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Can you explain what the difference is between the Amsoil SAE 5W-30 SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL and Synthetic XL-7500 5W-30 Motor Oil? The first one is slightly more expensive but has a recommended change interval of 25,000-miles/12-months, and the XL7500 mile oil has a shorter change interval of 7500-miles/6-months, but is there more to it then that?
I understand your confusion. Simply, both far exceed the specifications set for engines by API and SAE. The difference relates more to marketing than specifications. A few years ago, statistically for the first time, more people had someone else change their oil. For years, the do-it-yourselfers were more prevalent. When this happened AMSOIL decided to come out with an oil that would specifically address the market where people would have their oil changed every 7,500 miles or 6-months, whichever came first. This interval was targeted as the average annual mileage for individuals is 15,000 miles per year. This way, the XL7500 mile oil could be marketed to quick lubes and other retail outlets, and the oil change interval, obviously much longer then the advertised norm by the "Jiffy Lubes" of the world with their 3,000 miles or 3-months, could be tied to tire rotations and other normal automotive maintenance.
The Synthetic 5W-30 and 10W-30 oil is a 25,000-mile/12-month oil. For this reason, it has a bit more intense additive package so that it will stay up to specification for the longer duration. You need to change the oil filter with this oil at 12,500-miles/6-month with an AMSOIL filter, or, if using another brand of oil filter, at whatever that manufacturer recommends as a change interval for the filter. The oil, however, is still a 25,000-mile/12-month oil. By the way, most all good quality oil filter will work with the XL7500 oil as the better filters are made to go 7,500 miles.
A major change did come in AMSOIL as of July 1, 2002, with the XL7500 mile oil. AMSOIL became somewhat uncompetitive as a result of changes to other oils in the "do-it-for-me" market. Oils that had previously been of similar non-petroleum base stocks, known in the industry as Group IV Base Stocks, switched to a petroleum base stock that was refined by a different process making hydroisomerized basestock, generally known as Group III Base Stocks. This improves the quality and performance of the oil, even though it is still a petroleum product, but has characteristics of a synthetic oil. Castrol was I believe the first, and the change drew a complaint from Mobil with the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus. Click Here to view the article on my newsletter page that gives the details.
The result was that "synthetic" is now a marketing term, not a definition rooted in the chemistry make-up of the lubricant. With the change of so many products to this technology (many oils on the shelf now carrying the label Synthetic is of this make up), AMSOIL, in order to remain competitive in this category of lubricants, changed the base stock of their XL7500 oils (and only the XL7500 oils) to a hydroisomerized basestock. This resulted in a cost reduction which AMSOIL passed on as a price reduction.
Generally, if you are concerned about getting the best performance, stick with the regular AMSOIL Synthetic Oils or the Series 2000 and 3000 line of synthetic oils. The XL7500 is aimed at those looking at easing into extended drains, and those that do not want to go back to a service facility only to get an oil filter changed and one quart of oil put in. As a do-it-yourselfer, it is quick and easy to swap out a filter and put in one quart, but many people just can not be bothered.
XLT/Competitor Comparisons
10W-30 Motor Oils |
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