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 (ATM) 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

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.


The greatest overall load concentration and stress are placed on the piston skirts and rings on the thrust sides of the pistons as they move down, contributing to heavier deposits than the anti-thrust sides. Even after being subjected to the Sequence IIIF test for three times the standard test length, the pistons (above) lubricated by AMSOIL 10W-30 Motor Oil show minimal deposits and varnish. In fact, upon close inspection, the original piston machine markings are still visible on both sides of the pistons. This superior protection provided by AMSOIL Motor Oils extends the lives of both old and new vehicles, even in severe driving conditions.


Even at three times the standard Sequence IIIF test length, the oil pan, screen and valves showed no signs of deposits, oxidation or plugging. By keeping engines clean and deposit-free, AMSOIL Motor Oils effectively reduce wear and keep engines running smoothly for extended drain intervals.

Summary
The API Sequence IIIF test is a very stringent test, normally lasting 80 hours, and is designed to measure oil thickening, oil consumption, wear, and piston deposits in high temperature service. It was performed by an independent testing facility. AMSOIL 10W-30 soon became the talk of the lab. That’s because instead of stopping the test at 80 hours, AMSOIL requested it to be run three times longer, for an unheard of 240 hours!

How significant is this? We know of no other oil that has been subjected to this test for that long, and the lab technicians had never heard of it being done before, either. It’s difficult enough for an oil to pass the test at 80 hours, and very few oils, only good synthetics, could pass at double that, or 160 hours. But to run an oil for 240 hours under those stringent test conditions was totally unheard of. It was generally agreed by those overseeing the testing, based on extended test data, that the AMSOIL 10W-30 could have continued to run another 80 hours and still have achieved similar outstanding results. The oil performed that well!

Pay particular attention to the green “viscosity increase” graph above showing viscosity increases. The competitive oil selected by the lab was one they knew was a good performer in the test, and it did well for the 80 hours the test is normally run, but at 120 hours you see it sharply increase in viscosity. Meanwhile, the AMSOIL 10W-30 remains almost unchanged through the 240 hours of testing. This is why AMSOIL oils perform so well during extended drain intervals. They stay in grade, even under the most severe service. This extended service test is proof positive of that!

Even after this severe extended test, the engine was in excellent condition. The machining marks on the cylinders were still prominent. There was absolutely minimum wear and virtually no deposit formation.

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