<VV> GM "engineer" syn oil comments

[Bill Elliott]

I really haven't had much to say on the Amsoil issue, but I feel I do have to speak up for Allen (Jestal the 
GM "engineer) that you're deriding here.

I know him, he knows his stuff extremely well, and he is the real thing. He has been _extremely_ helpful 
to many of us. Whether you agree with his opinion on Amsoil or not (just the tone of your post reinforces 
his "cult" opinion) you should not discount his credibility out of hand, because he IS a real GM engineer 
and it's the opinion of folks like him (not the self-styled oil expert guys or Amsoil customers) that dicate 
the design of the engines we use. If Amsoil were really that much better, don't you think that GM would 
use it if it could save them money and reduce warranty costs?  

In fact, the person that I know that has done the most third-party scientific research on commerically 
available oil is actually a car nut MD with a strange and unnatural attraction to motor oil. And while he 
may be ABSOLUTELY RIGHT in some of his findings (which often suggest a far different oil usage than 
the manufacturers) I refuse to follow his advice BUT will follow Jestal's suggestions  (even though he 
may be misinformed in a few areas) because He's the one that ACTUALLY worked  on the engine 
design. So while his advice may not always be the _optimal_ solution, I rest easy knowing that I'll never 
hurt my car by following his guidance.

(And it's not that his advice is always just conservative...as it appears to be in his oil postings... he's told 
me different ways that GM gave overly conservative guidance where the engineering data suggested a 
much stronger design. One example of this is towing with an Allante.. he told me how to do so safely.)

I would think Allen's comments on Amsoil _likely_ come from their early marketing setup and their 
insistence of how superior they are to Mobile 1. Their supporters DO tend to be almost cult-like (kind of 
like us Corvair guys!) and their prices are indeed well out of the market mainstream. 

While I'm enough of a believer to run Amsoil in my transaxles (and in my two strokes), I can see no 
justification for spending the extra money to run it in my crankcase. And I certainly don't increase oil 
change intervals with ANY oil (despite what Amsoil or other oil "experts" may suggest). 

I'd say overall his advice is pretty darn good even if he is maligning your preferred product while giving it...

I have seen some (very limited) Amsoil in mainstream stores, but very rarely.

Bill Elliott


>OK, just back from iowa, International Falls, etc....50+ digests to
>catch up on....but will quickly respond to this one..because thihs
>fella just blew his credibility....

>Amsoil has never been sold on a "pyramid scheme".  And Amsoil has been
>readily available in regular retail outlets for years.  Presnetly, off
>hand, I know it's stocked in my local Champion Auto, NAPA,  L & M Fleet
>Supply Store, two independent auto stores, and at least two quick lube
>shops in my nearby town of only 8000 people.  I can only imagine how
>much of it is available retail in a major market.

>He obviously knows NOTHING about the company, how it got started, or
>it's products.  Amsoil was the FIRST SAE/API approved synthetic oil for
>automobiles.  I do not have the time or typing skill to churn out how
>much this guy obviously dosen't know. If I had all my years worth of
>test reports, trade publications, independent lab tests, etc..
>organized and handy, or  in any sort of computer database I could
>demonstrate.  Hmmmm....One GM Engineer verses 30 years of
>data......from a guy who knows nothing about Amsoil....wonder what else
>he dosen't know about? Pyramind scheme? Check the shelves of your local
>FLAPS ladies and gentlemen. Amsoil has dedicated their business to
>making the best oils and related products available.  They probably
>don't know more about oil than Texaco...that's why the "oil" copanies
>want you to change it every 3000...think of the INCOME they generate!