What Does Viscosity Mean and Its Importance?

How does viscosity affect your engine, mileage and performance?

Motor oil viscosity is the measure of its resistance to flow. Low-viscosity oil (e.g. 0W-20) flows faster than high-viscosity oil (e.g. 20W-50).

To illustrate, think of water and honey. When poured from a container, water flows much faster than honey.

For more good information on oil viscosity including easy to understand charts, read this blog:

What Does Viscosity Mean (and How Does it Affect Your Engine)?

Understanding European Motor Oil Standards

European Motor Oil Specifications Explained

It’s important to use the right motor oil for your European vehicle, but the sea of specifications can make it a challenge. AMSOIL European Car Formula finds the sweet spot of emission compatibility and complete engine protection for every application.

The European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA) establishes lubricant standards for Europe, similar to the American Petroleum Institute (API) in the United States. ACEA recognizes that European engines differ from U.S. engines in both design and operating conditions. European OEMs often maintain their own motor oil performance specifications and play a larger role in their development than their U.S. counterparts. Volkswagen* drivers, for example, must use an oil that meets the requirements of VW’s own performance specs. The same holds for Mercedes*, BMW*, Porsche* and other European vehicles. 

Many European vehicles available in North America today feature gasoline and diesel engines with emissions systems that are highly sensitive to the SAPS content of motor oil. These advanced emissions systems require lower SAPS formulations to properly function for a long period of time. The required formulations match the exacting engine oil specifications of ACEA and European OEMs to ensure they are compatible with current emissions systems while still providing engine protection.

EUROPEAN CAR FORMULA SYNTHETIC MOTOR OIL

• Engineered to meet or exceed European MANUFACTURERS.SPECIlCATIONS
• Balanced formulations that consider the needs of modern exhaust treatment devices
• Excellent protection for gasoline and diesel engines
• Fights sludge for superior engine cleanliness

*All trademarked names and images are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries.No affiliation endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use. All products advertised here are developed by AMSOIL for use in the applications shown.

Signature Series Keeps Engines Cleaner Than Other Synthetic Motor Oils

AMSOIL Signature Series

In general, the higher an oil’s TBN, the better its ability to neutralize contaminants such as combustion by-products and acidic materials. Higher TBN oils neutralize a greater amount of acidic material, which results in longer oil life and cleaner engines.

TBN levels decrease as the oil remains in service. When the level reaches a point where it can no longer protect against corrosion, the oil must be changed.

The TBN Test

The Total Base Number Test (ASTM D2896) uses a series of chemical reactions to measure the alkaline additives in a motor oil. We recognize the value of formulating motor oils with high TBN, and AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil features the highest TBN of the oils tested.

AMSOIL Signature Series is fortified with a heavy treatment of detergent additive and it delivers 30% more acid neutralizing power1 than Mobil 1, and 36% more than Royal Purple, helping engines to stay cleaner, longer.

The AMSOIL Advantage

AMSOIL synthetic lubricants feature a large dose of quality additives that consistently deliver high TBN for the life of the oil. They neutralize acidic contaminants and keep them in suspension to maximize engine protection. AMSOIL lubricants use detergent and dispersant additives to significantly reduce sludge and carbon deposit formation. In the Total Base Number Test (ASTM D2896), AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil demonstrated the highest TBN of the oils featured in the test, helping it deliver reliable protection for extended drain intervals.

1Based upon independent testing of Mobil 1 Annual Protection Full Synthetic 5W-30, Royal Purple High Performance 5W-30 and AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 in ASTM D2896. Oils purchased 05/03/18.

All trademarked names and images are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries. No affiliation or endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use. All products advertised here are developed by AMSOIL for use in the applications shown.

AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil

AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil Greatly Outperforms Minimum Standards

AMSOIL Diesel Oil Offers Best Protection

Shell* recently announced that a sample of “Mobil Delvac 1300* Super 15W-40 did not meet the passing limits for either API CK-4 performance standards, nor the more stringent requirements for Volvo*, MACK* and Cummins*.” The 360-hour Volvo T-13 test measures both oxidation and Kinematic Viscosity, indicating an oil’s ability to resist thermal and chemical breakdown and maintain its protective viscosity in the severe operating environments experienced by diesel engines. Oxidation resistance is critical in order to protect against oil thickening and deposit formation and extend engine life.

AMSOIL has earned the trust of diesel enthusiasts and people who depend on diesel power to make a living. We engineer our synthetic diesel oils to exceed minimum standards and outperform the competition. In independent laboratory testing, AMSOIL Signature Series Max-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil passed the Volvo T-13 oil oxidation test with flying colors (see graphs below), and it provides 6X more engine protection1, keeping hard-working diesel engines on the road and on the job.

For more information or to buy AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil click here.

*All trademarked names are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries. No affiliation or endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use.
1than required by the Detroit Diesel DD13 Scuffing Test for Specification DFS 93K222 using 5W-30 as worst-case representation.