I just got my AMSOIL and EAO filter. AMSOIL claims that for Severe Service, oil and filter can be used for up to 15,000 miles or one year, whichever comes first. What is the longest anyone here has gone with AMSOIL?

 

Dont go more than 3-5K PLEASE...

 

^+1, Remember the oil CAN go for that long under NORMAL driving, but with our cars, driving and stress on the engine i recommend between 3750-5000miles MAX.

But thats my opinion of course.

G/L

 

Today's newer oils can and do last more than 3-5K miles but they still get dirty. I run Mobil 1 synthetic but still change my oil every 5k miles just to be on the safe side.

 

You guys are completely wrong. Our VQ engines can easily go 10k with either Amsoil or Mobil 1 EP. Used Oil Analysis proves this. I've done this with all 3 VQ35 engines and a VQ56 engine with absolutely no problems and received very good analysis from Blackstone Labs. If you are so inclined you can change the filter at 5k.

 

Depends on which amsoil oil you are using. the XL line should not be used for more than the normal oil change interval, and the ASL/ASM line can be pushed a bit further. The TSO/SSO line can probably got 7-10k without too much trouble if you don't drive the car too hard.

 

Everyone seems to forget that cars are different now than 30 years ago and are stuck on the 3k oil change thing

BMW only changes the oil every 15k miles, under warranty.

If it hurt the motor, BMW wouldn't do it because they'd just be replacing more motors and parts under warranty.

 

uh no, the cars will last until past warranty even with 15k changes, if they are going to fail, they will do so soon after warranty, which is then a big money maker for the dealer.

 

While we're on the subject: which Amsoil grade and series are you guys using? I used the old 5-30 and 0-30 grades on my Passat. The new "signature" series 0-30 replaced the TSO series, which I am considering along with the Amsoil Ea filter.

When switching to synthetic do you guys use a flush first? When I spoke to Amsoil they said there's no need to use their flush. Anyone have experience with this?

 

Thanks treach for your reply. Do you think switching to synthetic would in itself call the warranty into question just as much as running 0W-30?

BTW, the EaO oil filter # Amsoil gave me was "12." Is that what you're installing? No problems I hope. I assume 07G35 engines are the same and use the same oil filter regardless of submodel. I have the sport, and I see you're an "x" man.

 

Lot's of wrong information in this thread.

3000 mile oil changes is only there to make money. That is all. All oils dino or synthetic are good too 5000 miles with normal driving. If you race, autox, or drive in really bad conditions, then I wouldn't push a dino oil past 3500~. Synthetics can easily go 6k on the VQ. Some of the better ones up to 10k.

Amsoil XL formula will go to 6k without a problem as well.

If you want a good dino oil, get Castrol GTX and go 5k oil changes.

If you want a good synthetic, any of these are good for 6k.

Amsoil XL or Full synthetic - 10k
Mobil 1 - 6k (would not push it past this as per reports)
Penzoil Platnum. - 10k
Castrol Syntec 6k (would not push it past this as per reports)

If you want to learn more, bobistheoilguy.com is a great site.

 

I used the SSO 0w-30 for years. I now use the ASL 5w-30. While the SSO is superior to the ASL, it's additional cost/benefit margin isn't worth the extra cost in my humble opinion.

 

I'd love to see some evidence of this. At the very least a link on a BMW forum from anyone who owns one and had an engine fail due to the long oil change interval.


The oil change interval recommendation comes from BMW corporate. Why would they lie to save pennies on oil changes in order to make money for the dealer's service center (no $$ for BMW)??

That's a pretty big conspiracy theory, but when there's nothing to gain, I seriously doubt the conspiracy.

BMW is NOT going to jeopardize their long term reliablity numbers and resale in order to save pennies on oil changes. If they say it's safe. I believe them.

 

I'm not saying they WILL fail, I'm saying they won't fail during the warranty period, and if they do fail it will be after the warranty is over. BMW is providing free service, so its to their benefit to extend their service intervals so they have to shell out less money for service. Just go search on a bimmer forum and see how many of those guys pay to have additional oil changes done, and look at some of the UOA's for them. Here is an example of the sludge buildup from using 15k oil changes at BMW with synthetic oil
http://www.performingimports.com/maint.htm
BMW is banking on the fact that most of its owners/leasers don't plan on keeping the car past 5 years, so they'll never see a problem.

 

SSO is only ~1 year old, do you mean TSO?