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Three Times Longer,
Three Times Better
AMSOIL 10W-30 Excels in API Sequence
IIIF Test
The
Sequence
IIIF
test is a stringent API SL, ILSAC GF-3 test designed
to measure oil thickening and piston deposits in high
temperature service, as well as provide information
on valve train wear. The test is designed to emulate
high-speed service under high ambient conditions.
Objective
Subject AMSOIL 10W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil (ATM) to
an independent API Sequence IIIF Test to determine
its effectiveness in preventing deposit formation
and providing wear protection in high temperature
conditions.
Special Conditions
Because AMSOIL is formulated to provide superior performance
over extended drain intervals, testing was allowed
to continue for 240 straight hours, three times the
length of the standard Sequence IIIF test.
Test Procedure
Testing is conducted with a 1996 model Buick 3800
Series II, water-cooled, four-cycle, V-6 engine. The
test engine is an overhead valve design (OHV) with
a single camshaft operating the intake and exhaust
valves through pushrods and hydraulic valve lifters
in a slider-follower arrangement, and it has one intake
and one exhaust valve per cylinder. Induction is performed
through a modified GM port fuel injection system with
the air-to-fuel ratio set to 15:1.
Running unleaded gasoline, testing begins with a
10-minute initial oil leveling procedure before slowly
working its way up to test speed, temperature and
load conditions. Testing continues at 100 bhp, 3600
rpm and 155° C oil temperature for 80 hours with
oil checks performed every 10 hours. Kinematic viscosity
increase and wear metals (Cu, Pb and Fe) are evaluated
at every 10-hour interval.
At the end of 80 hours, all six pistons are inspected
for deposits and varnish, camshaft and lifters are
measured for wear and oil screen plugging is evaluated.
Sequence
IIIF
Test Parameters |
AMSOIL
10W-30
Triple Length
(240 hr.) |
API
SL Limits
(80 hr.) |
| Kinematic
Viscosity, % Increase at 40° C |
90.42 |
275
max. |
| Weighted
Piston Deposit Rating |
4.51 |
4.0
min. |
| Average
Piston Skirt Varnish Rating |
9.50 |
9.0
min. |
| Cam
Plus Lifter Wear Average µm |
11.8 |
20
max. |
| Hot
Stuck Rings |
0 |
None |
| Oil
Consumption (L) |
4.55 |
5.2L
max. for NOACK < 15%
6.5L max. for NOACK >15%
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Test Results
Even at three times the standard test length, AMSOIL
10W-30 performed three times better than the test
limit in the area of kinematic viscosity increase,
and it excelled in all areas of the test. AMSOIL 10W-30
Motor Oil kept viscosity increase, wear, deposits
and varnish to a minimum. The pictures below demonstrate
the superior protection provided by AMSOIL Motor Oil
throughout 240 straight hours of Sequence IIIF testing.
While conventional motor oils tend to thicken and
lose their lubricating effectiveness, AMSOIL Motor
Oils are formulated to maintain their viscosities
over extended drain intervals. The results of the
Sequence IIIF test clearly demonstrate the long drain
capability of AMSOIL 10W-30 Motor Oil. Even after
being subjected to a triple length Sequence IIIF test,
AMSOIL 10W-30 performed three times better than the
standard test limits. The competitor's motor oil shows
dramatic viscosity increase in less than half the
time.
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