Ok, there seems to be a sentiment here that Amsoil's oil filter is really the best there is. Being curious about it, I've been hunting for more information, but there really doesn't seem to be much out there. There is Amsoil's own page on it:

http://www.amsoil.com/products/sdf.html

But the two graphs they show actually raise more questions than answers. On the filter capacity chart, Wix and Napa Gold are 9 and 7 repectively, aren't they the exact same filter? So, if two identical, or nearly identical filters can vary by 2 grams, it would seem as if the three grams between the Amsoil and Mobil 1 filters is pretty irrelevant? This would be only relevant in extremely extended drains, right? So you could, for example, run two PureOne Filters for 6,000 miles, or one Amsoil for 12,000 for the same price and performance? Or one PureOne to 10,000?


Also, a difference of 1% in the HS806 test seems a little weak for the price difference? What micron level is this test at? Are there any flow comparisions that test it? Has AMSOIL added a Silicone ADBV?

I want to be clear that I'm not knocking the filter, it probably works great in combination with long drains. I mainly suspect that the PureOne works as well for less than half the price as long as the filter is only used for 10,000 miles or so. For the same price, or a little less, the Baldwin and Mobil 1 seem equal. I really just want the Amsoil gurus to cough up more information!

As a 20+ yr Amsoil dealer, I have always had a problem with Amsoil's comparision testing. I started using the products in auto racing where we were running temp guages on various componets and would readily see the difference in brand of lubricant.

Amsoil's and most others approach to comparitives is to pick the results that only show themselves in the best light. What the true overall difference between products isn't shown. They don't use one test across tha board for all the different products. Its test 1 for A vs B, test 2 for A vs C, test 3 for A vs F, not test 1 or 2 or 3 of A vs B,C & F. If items were truly compared - apple to apple - and then the decision would be the deciding factor of cost vs performance.

The only excuse that I could ever get from Amsoil was that the testing is so expensive to have done by an independant lab. My thought was IF your product is clearly superior in all areas - then wouldn't you want the proof. AND Yes I still do use a number of their products.

From some of my literature I've collected and I'm sure there is more than that on the web, oil and air filters are not controlled like engine oils are. Generally, efficiency is what is used to compare and rate them. You have to judge what you need and what you want to pay to get what you need.
Re: Air Filters, you may have seen the gadget at shows where a box with a fan blows a ping-pong ball up a tube, well it doesn't show how well the filter filters contaminates. The real test shows how much it filters and how much air it allows to flow. The reason I'm referring to this is that I have a video but it may be biased, but I doubt it.
Oil Filters: By the way, the brand you mention has a By-Pass product that should only be used in engines with more than 14 qrts, ie. trucks and large heavy duty equipment.

RH

I've been in the lubricants business since 1979. I've sold and used just about every brand available. After my years of research, I'm now convinced that AMSOIL is the superior product line. My 1998 Ford E-350 has right at 415,000 miles on it, changing oil every 20,000 miles and oil filters ever 10,000. The savings in oil changes alone is enough to purchase a new van, and I might add, I don't need to. I use the Air filters also. When you become a dealer and purchase AMSOIL products wholesale vs. others at retail, you do realize savings this way too.

You can request a free catalog @ CAP @ www.lubedealer.com/wholesale[/URL]

Sigh...I feel like you just illustrated everything evil and bad about Amsoil's marketing.

I wanted more hard factual evidence about the filter, not an incredibly meaningless personal testimony in combination with a claim about savings.

Just because I happen to be in a foul mood today, lets discuss your claims:

So you have a 5 year old van with 400,000+ miles. 83,000 miles a year is many, many times the national average, so your experence is akin to the trucking industry, which is pretty darn happy with Group I dino oils, and the occasional firm using Delvac 1. Did you get an identical van and run it on a decent but cheap dino? I bet with just under 7,000 miles a month you could have changed dino at 10,000 or more based on some analysis or TBN testing. So figure twice as many oil changes on dino, but at approximately 25% the price per quart of Amsoil's dealer prices.

I know that in the end you may try to argue that Amsoil gave lower wear #'s versus dino, but in a application that racks up miles that quickly, you'll have a hard time showing a meaningful difference.


If you ran Amsoil's oil filters you could have saved even more money!

Just out of curiousity, what exact oil and filter did you use? Why the filter change at 10,000 (I would like to think that you did that based on oil analysis?)

fyi

Amsoil oil filters are made by Hastings (to Amsoil specs) which is part of Baldwin and owned by Clarcor Inc.

They are very good oil filter, ask Hastings and they will tell you they are better then there top of the line products. They use all HD materials and Amsoil own proprietary filter media.

btw - I have used these filters since they first came on the market and used Amsoil in all my equipment since 1977

Hello Rudy ! Question on this statement:

"By the way, the brand you mention has a By-Pass product that should only be used in engines with more than 14 qrts, ie. trucks and large heavy duty equipment."

Is there an AMSOIL By-Pass that will work on sumps smaller than what you mention ? Thanks.