If synthetic oils are so good, why doesn't everyone use them?

Good question!

Informal surveys reveal three common reasons:

1. Consumers often do not understand the differences between petroleum and synthetic products (as explained on our Technical Page and elsewhere on this site)
2. A few people still remember horror stories about some early manufacturers who tried marketing poor synthetic formulas (about 30 years ago) and think that ALL synthetic lubricants are created equal
3. Some consumers will only consider the price, never the cost. Let's take a closer look . .

Are Superior Synthetic Lubricants Worth The Cost?

Petroleum mineral oil starts out as a fluid that is pumped from the ground as crude oil, is later refined and then strengthened with an additive package. A synthetic lubricant on the other hand, must be built "from the ground up" using custom chemical components. We would expect this process to be somewhat more expensive, and it is.

On the other hand, it is equally clear that an oil which improves economy also saves money. In the long run, an oil that reduces wear also saves money. So does an oil which is very stable and can therefore be used continuously over much longer periods of time. (What is commonly known as "extended drain intervals") In the case of Amsoil synthetics, all of these benefits are present at the same time.

So although the initial price may be higher, the actual "cost of use" may be far lower than that of a mineral oil.

A Personal Example:

I have personally tracked actual engine oil expenses for more than 20 years now, and can readily demonstrate that I save around $200 (U.S.) per passenger car, per year, using Amsoil lubricants. Our family currently owns three vehicles, which translates into annual savings of $600 versus using a cheap petroleum oil - which really isn't so cheap after all. Yes, it's easy to fixate on initial price, because we have all been brain-washed by careful advertising to ignore the reality of "total cost of use". When it comes to motorcycles, that's a dangerous trap.

You may have just spent thousands of dollars for your new "lean, mean machine". The oil you use to protect it costs a tiny fraction of the value of the motorcycle. Does it makes sense to cut corners on the sizeable investment you've just made? In reality, the right premium oil is the best maintenance "insurance policy" money can buy.

Another observation:

As I have tracked oil change expenses over the years, an interesting shift has occurred. The ratio between the cost of oil and the cost of labor (to change the oil) has increased dramatically. In the U.S. anyway, cost of labor has sky rocketed, while the cost of oil (over the same period of time) has stayed fairly stable. [Not including the recent international upswing in the cost of crude oil]

The obvious conclusion is this:  Anything we do to reduce the labor (for oil changes) is going to leave more money in the bank. On my vehicles I make only one oil change per year based on Amsoil service guidelines. Using the average annual mileage of my commuter car, I avoid the labor associated with 5 oil changes - based on recommended petroleum oil change intervals.

At the current cost of labor (about $20 U.S. per oil change), that equates to $100 in labor I avoid each year - on that single vehicle. Furthermore, that's 5 times a year that I don't have to drive over to Larry's Lucky Lube and wait in line for them to change my oil!

What about . .

By this time, you shouldn't need another argument. But here are a few more:

1. Amsoil base stocks come from a replenishable resource - good for the environment,
2. Amsoil lubricants last longer and burn cleaner - also good for the environment,
3. Amsoil lubricants are not imported from foreign countries - good for the economy,
4. The extra mechanical protection of Amsoil lubricants provide peace of mind - good for the emotions (think about that the next time you take a winter trip with your family in sub-zero weather - at night!).

I'm having a little fun here of course. Just remember, that what's true of an auto engine with 4 or 6 cylinders, is even more important for a cycle engine with only one or two.

Many Amsoil lubricants fall into the fairly rare category of "cost recovery products". These are products which pay for themselves as you use them. That is, over their useful life, the savings they generate exceed the initial purchase price of the product. It is good to know that a few of these products still exist.

See our Technical Page for more details

ACTION STEP:  Save money with AMSOIL

If you aren't already using Amsoil lubricants . .
WHAT ARE YOUR WAITING FOR?

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