Mack Truck Goes 409,000 Miles Without an Oil Change!

AMSOIL Synthetic Oil will save you money. Industry testing shows fuel economy increases of 5% and more using AMSOIL Synthetic Oil. Other benefits include lower emissions, reduced engine wear, fewer repairs, and an engine that lasts longer. Less friction in the engine from AMSOIL Synthetic Oil gives your vehicle these benefits.

After 409,000 miles with no oil change, this AMSOIL Synthetic Oil-protected Mack E7-400 engine in this truck was as wear free as an engine in comparable service treated to 20 times the oil changes.

Colonial Heights, Virginia -- "I didn't see any surprises in there at all. Based on what we had with the V-8, it came out the way we expected," said owner/operator Haywood Gray of his 1990 Mack E7-400 engine.

It came out in good shape, exactly what you'd expect for a well-maintained engine with 600,000 miles-- yet the engine's oil had not been changed for 409,000 miles! Here's the story.

Gray began using AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil (AME) in the E9-400 V-8 engine of a 1984 Mack truck after the engine accumulated 45,000 miles. For 280,000 miles, Gray changed his oil at 40,000 to 60,000 mile intervals though his oil analysis reports showed, without exception, that the oil was good for continued use. At 325,000 miles, Gray increased his oil drain interval to 100,000 miles.

The engine was torn down at 600,000 miles when Gray decided to sell the truck. The cylinder liners, bearings, pistons, rings and oil pump, all treated to extended oil drain intervals with AMSOIL, were found to be in excellent condition.

Gray continued using AMSOIL AME in the engine of his new truck, a 1990 Mack with a E7-400 engine. With the new truck, instead of using 100,000 mile drain intervals, Gray began basing his oil drains on the findings of a used oil analysis program.

After 630,000 miles total and 409,000 miles without an oil change, the E7-400 engine was torn down by the local Mack dealership in December 1996 and its parts were examined by Dick Malby, a certified engine rater employed by a major oil additive manufacturer.

Mack Truck Goes 409,000 Miles Without an Oil Change!

FINDINGS

The engine showed light to moderate wear throughout, just as an engine in similar service and lubricated with conventional oil changed at 15,000 to 20,000 mile intervals would show. In fact, according to the engine rater the parts he examined -- cylinder liners, pistons, rings, bearings, valve train components --could have been put right back in the engine and would have continued to provide the good, dependable service they had provided all along -- after 409,000 miles without an oil change!

Discussion

Many factors enable AMSOIL to be safely used 20 times longer than petroleum oils may be used.

Stability -- AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil is far less prone to thermal and oxidative breakdown than are petroleum oils. Stability inhibits the formation of carbon deposits, varnish, sludge and acids, which helps the engine run clean and protected.

Neutralization ability -- While rapid TBN loss often renders conventional oils unfit for continued use, 12 Total Base Number (TBN) AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil offers lasting protection against engine corrosion.

Viscosity retention -- Some conventional oils' viscosity slips out of specification within a few thousand miles of an oil change. AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil neither loses viscosity as shear-prone oils do, which promotes wear during high temperature operations, nor gains viscosity as oxidation-prone oils do, which promotes wear during startup and cold temperature operations.

Additional Demonstrations

Gray's successful use of AMSOIL synthetic motor oil in extended drain service is not unique. AMSOIL has conducted demonstrations with fleets all over North America.

In each instance AMSOIL has been proven safe and effective in extended drain use. In fact, these studies showed that AMSOIL used in extended drain interval programs consistently delivered lower rates of engine wear than conventional oils used in conventional drain interval programs.

Southern over-the-road fleet. AMSOIL was used in Cummins class 8 engines for 75,000 mile drain intervals, the fleet's normal drain intervals were 15,000 miles.

Upper Midwest grocery fleet. AMSOIL was used in Cummins NTC 350 engines for 74,000 mile drain intervals; normal drain intervals were 12,000 miles.

Northern grocery fleet. AMSOIL was used in Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines for 79,000 mile drain intervals; normal drain intervals were 20,000 miles.

Virginia Beach, Virginia owner/operator. AMSOIL was used in Cummins 350 engine for 325,350 miles without a drain.

Midwestern trucking fleet. AMSOIL was used in Detroit Diesel Series 60 engines for 60,000 mile drain intervals; normal drain intervals were 20,000 miles.

Northern tier over-the-road fleet. In an ongoing demonstration, AMSOIL is being used in a fleet of Cummins N-14 engines for extended drain service with oil drains based on the findings of used oil analysis. One change was performed with 125,000 miles on the AMSOIL. Normal oil drains are done at 20,000 miles.

What Makes AMSOIL So Good?

"Synthetic basestocks, top-quality additives, and most importantly, more experience formulating synthetic motor oils than any other oil company," says AMSOIL Director of Technical Sales Dave Anderson.

"AMSOIL first put a long-drain synthetic diesel oil on the market in 1975 and since then has introduced three other long-drain synthetic diesel oils."

Does AMSOIL Offer a Warranty?

"Yes. AMSOIL warrants that the use of its lubricants will not cause mechanical damage to any mechanically sound equipment when AMSOIL products are used in full compliance with AMSOIL recommendations.

"AMSOIL recommends standard extended drain intervals for each product and application or drains determined according to the findings of used oil analysis, like Haywood Gray's are. Either way, diesel operators who use AMSOIL for extended drains are fully protected.

"Studies have proven time and again that extended drain intervals with AMSOIL are a win/win situation-- truckers win with less downtime and oil expense and they win big with reduced engine wear."

AMSOIL Synthetic Heavy-Duty Diesel and
Marine 15W-40 Motor Oil Aces Test!

Haywood Gray has his used oil tested regularly to ensure the ongoing serviceability of the oil and well-being of the engine.

In the engine oil report card, wear metals tell the whole story. A high wear metal content indicates a high rate of engine wear. In fact, most engine manufacturers publish upper limits on wear metals content at which an oil must be changed to assure continued engine protection.

Even after 409,000 miles, AMSOIL protected better than Mack limits required. Now that's protection!

What is Oil Analysis?

Oil analysis is a maintenance management tool that allows users to monitor equipment condition for maximum equipment life, maximum lubricant drain interval length and optimal downtime scheduling. Oil analysis saves users significant money by reducing equipment replacements and repairs, reducing the volume of lubricant purchased and destined for disposal and, most of all, by reducing downtime.

Customers like Haywood Gray "trendline" their oil analyses. Trendlining involves comparing the results of previous oil analysis reports to those of the most recent report to establish trends in wear metals content, viscosity, acid content, acid neutralization ability and other characteristics as specified. Departures from established trends indicate a change in engine or lubricant condition and the information they provide may be used to correct abnormal conditions before they cause damage or failure.

AMSOIL Oil Analysis

The AMSOIL oil analysis program puts technologically advanced testing equipment in the hands of experienced diagnosticians to deliver accurate, reliable, useful results. Contact your AMSOIL Dealer for details!

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AMSOIL Synthetic Oil will save you money. Industry testing shows fuel economy increases of 5% and more using AMSOIL Synthetic Oil. Other benefits include lower emissions, reduced engine wear, fewer repairs, and an engine that lasts longer. Less friction in the engine from AMSOIL Synthetic Oil gives your vehicle these benefits.

REDUCE SKYROCKETING GAS COSTS WITH AMSOIL SYNTHETIC OIL! IT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER TO REDUCE OUR DEPENDENCE ON MIDDLE EAST OIL!
AMSOIL synthetic oils reduce friction in the engine, the transmission, and the differential. When friction is reduced the engine uses less energy to drive the wheels of your car or truck, thus increasing efficiency and increasing fuel economy. AMSOIL is real science backed by 35 years of research and over the road testing! AMSOIL Synthetic Oil has superior lubrication, extends your engine life by reducing friction, sludge, and wear and creates more torque and horsepower. AMSOIL Synthetic Oil is 100% USA made.
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