What is the story on this product? I have a hunch it is not a true synthetic, but is probably a Group III being marketed as a synthetic. (I know that a Group III can legally be marketed as a synthetic). What other products would be comparable to it?

It is a true synthetic, it just doesn't have as robust additive package as the "full blown" Amsoil products. They made this oil to be able to sell to the quick lube market. It costs almost as much as the regular Amsoil, so unless you just have to have the API star, or you like the letters X and L together, I would get the "full blown" version.

Umm, it is 85%-95% Group III, per Amsoil's MSDS sheet:

http://www.north-american-lubricants.com/pdf_file/xl_series.pdf

"Hydrogenated Base Mixture, CAS# 64742547, 85-95%"

So, the 7500 oils are more or less equivalent to Castrol (North American) Syntec, Rotella T Syn, etc.

One of the things AMSOIL "prides" themselves on is that every product they produce is tested to go far beyond the recommended drain interval; these oils were "field tested" to go up to 15,000 miles. I have not seen this figure in writing but it was part of their "built-in" safety factor for the XL7500 mile oils.

Amsoil's XL7500 line of products are indeed formulated with GroupIII base stocks, but a good oil none the less. Over priced? Maybe for some, but in sound equipement, these products will go the advertised distance or time no problem. I have some oil analysis in an 04 Dodge Ram that proves it.

The XL7500 line is the only Gr. III oils Amsoil has. It indeed is designed for the quick lube market and for those who demand an API certified oil. All their Gr. IV 100% synthetic oil says 100% on the container but due to Amsoil proprietary formulations, they cannot be API certified. In other words, Amsoil would have to down grade their Gr. IV oil to pass API primarily due to the amount of phosphorus they use for extended drains. API limits the level of phosphorus that can be used, supposedly at the request of auto markers who fear catalytic converter problems if the car uses oil.

I'm not comfortable with saying that AMSOIL would have to downgrade their formulations to meet API.

A. Phosphorus is not the only way to built a strong additive package, though it happens to be a relatively cheap way.

B. Last I checked VOA's of ASL and ATM Amsoil showed under 1000ppm phosphorus anyway, so they'd be under the API cap.

AMSOIL INC. has determined that the reduced wear and extended drain intervals achievable with phosphorous levels higher than the API limit of .10% are real benefits for the consumer, and pose no risk to catalytic converters. AMSOIL motor oils, except for the API licensed XL-7500 5W-20, 5W-30, 10W-30, 10W-40 and 15W-40 PCO viscosity grades, all have greater than .10% phosphorous levels, and therefore, cannot be API licensed.

quote:

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Originally posted by Abus:
I'm not comfortable with saying that AMSOIL would have to downgrade their formulations to meet API.

A. Phosphorus is not the only way to built a strong additive package, though it happens to be a relatively cheap way.

B. Last I checked VOA's of ASL and ATM Amsoil showed under 1000ppm phosphorus anyway, so they'd be under the API cap.

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I beleive you are correct on " B " and for " A " one has to look no farther than the new Mobil Clean 7500 for proof . They are calling this oil a blend but in my opinion it's as much of a synthetic as Amsoils 7500 , Valvolines and other brands non pao/ester oils at a much lower cost . $2.18 per quart currently .