Just how long has this little battle been going on anyway? User of each product will tell you theirs is best, but did it come down to some type of controlled scientific test or something that is standardized that your average Saturday afternoon mechanic can offer proof of? Has anyone ever come to a grand conclusion on this Royal Purple vs. Amsoil debate?
Am I an expert on all things lubrication? No I’m not, however my first hand experiences racing competitive motocross and other off-road events plus performing most if not all routine maintenance on my personal vehicles does give me some credibility. I also hold a degree in Aviation Maintenance and an Airframe/Powerplant licenses, which would allow me to work on aircraft. In other words I’ve been around long enough to offer a rational approach to this.
Whether you are talking motor oil, transmission or gear oil I normally pulled fuel mileage comparisons to get an indication of which oil is better. Logically and not so much scientifically if you achieve more mpg with one oil over another then logically it can only mean the better lubricant had less intra-fluid friction to overcome, it’s really that simple.
The other and a little more time consuming test is to pull oil samples and check for wear metals. I became proficient at drawing and comparing oil samples because FAA regulations required that every aircraft have an oil sample pulled every 100 hours. Is this something every backyard mechanic is going to start doing just to compare Royal Purple vs. Amsoil? Not likely, but you can draw on my experiences to come to a logical conclusion.
In all my years of comparing fuel mileages Amsoil has always finished on top and normally by a wide margin. As for my wear metal comparisons there were a few test where the samples were close on test lasting less than 15,000 miles, however on the longer intervals especially on transmissions and gear boxes Amsoil clearly showed better results.
When I write articles and post for my website I try to stay as close to the middle as possible. I do my best not to pump my chest and say Amsoil is the best because I’m an Amsoil Dealer nor do I slam and put down a competitor. What I try to do is offer a solution that you can go out and do for yourself. Amsoil has been making quality synthetic lubricants since 1972 and they have also chosen a very practical method of distributing their products through Independent Amsoil Dealer such as myself. I have been an Amsoil Dealer since 1996 and I am here to assist you if you have any technical or application questions you need covered. Just call 800-797-4550 and ask for Steve.