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Converting to AMSOIL and Breaking in a New Engine. Critical Information That You Need to Know.

Some of the most frequent questions people ask us about AMSOIL are: what is required in order to convert to AMSOIL synthetic oils and filters, how long do I have to wait before installing AMSOIL in a new engine, and what differences can I expect to notice once I've converted to AMSOIL? 

Here are our engineer's answers in a detailed explanation: 

Converting a vehicle to AMSOIL synthetic oils and filtration is fairly simple, but there are a few things you need to be aware of.  If you follow these recommendations, which go beyond what your owners manual or the dealer mechanic tells you, your new engine will probably last 3 to 5 times longer than the OEM plans. Or you'll probably triple the remaining life of your used engine.

(Yes, we're serious.  That's not marketing talk. It's the engineering consensus of
our entire group of hundreds of automotive and OEM engineers, based on real-world experience and data, like the million mile van that wasn't converted to synthetics until 68,000 miles.)

Having said that, we'll also tell you this priceless secret:  a similar situation holds true for your transmission and differential.  By changing the fluids to AMSOIL synthetics after about 1,000 to 4,000 miles of "babying" them for a good break-in, and then changing them at the 50,000 mile severe service intervals, or 100,000 mile normal/typical service intervals, most transmissions and differentials will run at least 400,000 and probably more than 1 million miles without problems.  The exceptions are mostly vehicles with engine horsepower upgrades, vehicles competing in events, and those being used to tow or carry loads beyond their designed and rated OEM capacity. 

[For detailed information on
how to make your new vehicle last 500,000 to 1 Million miles,
including the transmission and differential,
get our FREE Special Report series.]

Engine "Break-In" Period:

If you have a brand new vehicle we recommend that you run a short cycle of petroleum oil on a gas engine passenger car or light truck (typically 500 miles) and approximately 5000 miles on a diesel engine such as in a Ford Powerstroke, GMC Duramax or Dodge Cummins Turbo Diesel, before installing AMSOIL. This doesn't mean that you can't install AMSOIL sooner, as many OEM's install synthetics as a factory fill, it simply means these are our recommendations based on our extensive engineering studies and knowledge of this topic. Your engine's oil usage rate can be higher until the initial break-in process is complete.

Today's modern engine manufacturing and materials technology is much more sophisticated than in years past. Regular gas engine passenger car and light truck engines do not require the extensive break-in process many people think they do. In addition, by the time you get your new vehicle the engine has already been through a series of hot tests also run on in-plant chassis roll testers to check functionality of all systems and then driven around the plant and railhead in order to get the vehicle to the dealer, which also helps accelerate breaking in of the engine.

The engine break-in issue is the subject of much controversy as everyone seems to have their opinion on when an engine is considered fully broken in. The information we provide is based on the results of engineering studies as well as many years of experience and teardown analysis on test vehicles. The differences between a vehicle that was properly and fully broken in and one that was not can often be hard to detect.  There are tell-tale signs, but they are not easily detected except in all but the most extreme situations. The subject of what occurs during the break-in process can easily be the subject of a 100 page report, so what we cover in this website page is only the essential points you need to know. The break-in process we describe here is nothing compared to the extensive break-in process that race car engineers go through before an engine is ready to be converted to AMSOIL as well as racing in competition.

Breaking in an engine is a process of properly wearing-in the pistons/cylinders/rings, bearings, valves, camshaft, lifters, rockers, etc... In addition, part of the breaking in process is not only wearing-in and seating the internal engine components but also stress relieving the components as well. Crankshafts, connecting rods, pistons, blocks etc... have many stresses due to the casting or forging process, machining and welding process. We have viewed and measured these stresses, called fringes, using what is called lazer holography. These stresses are properly reduced/eliminated by costly and time consuming heat aging as well as shot peening and or high frequency vibration on a very specialized bedplate for an extended period of time. For production applications this is cost and time prohibitive. Therefore, the next best thing is exposing your engine to multiple heating and cooling cycles under various load and RPM's, which is described in the following paragraph. The heating and cooling break in process continues over a period of time and does not need to be run on petroleum oil.

Breaking in a new engine is the one area that petroleum oil is better for than synthetics. You see, petroleum oil has a very low film strength compared to synthetics.  That's bad for long-term wear-protection, but it's ideal for breaking in a new engine. That is why we recommend you run the factory installed petroleum oil for about the about the first 500 miles. Then drain the oil, remove the factory installed oil filter and then install AMSOIL Synthetic motor oil and an AMSOIL EaO oil filter and you're ready to go.  For diesel engines we recommend the same procedure, except at the 500 mile oil-change use conventional petroleum oil combined with an AMSOIL EaO nanofiber oil filter. The petroleum oil will better allow the break-in to continue, while the nanofiber oil filter will reduce wear particle damage by about 70% compared to standard or OEM filters.

Further heat cycling break-in will continue during the multiple heating and cooling cycles from driving your vehicle under varying RPM and engine load conditions and then shutting it down for a long period of time to let it cool completely. The multiple heating and cooling cycles are a extremely important factor in properly breaking in a new engine and are often an overlooked factor in the total break-in process. These heating and cooling cycles achieve what is called stress relieving. Back in the "old days" of engine manufacturing, after casting and before an engine block was machined, it would be set outside for several months to age, during which stress relieving occurred naturally, then the block was machined, which helped to produce a better engine than one that was machined immediately after casting.

By changing the factory installed oil and filter after the first 500 miles you will also be removing the initial wear-in particulates present in the oil and filter. The reason for this is that during initial wear-in there is very high particulate contamination in the oil. These particulates consist mainly of microscopic particles of aluminum, bronze, copper, lead and iron, plus soot particles and other by-products of combustion in your oil. Your filter cannot filter out all these small particulates as many are sub-micron size and too small for the filter to trap, BUT they are also small enough to fit between your bearing and other internal clearances and cause wear. That is why we recommend to you that in order to properly break-in a new engine, regardless of what your new car salesman or dealership personnel tell you, you should always perform the first oil and filter change at 500 miles. Then you can convert to an AMSOIL Synthetic at that time, or any time later.  

On a diesel engine we recommend the initial oil change at 500 miles with a petroleum oil and an AMSOIL EaO or Donaldson Endurance oil filter, with another change around 3500 miles, then in the 5000 mile range you can convert to AMSOIL Synthetic.
 

How do I Convert to AMSOIL?

AMSOIL Engine Flush: In a new engine with less than approximately 20,000 miles it is not imperative that AMSOIL Engine Flush be used.  However, in an engine that has been using petroleum oil the entire time with 20,000-30,000 miles or beyond, or more than 2 years old, we highly recommend using the AMSOIL Engine Flush. What the engine flush will do is remove the petroleum oil sludge & varnish deposits from your engine, along with the wear-particles embedded in those deposits, and properly prepare your engine for AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil. You simply pour in one can for every 5-6 quarts of sump capacity (one can is sufficient for most all passenger cars & light trucks, with the exception of diesels), and let the engine idle for about 15-20 minutes then drain the oil and remove the filter while the oil is still warm. Do not drive the vehicle or put any load on the engine with the engine flush installed, or some internal engine-wear-damage may occur due to the thin viscosity. The best practice is to install a new oil filter before adding the engine flush. However, in some cases this is probably not critical - such as only having 3,000 miles since the last oil change, and you've been running Mobil 1 for most oil changes.  But if you have an extremely dirty or high mileage engine, if your engine is prone to sludge buildup, or you have recently purchased it as a used vehicle, then we definitely recommend installing a new engine oil filter prior to adding the flush so that you have full capacity of the filter available for capturing and holding the dirt particles that the flush removes. What's the difference between AMSOIL Engine Flush and other products in the store?  AMSOIL's Engine Flush is designed for maximum performance, rather than maximum profits.  It's a detergent-based flush with some kerosene and other petroleum distillates that act as the carrier for the flushing and cleaning agents. The detergent used is a 2-butoxyethanol, glycol ether and is essentially a very concentrated form of the detergents used in premium motor oils.

                     (What about using Engine Flush in my Motorcycle?)

AMSOIL Synthetics are naturally cleansing and also high in detergents. What happens when you operate an engine on petroleum oil, is that the sludge and varnish deposits that occur as a result of using petroleum oil will accumulate around your pistons, rings, seals, valvetrain, etc.. and actually help to seal your engine. This type of petroleum oil deposit "sealing" can lead to problems such as piston ring sticking, sludge deposits in valve covers and oil pans which can lead to decreased oil pump capacity output and restriction of critical oil galley passageways over an extended period of time, plus many more issues which we will not go into detail in this discussion. These deposits are highly detrimental to the proper function and longevity of your engine.

What occurs when you use AMSOIL Engine Flush is that it cleans all these deposits out from your engine, both the highly accumulated deposits as well as the sub-micron deposits which have accumulated in the microscopic valleys of the aluminum, copper, iron, etc.. engine components. If you do not use the engine flush the AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil will do essentially the same thing the flush does, but take a much longer period of time. During this time, which is greatly accelerated when using the AMSOIL Engine Flush, the engine is going through a phase where these deposits are being removed, or have been removed. What exists now is that these microscopic valleys in the iron, aluminum, copper, etc.., are now empty. It takes some time for the molecular structure of the AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil to fill these microscopic valleys. This can be as short as a few hundred miles or as long as a few thousand miles, depending on the internal condition of your engine. During this phase you may, or may not, notice slightly increased oil consumption, BUT only until the uniform molecular structure of the AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil can re-seal these microscopic valleys. Most people do not even notice this phase, but we like to make people aware of it so they understand this process. This is perfectly normal and the oil is doing exactly what it was engineered to do.

Gaskets and Seals:
 

You may have heard the myth that synthetics cause engine seals to leak. Synthetics absolutely do not cause seals to leak, they simply may only reveal an existing leak path and seal which has failed and is in need of mechanical replacement. Either the seal lip is worn down or the seal is hardened and cracked from old age, heat and ozone. What happens is exactly as we described above. If you have a very old engine that has been running petroleum oil, and it also leaks, for example around the rear-main oil seal, then chances are it will leak more with synthetic oil. This is commonly referred to as a "false seal".

"I'm concerned.  Can you explain more about Cracked or Leaking Seals?" 
There is some risk on older engines with high mileage on petroleum oils, that the oil seals are dried out and cracked, and are being sealed with sludge deposits.  Some feel that because this low risk exists, that they should not switch to AMSOIL because the cracked seals will begin to leak.  However, these deposits are often the primary cause of seal wear and cracking, because they prevent the oil from cooling the seal and prevent the oil's seal conditioners from keeping the seal soft and lubricated.  Our opinion, as automotive engineers, is that when this condition exists it often indicates a high level of sludge and varnish deposits in the engine which are decreasing engine life and as they build up they are creating an ever higher risk of sudden engine failure.  It's similar to the risk of cholesterol deposits closing off your arteries and causing heart attacks under stress conditions.  So if seals leak after switching to AMSOIL, and you have to replace them, it's probably an indication that you've dramatically extended your engine life by switching to AMSOIL.  And that's great!  No-one wants the expense of replacing seals, but it's much cheaper to replace the seals than to replace the engine!

Synthetics cause gasket failure?  Recently I heard of a respected ASE-certified mechanic recommending to one of my brothers that he should not change his Cadillac over to synthetic because there was visible indication of very slight "seepage" at a gasket, and that if he installed a synthetic it could cause gaskets to fail - "and a head gasket failure is an expensive repair".  I shared this with a friend who's an automotive engineer for GM, who makes Cadillacs.  His comment: "What does using a synthetic have to do with a head gasket failure?  I'd like to hear the logic behind that one!" 

Again, AMSOIL synthetics are rigorously designed to be even MORE compatible/beneficial with gasket and seal materials than conventional oils.

Similar wild stories are widespread, shared by "experts" who may or may not be well-intentioned.  Typically the anti-synthetic stories seem to be rooted in either the petroleum oil companies anti-synthetic propaganda years ago (before introducing their own "synthetic"), or from a well-intentioned mechanic who mis-diagnosed the cause of a customer vehicle's problem.  (I personally know one of these mechanics.  He's respected in his town, but he has no interest in logically discussing obvious weaknesses in his conclusions.)  But let's face it - a weak gasket is a weak gasket.  It was probably either weak from a manufacturing flaw, or was damaged slightly during the original engine assembly.  And it might fail at any time.  But just because it occurs a few days/months after changing oil brands does not mean that the oil had anything to do with it.  That's called "pure coincidence".  

REALITY CHECK - Summary on Seal and Gasket Compatibility:

AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are made of completely pure, ideally designed synthetic base-stocks, blended with the highest-performance additives available, and are fully compatible with all engine gaskets and seal materials.  In fact, because they are more painstakingly designed than petroleum oils, they help maintain seal integrity better, and extend seal life better than conventional oils.  However, AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils are recommended for use in mechanically sound engines!  If you have a vehicle that is actually leaking oil, then repair the seal prior to converting to AMSOIL.  And it's a smart move to replace those seals and switch to AMSOIL - seal problems often indicate high levels of internal engine deposits, and replacing the seals is a lot cheaper than replacing the engine.

Special note to motorcycle owners considering Amsoil: 

Petroleum deposits are the PRIMARY cause of shifting problems and clutch slippage in motorcycles.  However, we do not recommend the use of Engine Flush in motorcycle transmissions.  Since AMSOIL motorcycle oils are specially formulated to remove these deposits, they will be dissolved from synchronizers and clutch-pack friction surfaces over the first few thousand miles.  The motorcycle market is quickly gaining momentum in changing over to AMSOIL lubricants, not only because of increased horsepower, superior corrosion protection and far lower wear rates, but because riders typically report smoother running engines and transmission shifting that gets better and better over about the first 3,000 to 4,000 miles. 

 

Obviously AMSOIL lubricants can do nothing to fix mechanical damage.  However, we regularly hear many stories of riders with low-mileage bikes who are afraid that they need a transmission or clutch rebuild, but then switch to AMSOIL and have their shifting problems slowly disappear.
 

AMSOIL Benefits -
Once you have installed AMSOIL you will notice the following benefits:

Easier cold weather starting, improved cold weather pumpability and circulation, smoother engine performance and more horsepower, reduced exhaust emissions, superior wear protection, improved fuel economy, extended engine life, extended starter life, excellent engine cleanliness, long drain intervals, longer spark plug life, reduced engine temperatures, reduced oil consumption, excellent resistance to sludge, coke, varnish deposits (Thermal Stability), reduced/eliminated piston groove sticking, reduced/eliminated valve sticking, superior shear stability, superior resistance to viscosity increase (Volatility Resistance), superior film strength, money and time savings.

You will not get any of these benefits with conventional petroleum oil !!!!!

When you compare....

there is simply no comparison to Amsoil synthetic oils.

AMSOIL is the undisputed leader in synthetics.............

Since 1972, AMSOIL Synthetic drivetrain LUBRICANTS have proven to be the highest performance engine oils, greases, transmission fluids, and hydraulic and differential gear oils on the market. 
But the other key issue is nanofiber filtration. 
We now cover oil filters, air filters and other fluid filters like NO-ONE else can.  AMSOIL offers the highest performance, most cost-effective, most comprehensive filter line on earth.  Consider air and oil...

OIL FILTERS:

Until now, Nanofiber filtration technology has been used exclusively in heavy duty applications, including the US ARMY Abrams M1 tank. AMSOIL Ea Filters are the first and only filter line to bring this technology to the auto/light truck market.

Additionally, consider bypass filtration systems for commercial and fleet applications in cars and light, medium and heavy trucks which can filter particles down to less than one micron and are 89% efficient at 1 micron, making oil changes virtually unnecessary and virtually eliminating engine wear.  (A standard full-flow oil filter can only filter to 20 microns with any reasonable efficiency, but 5-25 microns is widely accepted as the wear-particle size range.)  Easy to install, these oil filter systems have been proven by millions of miles of over-the road trucks, construction equipment and fleet service. And we use these on our personal diesel pickup trucks: my Duramax 2500HD has over 70,000 miles since the last oil drain, the oil analysis looks perfect, and the appearance of this diesel oil looks like a gas engine with 3,000 miles on the oil.

AIR FILTERS:

The MOST IMPORTANT filter on the M1A1 Abrams battle tank is its' nanofiber air filter. 
The MOST Important filter on YOUR vehicle is also the air filter.

It's far better, and easier, to keep wear particles out of the engine than it is to attempt filtering them out of the engine oil.  Yet filter companies and vehicle manufacturer's are strangely silent about actual air filter performance and engine needs.  Now AMSOIL offers world-leading breakthrough Ea air filters with exclusive nanofiber technology.  Based on battlefield-proven air-induction systems used in military ground and air vehicles, this high-technology filtration is now available for consumer use!  Ea filters are guaranteed for 4 years, 100,000 miles, and have OEM certified fitment for your vehicle.  The engineering rule of thumb for damaging wear particle size is 5 to 25 microns.  Incredibly, these filters are 100% efficient at removing particles of 3 microns, and are 80% effective at removing particles of a 1 micron size.  This means that NO WEAR PARTICLES CAN GET PAST OUR Ea AIR FILTERS!  AND, they're less expensive to use than ANY other air filter.

For Power Sports applications, AMSOIL offers a line of oiled-foam filters.  These filters provide better performance than oiled-gauze air filters, and are used almost exclusively in most off-road applications including baja, dirt-track racing, and motocross.

For light to heavy trucks, both gas and diesel engines, AMSOIL's partnership with Donaldson provides you with the best performance and most cost-effective air filtration systems in the world.  These include both Powercore and Nanofiber technology filters.  We have the full line of  Donaldson Filters Now Available , including air, fuel, water, oil and hydraulic filters, with exclusive performance warranties (no one else in the industry offers filtration performance warranties).  Contact us for specific recommendations, or see our Diesel Page.

Air Induction Systems:

AMSOIL offers a growing line of the only OEM certified air induction filtration systems on the market.  Offering dramatic airflow improvements for gains in horsepower, fuel economy, and towing torque, they also keep wear particles out of your engine better than any marketed product.  Current air inductions systems include the 7.3 liter PowerStroke.  In addition, AMSOIL has released a full line of nanofiber universal air induction filters (EaAU) designed to replace stock oil wetted gauze or foam conical filters that were supplied with custom induction systems produced by K&N, Injen, S&B, Green, AIRAID, AFE, TrueFlow and more. Whether your air induction system is in a gasoline street-rod, or a diesel truck, you have great airflow but you need better filtration than oiled gauze.  AMSOIL Ea Air Induction Filters are dry no-oil filters that offer far better efficiency, 50 times the capacity, excellent airflow and are easily cleanable.

    Amsoil and InJen present GM, Dodge & Ford diesel air-intakes Here!

Got a Hummer H2 or H3?  How about a newer Ford PowerStroke?  Then you already have superb nanofiber air filtration.  But we offer the real PowerCore replacement air filter for your Hummer or PowerStroke, at a much lower cost than the dealerships!

WHY SWITCH TO AMSOIL LUBRICATION AND FILTRATION TECHNOLOGIES?

• AMSOIL products saves you time and money.  With recommended extended drain intervals, AMSOIL performance typically costs LESS per year than conventional oil changes.

• The only 25,000 mile/one-year and 35,000 mile/one-year motor oils in the world.

• A vehicle lubrication solution with far less environmental impact, using an estimated 87% less oil and 5-10% less fuel !

• The only oils and filters with a warranty for GUARANTEED performance!

• Exceeds the most stringent performance specifications of all major U.S. and foreign automotive and truck manufacturers.

• Provides up to four-times the wear protection of other motor oils.

• Increases the mileage life of your vehicle.

• Improves fuel economy.

• Increases at-wheel horsepower.

• Lowers transmission and differential operating temperatures and delivers better shifting, even in heavy towing.

• Lowers fleet maintenance costs by lowering the costs of both scheduled maintenance, and mechanical repairs.

• Lowers fleet capital costs by dramatically extending vehicle service-life.  (Vehicle mileage typically extended 20 to 100%.)

• Diesel oil and filtration products designed to deliver more than 1,000,000 miles for over-the-road trucks before engine overhaul.

• Used by many national racing teams, fleets, police departments, fire departments, ambulance fleets, construction firms and trucking companies.

WHY WORK WITH DMT TECHNICAL?

DMT Technical operates Ultimate-Synthetic-Oil.com as part of a group of highly skilled team of OEM Engineers and Lubrication and Filtration Specialists.  In fact, we are the ONLY such group on the internet, as well as the largest AND fastest-growing AMSOIL Dealer organization in the nation.  You too, can join our group when you become an AMSOIL Dealer and take advantage of all that we offer as you use products in your own vehicles or begin your own AMSOIL business. You cannot find a more knowledgeable and skilled group of Dealers anywhere. 

In addition, as a Dealer in our group you will receive exclusive unlimited product, technical and business support from the only group of Truck and Automotive Engineers and Lubrication Specialists on the net.  That's priceless - yet free - vital support that can make a huge difference to a growing business.

We do not run our business purely on the internet. We also have numerous commercial, industrial, trucking, excavating, construction, logging, police, racing and many more accounts that we support and service on a regular basis. We have several fully stocked warehouses and fully equipped shop facilities. This provides us with excellent knowledge of the products, equipment and the business and the ability to respond immediately to any of your needs. We will use this knowledge and experience to help you get started so you too can achieve your goals.

We possess the skills, desire and knowledge to answer questions, solve problems, improve efficiency, reduce downtime, maintenance costs and increase the durability and life of all of your vehicles.

Read what our satisfied customers have to say about us. Read through our website. Contact us with any questions. If you decide to become an AMSOIL Dealer you will be joining, in our opinion, the most skilled AMSOIL group there is. We will help you get started and provide you with the tools and information in order to be successful in this business or with technical and product assistance to use AMSOIL products in your own vehicles.

To get additional information:

We offer several options to receive information on AMSOIL. We welcome the opportunity to work with you personally as your servicing AMSOIL Dealer. Our AMSOIL Dealer Group is led by a Truck/Automotive Engineer and Lubrication Specialist with over 19 years experience. This exceptional benefit is unavailable elsewhere.

Please, email us at Brian@Ultimate-Synthetic-Oil.com and we will send you an exclusive comprehensive package of product, technical and business information. If you are serious about AMS OIL products and the business opportunity this is the best option. You will receive extensive technical and business support from both myself and my Direct Jobber, a Detroit, Michigan Truck/Automotive Engineer and Lubrication Specialist with over 19 years experience. We look forward to helping you learn about AMSOIL.

Or for a smaller, very general information package (which includes a catalog and Dealer application) you can request information via any of the links below.  Please note that your information is always held in confidence per our Privacy Policy, and will never be sold, loaned or otherwise distributed.

To request a FREE Factory Direct Catalog by MAIL

To Immediately Download a FREE Factory Direct Catalog

For Information on Becoming an AMSOIL Dealer

To Buy AMSOIL Products in the AMSOIL On-Line Store

To Sell AMSOIL in Your Store or Purchase For Use in Your Businesses Equipment

To visit the AMSOIL Corporate Website for Product and Business Opportunity Information

AMSOIL is Proudly Made in the U.S.A.

AMSOIL is owned by Americans.

AMSOIL is America's Oil.

DMT Technical

Ultimate Synthetic Oil - AMSOIL Products

119 Norlick Drive

Bryan, Ohio  43506

Phone: (419) 630-0874

E-mail: Brian

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