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New Chart Simplifies Product and Drain Interval
Recommendations
For many years, the 3000-mile motor oil drain
interval was common practice, but the automotive market has seen a
definite push toward extended drain intervals over the past few years.
Although still aggressively promoted by many petroleum motor oil
companies, the standard 3000-mile drain interval is slowly becoming
extinct. In fact, most owners manuals from recent model vehicles
recommend 5000- to 7500-mile oil drain intervals, while oil life
monitors that allow extended drain intervals of up to 12,000 miles have
also become increasingly common. Vehicles equipped with an oil life
monitor recommend oil changes based on engine operational data such as
temperature, revolutions and speed to determine when the oil is nearing
the end of its life.
While extended oil drain intervals have been common
in Europe for years, American motor oil companies have mostly avoided
recommending extended drains. AMSOIL represented the lone voice for
extended drain intervals in America for over 30 years, and it was the
only company offering a mileage guarantee. Most recently, ExxonMobil
finally recognized the push toward extended drain intervals, introducing
their own line of long drain motor oils with a mileage guarantee earlier
this year. Other motor oil companies will likely follow suit.
Normal vs. Severe
When compared with other vehicle preventive
maintenance measures, such as maintaining proper tire air pressure or
changing spark plugs, oil change intervals are more ambiguous. Operating
conditions and driving styles vary from vehicle to vehicle and from
driver to driver, and manufacturers usually provide two oil change
schedules in the owners manual: normal and severe.
The concept of severe service was introduced by
vehicle manufacturers as a means to ensure their equipment receives
optimum protection even when subjected to severe conditions, including
short trip driving, driving in dusty conditions and excessive engine
idling.
Although a vast majority of motorists believe they
are normal service drivers, the reality is that most motorists fall
under the severe service category. In fact, a survey performed by a
member company of the Filter Manufacturers Council reveals that only 20
percent of vehicles can be classified as operating under normal service,
meaning four out of five drivers are severe service drivers. According
to a poll conducted by Pennzoil/Quaker State, only 14 percent of
respondents characterized themselves as severe service drivers. When
given the definition of a severe service driver, the numbers quickly
reversed, with 55 percent characterizing themselves as severe service
drivers.
AMSOIL Incorporates Severe Service Category
In light of all this, AMSOIL has updated its product
change interval chart to realign and clarify product recommendations and
drain intervals to provide optimum protection and performance in modern
applications and operating conditions.
The updated AMSOIL Product Recommendation and Drain
Interval Chart includes separate normal and severe service categories,
and it is more in line with today’s harder working vehicles. Modern
vehicles have smaller oil sumps and produce higher horsepower, RPM,
torque and heat, while also incorporating emission control devices that
introduce higher levels of soot and acid into the oil.
These factors all place increased stress on lubricants, while making the
severe service vs. normal service issue increasingly important across
the industry.
AMSOIL identifies the following as normal service
driving conditions (gasoline and diesel): “Personal transportation
vehicles frequently traveling greater than 10 miles at a time and not
operating under severe service conditions.” Vehicles operated under
normal service conditions should follow the AMSOIL “normal service” oil
change guidelines.
AMSOIL identifies the following as gasoline engine
severe service driving conditions: “Turbo/supercharged engines,
commercial or fleet vehicles, excessive engine idling, first and
subsequent use of AMSOIL engine oil in vehicles with 100,000 miles or
greater, daily short trip driving less than 10 miles (16 km), frequent
towing, plowing or hauling heavy loads and frequent driving in dusty
conditions.” Vehicles operated under any of these conditions should
follow the AMSOIL “severe service” oil change guidelines.
AMSOIL identifies the following as diesel engine
severe service driving conditions: “Commercial or fleet vehicles,
extensive engine idling, daily short trip driving less than 10 miles (16
km), frequent towing, plowing or hauling heavy loads and frequent
driving in dusty conditions.” Vehicles operated under any of these
conditions should follow the AMSOIL “severe service” oil change
guidelines.
Simplifies Recommendations
The new Product Recommendation and Drain Interval
Chart features 11 distinct vehicle categories, with its various oil
recommendations listed beneath. Each vehicle category is clearly
explained in further detail under the chart. For example, “Personal
vehicles with gasoline fueled engines” are described as “Personal
passenger cars, pick-up trucks, SUVs and vans both turbo and non-turbo
charged with gasoline engines.”
By reducing many of the “up to 3 times longer” and
“up to 2 times longer” drain interval recommendations, the new Product
Recommendation and Drain Interval Chart provides more concrete drain
interval recommendations. In some applications, the recommended drain
intervals have increased. For example, the old chart specified drain
intervals of “up to 3 times longer or 6 months” and “up to 2 times
longer or 6 months” for personal diesel vehicles, depending on the oil.
The new chart recommends 25,000-mile/1-year drain intervals for personal
diesels operating in normal service and 15,000-mile/1-year drain
intervals for personal diesels operating in severe service. Drain
recommendations for commercial and fleet gasoline engines have also
increased from “up to 2 times longer or 6 months” to 15,000 miles/1
year.
AMSOIL has more lubricants in its product line than
ever. The new Product Recommendation and Drain Interval Chart simplifies
the process of selecting an oil for an application. Although several
different products may be used in a given application, the new chart
clearly states the application’s primary recommendation. If an oil is
the highest performing product and delivers maximum fuel efficiency for
the specific application, it is marked with a “1” to identify it as the
primary recommendation. This eliminates confusion, while Dealers gain
the confidence of knowing exactly which oil to recommend for their
customers’ applications.
New Additions
The Product Recommendation and Drain Interval Chart
has also been expanded to include brief product descriptions and
performance characteristics of AMSOIL products, as well as oil and air
filter application and service interval recommendations and drivetrain
application and drain interval recommendations for AMSOIL automatic
transmission fluids, manual transmission oils and gear lubes.
The AMSOIL Filter Change Recommendations section
includes oil and air filter application and service interval
recommendations for vehicles with gasoline or diesel fueled engines,
stationary engines, heavy-duty commercial vehicles and off-road
equipment and Donaldson PowerCore® applications, while also covering
Donaldson Endurance™ Air Filter warranty rules and EaA cleaning
instructions.
The Drivetrain Applications and Service Intervals
section includes “Automatic Transmission Fluid Recommendations,”
identifying the specific applications and drain interval recommendations
for AMSOIL synthetic automatic transmission fluids, “Manual Transmission
Oil Recommendations,” identifying the specific applications and drain
interval recommendations for AMSOIL synthetic manual transmission oils
and “Differential Gear Lube Recommendations,” identifying the specific
applications and drain interval recommendations for AMSOIL synthetic
gear lubes.
Notice: AMSOIL recommends checking the oil at a
minimum of every 3000 miles to maintain proper fill levels and maximum
engine protection.
AMSOIL
Product and Drain Interval Recommendations |
