what you want.

The stinker is what does the term 'sythetic' mean??? There are a number of companies using the term in association with hydrocracked (or isodemerized) oils that are essentially really clean bituminous (dino) oils. (our friends at Castrol do this with their new Syntec product)

While others will use it in association with chemically altered fluids including PAO, ester or a combination of the two. This are where Mobil, Chevron and Amsoil stand.

Okay kilroy, you may flame me now.

Randy

 

Can't do it. I ran out of matches and my Zippo's empty.

 

Well I am not going to extended drains because Ford still doesn't recognize them. Thys have no problems with synthetics but they still insist on the drain interval. So I am using cheaper ones and changing at the Max (5K) interval while under the 36/36. I have said before that I want the easiest, biggest window to throw a rock through if I have a problem. Ford dealer in every town, not so an Amsoil or Castrol or etc..

 

Yeah cphilip,

I can see your point, as a number of people are going to stick to the manufacturers recommended drain intervals as long as the warranty is in effect.

However, I wouldn't be so sure that Ford doesn't recognize them. The most common oil drain interval in Europe is 12,000 miles and Ford makes a number of cars types in Europe (the Contour and Focus came from there if I'm correct.)

This inconsistancy is quite hard to swallow, but the safest thing to do is to follow what Ford says over here until you are free of the warranty. The XL 7500 is a great oil and does provide the synthetic protection as well. However, Valvoline Synpower, Castrol Syntec (gasp!! did I just do that ) and Mobil's driveclean (not synthetic but has a better additive package than most) are good contenders as well.

I'd be careful about the 5K though, your owners manual might declare where you with live a 'hazardous duty' state (Fl counts, along with most of the south), then you'd have to stick to the 3K change interval.

C'mon kilroy, you've got to give me something... I'm going into withdrawal here...

Randy

 

Well... yea... I say I will go 5K but somehow I always get nervous and end up doing it at 3K anyway.

Check out this thingy:

 

If I ever start arguing about transmission fluid would somebody shoot me? Please.

 

cphilip, where did you get that deal!!! That sounds like some of the guages that the diesel boys talk about so much, measures the amount of vacuum on one side of the filter and (if calibrated properly) shows you a general indicator of when to change/switch the filter.

Cool idea, do you have a link??

kilroy, I think we all hear what you are saying, although we probably don't agree with how you are saying it. I myself have a terrible time with the marketing huff that goes on in the world today. That is one of the reasons that I began to investigate the Syntec issue.

Its not what you are saying (although I don't agree with you, but thats okay too), it how you are saying.

Randy

 

Yes its the same one only the 20" one is for gassers. Here you go Randy: http://www.dieselpage.com/epc.htm

Raoul uses Old Spice aftershave lotion in his tranny. And swears by it. A little pricey but last a long time and realy smells nice. And he plucks the hair out of his comb and makes his own filters with it. Anyone got an opinion on that?

 

Cphilip,

We use a pop-up gauge very similiar to that for our air filters on our Diesel engines (750-30,000Hp) for commercial power. They aren't real accurate but they seem to do the job.

I think they are fairly inexpensive about $25, let me know if you need another source.

 

I don't necessarily have a problem with Amsoil products themselves, as I've never used any, but I do object to false information being spread concerning competitors. It's like a three foot flame: IT BURNS MY BUTT!! The negative tone used by Amsoil dealers and the "information" often cited leads me to doubt the authenticity of Amsoil as well. Like I said, the other companies don't spend their time or efforts sniping at one another. If Amsoil's good stuff, that'll sell quite a bit by itself.