Snowcatcher said:
I'm not jealous. I just enjoy watching the small followings that Amsoil and
Redline have and how its kept its small followings all these years. They
pass themselves off as a "better" oil, and yet have never grown in market
share. If they were indeed "better" they would have continually grown, like
every other dino oil has over the years, and overtaken the superiority of
the "lesser" dino oil producers as they like to view them.
There's alot to be said for staying grass roots and keeping your prices
higher. You're perceived, by the ignorant, as the better product because
you cost more and are harder to obtain. This myth perpetuates as more and
more folks who are no more knowledgable than the person who recommended it
to them buy it.
This is the reason you rarely see people defending them, other than
distributors who have all the marketing propaganda to respond with. The
people who do respond tend to be clueless as to what exactly the oil is
doing better for their engine and are from the "i dunno, i just know its
better DoOd" variety.
The reason most people have not changed over to synthetics is because
of the cost factor. Most people look for the cheapest method in car
service (and alot of other things), so synthetics will not get a look
in no matter how good it is. This is why they will never "grow" in
market share. Having said that, BMW and Porsche recommend synthetics
in their cars, partly because of extended drain intervals.
Dino oils generally perform adequately for most uses in cars
especially those folk who drive their cars for long periods in a day
and let the car warm up correctly. This allows the oil to boil off the
condensation that develops in the first few minutes of start up from
cold. If the condensation isn't boiled off, then the water can
chemically react with impurities such as, but not limited to sulphur
(petrol by product) and lead to formation of sulphuric acid which as
we all know eats away at metal etc (not good for a motor). Synthetics
have been shown to protect against these impurities as the oil itself
clings to the metal better(especially diester based synthetics) and
thus keeping a film against metal parts. Synthetics are also less
affected by these acids.
So, as for your "ignorant" comment, you really should check the facts
on synthetics before you make such a statement. Synthetics ARE better
(proven generally) and to some worth the extra cost but this doesn't
make synthetic users ignorant, on the contrary, they just spend more
on a better product. Ther anr many advantages to synthetics and too
many here to list, so, you'll have to look it up yourself. "Bobs the
oil guy" is a good place to start.
Frankly, I don't care what oil you use and if you think a dino oil is
adequate for your car, then goody for you, but I like the "peace of
mind" that a good synthetic oil gives me. Kind of like the "peace of
mind" knowing that I have awd or abs brakes on my Subaru. I may never
NEED them but its nice to know they're there and hopefully work when
and if I need them. There will be people from "either side of the
fence" regarding oils, and if you feel superior for saving a few cents
a mile on oil cost, then good. I feel better for knowing that the
synthetic oil is better for my motor.
I am not a dealer but I do use synthetics (either Neo or Amsoil) and I
have my oil checked periodically with an oil analysis co. They state
that the oil is outperforming mineral oil at the same mileage mark as
borne out by the very low impurities, metal from engine internals,
acids, gums and varnish build up. I generally change at 10,000 miles
but the analysis states that I could double that drain period as long
as I change the oil filter at the manufacturers recommended period.
