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I like this guy, totally straight up. He admits he doesn't have the proper equipment, but for the few basic tests involved he did fine.
I'd like to highlight a few points:
-- Amazon obviously doesn't make their own oil. So they're buying it from somebody else. Because they're new in the retail oil market I'd bet anything this is decent quality but re-branded oil from a pretty reputable company... like Castrol. Not sure. But this was a competition about bargain brands... don't forget that. Valvoline is hardly hight end, or Mobile1.
So Amazon contracted for a good base oil without the full additive package (which would normally be included) because the additive package is where the money is. That's why it's cheap. So the oil will perform okay for 'a while', as almost all oils do anyway. Take that to mean 3,000/3 mths, just like any other oil. In fact, that's why it's priced about the same.
In the end, I would LOVE to see a wear test after 3 months...
-- To me the most important test is the 4-ball wear test, otherwise known as ASTM 4172. He couldn't do that one. But he attempted to replicate it (poor job actually) and my hat's off to him for being objective. He was at least fair.
Then again, those are the worst "wear scars" (the bearing damage) I have EVER seen compared to actual ASTM 4172 test results I've seen in the past. Truly, those suckers were nasty. Anyway, the wear test is important because as "spirited" drivers you and I put our engines through a mini torture test on a regular basis.
-- Fortunately, a few oil companies perform the ASTM 4172 (such as Amsoil/Redline) and compare those independent lab results with the public. I wish more oil companies did that.
That's all I got for now guys. Enjoy your weekend.