How long between oil changes? Is Amsoil good oil to use?

I've heard with some engines the EA filter is too efficient, gets plugged. I don't think that applies to the Tacoma engines though.

 

Nobody said you couldn't do 12mos/15k mile OCI we're just saying you can get similar protection for half the price using other materials.

 

Didn't read the entire thread. Similar protection OK, but if I'm recommended by the producer to change the oil and filter 3 times in 15,000 miles I prefer to not do that.

$25 extra per year doesn't bother me for extended OCI's. Changing the oil three times in 15000 miles does bother me.

 

You really should read the thread.

 

What? Seems like Amsoil is doing well, they have repeat customers since 1972 WITHOUT a marketing campaign. Repeat customers and new customers for 45 years seems to me is confirmation of a good product.

 

Tons of stuff has been around for 45 years. Age doesn't mean perfection. Twinkies, Chrysler, Cigarettes, etc etc have been around for far longer than Amsoil. Does that mean those are great foods, brands, or hobbies that all people should enjoy. No. Amsoil has always relied on there small army of independent dealers to push their product over others. Check their website. It's all promotional articles based on in house testing. That is their marketing strategy.

Anyways, let's agree to disagree on Amsoil. I'm not here to call it a shitty product, I just don't agree with their business model or the way some people choose to push it based on data that is not verified or from a third party. The mass consensus from sites like Bob is the oil guy shows Blackstone tests that stand behind brands like Mobil 1 and Pennzoil Platinum just as strong or stronger than Amsoil. What people choose to spend their money on is their business, but don't knock people for pointing out their are other alternatives that cost far less.

I could run 15K oil changes in my Tacoma on Pennzoil Platinum easy according to Blackstone but I don't for warranty purposes. I'll probably extend out to 10K when my truck is out of the warranty period. Your point about changing the filter every 5K is spot on. That's one of the really sketchy things I've seen Amsoil push in their literature, 15K filters. No one should run a filter for that long in a vehicle, especially without a time limit.

 

I just switched to Amsoil XL 5w30 after the engine swap; figured it would be a good time to test it out.

I ran Mobil1 Synth. + OEM filter for the first 1,000 miles on the new engine, then changed out to the Amsoil and Ea Filter.

I ran this setup for 10,000 miles, changed the oil (with Amsoil + Ea filter again) then sent a sample to Blackstone for analysis. They provide a good breakdown and written notes about the oil sample for $25. I have roughly 5k until the next change, and I will send another sample in to Blackstone for analysis.

The cost of Amsoil above Mobil1 is pretty negligible, pay $20 for a year "Preferred" membership, pay $50 for oil+filter and be good for the whole year (vs paying $35 twice a year for Mobil1).

*and I will add that previous to "testing" the Amsoil, I used Mobil1 in every vehicle I've owned.

 

So are you running two filters or one... Running one filter for longer could lead to the filter ending up plugged and the oil bypassing the filter.

IMHO there is no problem with extending the oil change interval, but I'd keep the filter interval tight.

 

I'm running the Amsoil Ea filter to 10k miles. Swap at the same time as oil.
This one: http://www.amsoil.com/shop/by-produ...ms/oil/amsoil-ea-oil-filters/?code=EA15K51-EA

 

I wouldn't worry about clogging up a filter unless you're out on dusty trails every weekend, which is also prevented by a good air filter. They go hand in hand.

 

Synthetics are all pretty much comparable really. I use synthetics because at 20 below zero the truck actually gets going like it was 30 degrees. I'm happy to pay extra for that.

 

Yup. I use synthetic in all my vehicles. This thread is more talking about which synthetic to use, which is a bit like asking which gas station you fill from. There are some truths, half truths, and full on lies about which gas is better or worse from which stations. It's hard to wade through all the marketing crap to see what actually works best, and in many cases there is more than one great product out there.