Note: This thread is basically for people who truly care about what oil and filter they use on their cars. I know some just bring it to their local Service Station guy and don't even ask what is being used. I suppose if you lease a car and return it after 2 or 3 years I might agree and the less costly - the better. This info is for people who buy their vehicles and intend on keeping them for a good long while. Cars and trucks are so costly now days, I'd think many who plan on driving them for a long time would care. That is what this thread is based on. Hope you get some benefit from it.
Over the last 3 decades I have used Amsoil products exclusively for all my vehicles, power equipment, generators, snow blowers, etc. It has never let me down and research over those years always places Amsoil products at the top of the heap - I don't think that's even disputable. The company makes exceptional products HOWEVER....... they come with the caveat that you don't look at price! Amsoil, as many here already know is a pyramid based sales structure outfit designed for people to become their own rep's and distributors. Not taking their quality away - just stating one of the most important reasons their prices are so high - tiered profitability I guess you'd call it. Fast forward to a year ago.........
Amsoil has continually raised their prices and now a quart of their Signature 0W20 oil with sales tax and shipping is well over $15.00 a quart. Their filters are almost $20 each. As usual I did my yearly research and last year discovered a relatively new product from Penzoil. It is their ULTRA PLATINUM Full Synthetic 0W20 motor oil made from natural gas. In the 3 different articles and as many videos as I have read and watched, Amsoil is still top dog at a rating of 98%. The Penzoil Ultra Platinum is rated at 96.5%. I had to get real and ask myself if the extra 1.5% was worth triple the price! Now, if I was driving 25,000 - 30,000 miles a year like I used to or taking my car to the track, Amsoil would still be my choice as it is still #1 (by a very small margin). But..... at an insignificant loss of 1.5% and being that I now drive under 5,000 miles a year, I just don't require or can no longer justify spending 3 times the price for the Amsoil for a 1.5% difference.
I also did some new research on the oil filters as well. Again, Amsoil usually comes out on top but recently Mobil 1 Extended Life filters came out almost the same (within a smidgeon) and by some websites and some testers, even better. Amsoil filters do a slightly better job at filtering down to 20 microns however they do become more restrictive as they are used. Mobil 1 filters are rated about the same as Amsoil filters but down to the 30 micron size. Some engineers actually rate the Mobil 1 filters superior because they are less restrictive as to the actual oil flow. Suffice it to say they are both pretty good filters and once again at a whole lot less money (Mobil 1 vs Amsoil).
I am not trying to tell anyone here that Amsoil is still not technically #1, I am just bringing to the table that there are alternatives that are for all intents and purposes 1/3 and 1/2 the price and for most of us there is absolutely no effective or noticeable difference at all! Don't take my word for it - you can do your own research if you'd like. Just make SURE you are comparing Amsoil with the Penzoil ULTRA PLATINUM (not their Platinum line which is completely different) and the Amsoil filters with the Mobil 1 EXTENDED LIFE version.
I just wanted to pass this info along as we are all looking to save a few bucks without sacrificing performance and quality if possible. If there was any real substantial difference I would still be using the Amsoil and would have never taken the time to write this thread. BTW, I just bought four, 5 quart containers of the Penzoil 0W20 Ultra Platinum from Walmart online at $26 / container. I believe it's currently on sale and there is no delivery fee. They also carry the Mobil 1 Extended Life filters at $11/ea.
I hope this enlightens a few who are interested.
Regards,
Chef38