AMSOIL Out-Scores 4 Competitive Brands in PQIA Tests

Posted by Ivan on Apr 20, 2013 in Oil Change Economics, Synthetic Motor Oils | 1 comment

While every one of the major oil brands tested meet the specifications of API SN, ILSAC GF-5, SAE 5W-30 engine oil.  AMSOIL’s Synthetic Original Equipment (OE) Motor Oil not only meets but exceeds every standard for viscosity, elemental additives, contaminants analyses and guarantees 100% protection from (LSPI) Low Speed Pre-ignition.

The test results show that AMSOIL’s  Online Store for Premium Synthetic Lubricants – AMSOIL Original EquipAMSOIL | Online Store for Premium Synthetic Lubricants – AMSOILment motor oil consistently outperformed all the characteristics of four other well-known brands of synthetic engine lubricants in PQIA’s March 4, 2013, testing report. This is again more evidence provided why AMSOIL has 75 % more protection. Remember also that AMSOIL is warranty secure.

Here are the Test Results from an independent lab PQIA on how AMSOIL’s entry level Tier 1 OEM 5-30 OEF oil compared to other major oils. Here is a list of 24 major oils tested, keep in mind that the AMSOIL OE oil is lower than the two tiers of oil that meets OEM spec’s. We want to thank and give credit to PQIA for educating the public and for their research, including petroleum and synthetic lubricant testing.   AMSOIL’s Premium Signature Series oils outperform and test out even superior!  Check it out here!

Click Here to see PQAI test results on AMSOIL Signature Series top tier premium synthetic oils!

PQIA conducts independent testing of consumer, commercial, and industrial lubricants. Standards are established by the American Petroleum Institure (API), Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and others.

PQIA selects and tests 5 to 10 brands of lubricants monthly. These samples are selected randomly by region, and the sampling includes lubricants with and without API certification.

The Institute has been published consumer alerts on brands of lubricants which fail to meet published and accepted standards.

PQIA contends, “Synthetics are typically considered the top line in motor oils. They comprise of products formulated with superior base oils (API Group III, and/or polyalphaolefins, esters, and others), and additives.

“Synthetic motor oils are generally said to provide enhanced engine protection from wear and deposits, longer service intervals, superior high temperature operation and cold-flow properties, improved fuel economy, and other features and benefits,” the Institute said in its reporting.

Many oil manufacturers want to have their oils sampled, tested, and published by PQIA without waiting for their oil to be randomly selected. To assure all manufacturers have an opportunity to have their brands tested and results posted on PQIA’s website, the institute will test any specific oil upon request by the oil’s manufacturer provided the manufacturer pays for the costs involved.

All oils tested by PQIA are collected from the field by PQIA staff members, and independently tested. All results are published on PQIA’s website without influence from the manufacturer of the brand, PQIA supporters, or any other industry party.

PQIA is aware that expensive engine testing is required to determine if an oil meets a particular API Service Classification. It also understands there are specific chemical and physical tests required to determine if an engine oil meets an API Service. The bars for these tests are set by the American Petroleum Institure, and if engine oil does not meet the requirements of these tests, it does not meet the requirements of the designated API Service Category, regardless of how it performs in the engine tests.

Tests PQIA looks at in this category include:

•     Viscosity @ 100ºC, cSt, (ASTM D445)
•     Viscosity @ 40ºC, cSt, (ASTM D445)
•     Viscosity @ -30ºC mPa s (cP) (ASTM D5293)
•     NOACK Volatility, mass % loss, 1 hr, @ 250ºC (ASTM D5800 Phosphorus, ppm (ASTM D5185)

The second group of chemical and physical tests examined by PQIA includes tests where, although there are no specific API requirements, the test data can be used to determine if a product is typical of what one would expect to see in a particular API service category. As an example, whereas the API does not specify a requirement for calcium, calcium is considered an integral and critical part of an engine oil’s additive package. As such, an engine oil meeting API SM Service Classification would typically contain calcium in the range of 1,600 to 2,400, PQIA said. This contrasts sharply with a typical API SA engine oil containing virtually no calcium.

Samples are retained for one year for challenges concerning the data presented for a given sample.

Samples collected by PQIA are sent to Southwest Research Institute (SWRi) in San Antonio, TX. SWRI provides laboratory testing, laboratory outsourcing, consulting, cargo inspection, and certification services for clients in a wide range of industries on a global basis. For further information, see PQIA’s website.