quote:

Originally posted by TallPaul:
Very nice specs on the Amsoil. That would be PAO, right? Can you show me a Group III that compares well to the Maxlife Synthetic (which according to the MSDS appears to be a Group III)?

Still waiting for the my source to help out here, but I'll give it a go:
Yes, it is PAO. On the Group III question, my answer is hardly complete what I do know is, and that may not be as much as yourself, here is a copy of what I found after doing some googling:
Last year, Castrol (Swingdon, U.K.) and Mobil (Fairfax, VA) brought the debate over what is “synthetic” into view, as Mobil challenged Castrol’s replacement of polyalphaolephins (PAOs) with hydroisomerized waxes in their synthetic formulations. Exactly one year after the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus’ ruling in April 1999, upholding Castrol’s position that wax isomerates could be called synthetic, Petro-Canada (Toronto) advertised it would be referring to its very high viscosity index (VHVI) basestocks as a synthetic in the North American market. These products fall into the same API group (Group III) as wax isomerates, but could vary significantly in quality from wax isomerates. This market roar by Petro-Canada has carried a quiet undertone of moves from PAO to VHVI technology by several engine oil marketers.

farther down the article...
"Yet, when LW asked several industry experts about the NAD ruling, their feelings regarding market effects were mixed (LW, Oct. 1999, p. 30; Nov. 1999, p. 35). A Castrol representative then stated the VHVIs would be competitive with PAOs and that the consumer would benefit from that competition.

A PAO expert disagreed, saying the NAD decision would have minimal impact on the formulation of synthetics. “The quality of Group III products in inconsistent, and their physical properties are different from one manufacturer to the next,” he says. If the industry heads in the direction of replacing PAO with VHVI, he says, “consumers will be misled and the high margin niche that has been developed by present-day synthetics will erode.”

Barrett Cupples, a consulting scientist who worked with PAOs at Chevron Chemical for 20 years, cautions marketers against directly switching from PAOs to VHVIs without adequate testing. “According to API base oil guide lines, Group III stocks may not simply be substituted for PAOs in motor oil formulation,” he says. “Any switch will require extensive testing to ensure that the final product fully meets the requirements of that lubricant.”

Further downstream, the players in the synthetic PCMO market – Castrol, Pennzoil-Quaker State, and Valvoline – have each released reformulations and new blends in the past several months. The reason for this interest, according to one industry market analysis, is the competitive nature of the market, the projection for market growth, and the re-awakening of cost savings in blends".

In today's (June 1) inbox came the following link:
http://www.amsoil.com/storefront/xlf.aspx and the confirmation this particular product is Gr.lll I'm not sure if it satisfies or confirms your opinion but thanks for the opp to do this.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Rudy Hiebert,

I'm in the same boat as Buster. I've been at BITOG for about 3 years and have learned alot. It's all of matter of personal preference or if your really serious, UOA's do help alot too.

Me personally, I'm loyal to the GroupIV and V PAO synthetics. M1, Amsoil, etc.. I like them all but as far as this whole deal of Amsoil vs M1 is like comparing Ford vs Chevy. It's a never ending personal preference rip everyone's hair out. Just my take,,,,AR