Comparing Amsoil vs. Castrol Edge and Mobil 1 Extended Performance
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Castrol Edge And Mobil 1 Extended Performance Are Now Suggesting 15,000-Mile Drain Intervals -- But there is a catch, Castrol and Mobil, seen by many as the makers of the best motor oils available, have finally decided to suggest longer drain intervals for some of their motor oils. Let's take a look at how these motor oils compare to Amsoil, who has suggested 25,000 mile drain intervals for years.
Why Is It Suddenly Okay To Go Longer?
The reason oil drain intervals are getting longer is simply due to technology. As the factories that build cars become more and more advanced, they are capable of building engines with closer tolerances, which means the motor oil has to be both thinner to reach all the moving parts, and even better at lubricating. This is why the American Petroleum Institute (API) certifies motor oils with certain ratings. In your car's owner's manual, the vehicle manufacturer will tell you exactly what API rating motor oil your car should use. As long as the motor oil is rated high enough for your car, you are safe to use the drain interval recommended by the manufacturer of the oil.
How Do Oil Manufacturers Determine Oil Change Intervals?
The motor oil's job is to lubricate internal moving parts while providing certain chemicals that condition the engine's rubber seals. Eventually, the oil's ability to provide lubrication is compromised by moisture, and the seals absorb all of the additives. Common sense says that the oil should be changed once it begins to lose the ability to do its job. Anything else would be wasteful of both money and oil.
So How Do They Compare?
Amsoil has determined that their motor oils are capable of going 25,000 miles before needing to be changed. Castrol and Mobil both claim only 15,000 miles, and only if the car is out of warranty. Just going by the drain intervals, it is obvious that Castrol and Mobil do not feel that their oils are up to the same standards as Amsoil. However, that last part is particularly disturbing. Only if the car is out of warranty? Why would it matter? If the oil is capable of doing its job after the car is out of warranty, it's capable of doing the job before the car is out of warranty as well.
There is one possible reason that they want you to wait until your car is out of warranty: liability. Say, for instance, you use Mobil 1 Extended Performance, and your engine suffers some sort of lubrication related failure at 12,000 miles since the last oil change. If the car is still under warranty, then the manufacturer is going to be seeking reimbursement for the repair from Mobil since the motor oil is responsible for lubricating the engine. However, if the car is out of warranty, you're stuck with the bill. Sure, you could go after the oil manufacturer and try to get your money back, but whose lawyers do you suppose Mobil is more comfortable defending against: yours or your car manufacturer's? Disturbing thought, isn't it?
The Verdict
Until Castrol and Mobil are confident enough in their oils to suggest extended drain intervals, even while your car is still under the manufacturer's wing, it's safe to say that Amsoil is superior. Even without the warranty clause, though, Amsoil still has longer drain intervals, which means the oil is just plain better at doing its job from the beginning.
This article brought to you by Steve Tarini a recognized expert in the field of extended drain lubricants. Amsoil will clearly make a difference in the performance of your vehicle even if you are presently using Mobil 1 Extended Performance or Castrol's Edge. You can try your first oil change with Amsoil without signing up to be a preferred customer saving you $20.00 just give us a call for details.
Now is the time to try Amsoil and stop falling in the trap of the 3,000 mile myth. Try our 6-month trial offer and start using Amsoil today. Call for a special offer concerning our preferred customer program.