FAQ's

ZF 8 & 9 Speed ATF
AMALIE has completed bench and field testing of our Universal Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid technology in ZF Group 8 and 9-speed transmissions and have found equivalent performance when compared to the originally recommended OEM fluid. AMALIE is confident in offering our Universal ATF to the service fill market for these transmissions. Due to the myriad of OEM specific fluids offered by each vehicle manufacturer for these transmissions, this application has been listed under “ZF” on our application chart.

Mazda ATF Type-FZ
AMALIE has completed bench and field testing of our Universal Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid technology in Mazda Motor Corp. SKYACTIV-DRIVE 6-speed automatic transmissions and have found equivalent performance when compared to the originally recommended OEM fluid. AMALIE is confident in offering our Universal ATF to the service fill market for these transmissions. Due to the myriad of OEM specific fluids offered by each vehicle manufacturer for these transmissions, this application has been listed under “Mazda” on our application chart.

AMALIE Universal Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid
For the full list of product applications, click on the link here: (Include the link for the TDS here)

AMALIE Universal Synthetic Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) Fluid
For the full list of product applications, click on the link here: (Include the link for the TDS here)

AMALIE Universal Synthetic Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) Fluid
For the full list of product applications, click on the link here: (Include the link for the TDS here)

The AMALIE Universal Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid should not be used in Continuously Variable Transmission Systems. AMALIE offers a dedicated CVT fluid that covers both belt- and chain-type CVT transmission used in the automotive industry today. For specific questions on our transmission fluids, contact your regional sales manager or AMALIE Technical Services.

Dex-Cool can be mixed with other conventional ethylene glycol-based types of antifreeze. Although, as a rule of thumb, we do not recommend mixing different colored antifreezes, as this could cause radiator and cooling system damage. Always refer to the owners’ manual when selecting antifreeze for your vehicle.

As a rule of thumb, always use the same color antifreeze when topping off your coolant reservoir. AMALIE does not recommend mixing different colored antifreeze, as this could cause radiator and cooling system damage. Always refer to the owners’ manual when selecting antifreeze for your vehicle.

AMALIE offers a broad range of synthetic automatic transmission fluids formulated specifically to exceed various OEM performance requirements. AMALIE was the first lubricant manufacturer to introduce a Universal Multi-Vehicle transmission fluid for traditional planetary-type transmissions back in 2005. Since then, AMALIE has added to their high-performance transmission fluid line with the inventory optimizing Universal Synthetic CVT Fluid for use in both chain and belt-driven continuously variable transmissions; and the Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) Fluid for use in both wet and dry dual-clutch transmission systems. Additionally, AMALIE offers a line of OEM licensed full synthetic fluids like the AMALIE Chrysler ATF+4, Ford Mercon® V, and General Motors Dexron® VI Transmission Fluids.  *Always refer to the vehicle’s owners’ manual for specific fluid recommendation.

The main difference between the two fluids is their frictional characteristics. The Dexron III-H/M is formulated with friction modifiers, whereas the Type F does not contain any in its formulation.

The AMALIE Universal Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid was tested for compatibility with other conventional type automatic transmission fluids. Data gathered during field testing shows that mixing our Universal Synthetic fluid with conventional type automatic transmission fluids, in either a complete fluid exchange or as a top-off, has no adverse consequences to the transmission performance or life.

The AMALIE 4T X-treme Max and Xtreme 4T Motorcycle oils are formulated for use in four-stroke motorcycle applications. These oils are designed to offer superior performance for motorcycle engines and bikes sharing a common sump requiring frictional characteristics for clutches and wet brakes.

AMALIE 4-T Extreme Max 20W-50 can be used in Harley Davidson Motorcycles without any adverse consequences to the performance or life of the bike, all while maintaining the OEM factory warranty. See the FAQ under the general motor oil section on the Magnusson Moss Act.

The AMALIE ATV/UTV 5W-50 is a high-performance full synthetic oil meeting the API SM, JASO MA/MA2, and NMMA FC-W (CAT) performance requirements.

While zinc levels can be boosted with the addition of supplemental additives, AMALIE does not recommend using the addition of supplemental additives with our fully formulated AMALIE lubricants.

AMALIE offers a wide range of different products with appropriate zinc levels. Contact your local sales representative or our technical services department for product recommendations.

Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is an additive used in the motor oil formulation to enhance the oil's antiwear and antioxidant properties. The ZDDP compound also contains phosphorous, which is believed by some to reduce the functional life of the catalysts in automotive catalytic converters. Auto manufacturers are required to offer a 150,000-mile warranty on the catalytic converters of their vehicles. Most modern engines today employ roller camshafts due to their increased reliability and additional power output. Roller cams wear differently than flat tappets and, therefore, no longer require as much zinc to protect. A reduction of ZDDP subsequently leads to a reduction of phosphorous, which helps to extend the life of the expensive catalytic converter.

Zinc is used as an anti-wear additive to prevent wear, and secondarily, as an antioxidant to extend the useful life of an oil. All properly formulated engine oils contain a zinc level appropriate for the type of product.

There are no benefits in using racing oils in an unmodified on-road passenger vehicle. AMALIE PRO Elite racing oils are specifically designed for use on the track. Running racing oils in stock cars can be detrimental to the expensive catalyst in the catalytic converters. Modern passenger cars with stock engines should use our AMALIE passenger car engine oils in their vehicles.

Recycling and repurposing used motor oil is the preferred method of disposal and provides many environmental benefits. Used oils contain a range of hazardous materials such as fuel, soot deposits, heavy metals, and other toxic chemicals. These recycled used oils can be re-refined and used to make new petroleum products. Oils improperly dumped can end up polluting soil and waterways, negatively affecting the environment.

AMALIE stands behind its products and believes that the performance of our oil is equivalent to any high-end product in the marketplace.

Although specifically designed for older higher mileage engines, our AMALIE High Mileage Oils can be used before the vehicle reaches the 75,000-mile mark.

This is a myth originating back to the 1970s when certain chemical compounds in early synthetic oils caused engine seals to shrink, and in some cases, caused leaks. Today, synthetic oils are tested for elastomer/seal compatibility and must pass to gain API and OEM approvals.

Switching types of motor oil is not harmful to a vehicle’s engine, if the oil is of an acceptable viscosity grade for that engine. When using full synthetic oils, we recommend only using that type of oil to optimize the product's benefits.

There is no general rule of thumb for this. Follow the OEM guidelines on recommended oil to use.

While thicker oils impart a stronger film strength, remember that the oil needs to pass through very tight tolerances. If the oil is too thick, it may not flow fast enough and could starve the engine of oil. This increases wear at start-up, wastes energy pumping, reduces fuel efficiency, and can cause the oil to lose its ability to transfer heat. An increase in operating temperature can lead to a chemical breakdown and cause harmful sludge and deposits to form.

The “W” in an SAE 5W-30 stands for Winter. The “xW” represents the low-temperature characteristics of an oil, while the non-W grade represents the viscosity at operating temperatures. The lower the W-grade, the better the oil pumps and flows at cold temperatures. The “W” grades are defined by the Cold Crank Simulator (CCS) and Mini-Rotary Viscometric (MRV) test. The Cold Crank test is used to determine if the oil will allow the crankshaft to turn over fast enough for the engine to start. The Mini-Rotary test measures the pumpability of the oil at low temperatures.

Always refer to the vehicle's owners’ manual before implementing any changes to the oil's viscosity. When switching viscosity grades, the rule of thumb is to only use an oil one viscosity grade higher or lower than what's recommended for your engine. Following this rule will not typically cause any harm to the engine. To alleviate any concern with engine performance and the vehicle's warranty, we recommended you use the viscosity grades recommended in your owner’s manual.

There are many different types of additives that perform different functions. Below are some of the different performance additives and the imparting properties they provide to a finished lubricant.
- Antioxidants are used to extend the operating life of an oil by increasing oxidative resistance of the base oil.
- Corrosion inhibitors are used to neutralize acids by forming a chemical barrier to repel moisture from metal surfaces.
- Anti-wear/extreme pressure agents protect machine parts from wear and loss of metal during boundary lubrication. Zinc Dialkyldithiophosphate, simply known as ZDDP is a popular example and is used in many different automotive and industrial applications.
- Detergents/Dispersants are used to keep machine internals clean and free of deposits while also suspending contamination until the oil can be changed.
- Anti-foam agents are chemical compounds which are used to weaken the oil bubbling wall and allowing foam bubbles to burst more readily.
- Friction modifiers are used to alter the friction between moving parts.
- Pour Point Depressants (PPDs) are used to reduce the formation of wax-crystals in an oil at low-temperatures.
- Viscosity Index Improvers (viscosity modifiers) are used in the product of multi-viscosity lubricants. These large polymer additives increase the viscosity of a fluid throughout its useful temperature range.

Our AMALIE Motor Oils are fully formulated, finished products which have the optimal balance of performance additives. Therefore, the use of aftermarket additives is not recommended.

Typically, when using multi-grade engine oils, the vehicle will only need to idle for the amount of time it takes to put on your seatbelt - approximately 30 seconds. An engine will warm up quicker while driving as compared to sitting and idling. While warming up the engine, do not accelerate aggressively until the engine is fully warmed up. The engine's thermostat will advise when the engine is at temperature.

Always follow your vehicles owners’ manual for the recommended oil change intervals.

Synthetic motor oils are better suited for severe driving conditions. Factors describing severe driving conditions include vehicles making short trips, less than four miles, especially in cold weather; frequent idling like that in stop and go traffic; long highway driving trips; towing of accessories; driving in dusty/dirty environments.

Using the right motor oil can improve horsepower and engine performance. Synthetic oils offer improved performance capabilities over their mineral-based counterparts. Synthetic oils reduce the internal drag, which in turn reduces the friction between molecules. Less friction equates to increased power output to the wheels. Synthetic oils also give the finished product enhanced wear protection and superior film strength to prevent wear in high-performance engines.

For technical questions regarding any of our AMALIE lubricants, contact the AMALIE Tech line at 1-800-368-1264, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. EST. For questions outside the posted office hours, leave a voice message, and our Technical Service Team will return the call promptly the following business day.

AMALIE offers a wide range of automotive motor oils utilizing the latest in additive technology and designed to offer increased protection and superior engine performance. These products are all formulated to exceed the latest industry performance standards.

The Elixir Line is AMALIE’s top-of-the-line full synthetic category of passenger car engine oils. The Elixir Full Synthetic oils are designed to provide the utmost protection and performance for a wide array of vehicle manufacturers, even in the harshest of operating conditions.

The PRO High-Performance Line is AMALIE’s synthetic-blend (semi-synthetic /para-synthetic) line of passenger car engine oils. These oils offer the added performance benefits of synthetic oils but at a cost similar to conventional oils.

The Imperial Turbo oils are what made the AMALIE Brand famous. In the early 1950s, AMALIE was the lubricants manufacturer to build a multi-viscosity engine oil, and the legend continuous today. The Imperial Turbo conventional line of motor oils is designed to offer increased protection for modern and older engine designs.

The AMALIE High-Mileage Line is a synthetic-blend high-mileage oil offering enhanced performance for vehicles exceeding 75,000 miles. These oils are specifically designed to help reduce leaks and oil consumption in worn or high mileage engines.

The Magnusson Moss Warranty Act is a consumer protection law enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. The act states that the Original Equipment Manufacturer cannot require an individual to use or purchase OEM parts or lubricants to maintain the vehicle's warranty if the competitive product meets the manufacturers' performance requirements. The Magnusson Moss Warranty Act also prohibits OEMs from voiding a vehicle's warranty because routine maintenance was performed by an independent repair facility or the consumer and not the dealership. Contact our AMALIE tech line for a list of shops carrying our AMALIE lubricants.

The ILSAC GF-6 category is split up into two subcategories: GF-6A and GF-6B. The main difference between the two subcategories is oil viscosity and high temperature, high shear (HTHS) performance. ILSAC GF-6B will provide similar performance as GF-6A, but with the added aim of lowering HTHS to deliver potential further fuel economy benefits. ILSAC GF-6B is currently defined by the SAE 0W-16 viscosity grade, although thinner viscosity grades are under development and could be introduced into the automotive market in the future.

The attributes of GF-6B include the following features:
- Not backward compatible with older engines.
- Better durability to mitigate Low-Speed Pre-Ignition.
- Better fuel economy, as measured by Sequence VIF
- Currently covers only the 0W-16 viscosity grade with minimum HTHS = 2.3.

To properly dispose of used oil, contact your local automotive retail store, maintenance facility, waste collection site, or government waste officials to see if they accept used oils. Typically, stores that sell automotive lubricants will have a waste container that can be used to dispose of used oil * Brake fluids should not be dumped in these oil containers and need to be disposed of separately.

Resource Conserving motor oils are formulated to help improve fuel economy and protect aftertreatment emission system components for gasoline-fueled passenger cars, vans, and light-duty trucks. Every AMALIE SAE 0W-16, 0W-20, 5W-20, 0W-30, 5W-30, and 10W-30 passenger car engine oil is designed to exceed the Resource Conserving performance requirements.

Some lubricant manufacturers take the added time and expense to have their products approved by an independent authority. Applying for the American Petroleum Institute (API) service category and certification is voluntary and up to the individual manufacturer. The API certification is designed to provide verification of an oil's performance standards. These standards are set by U.S. and International Vehicle Manufacturers and the lubricant industry. Products not displaying the Starburst, Sheild, or Donut symbols are not licensed with the American Petroleum Institute and are not verified as meeting current performance requirements.

The AMALIE Elixir Full Synthetic SAE 0W-20, 5W-20, and 5W-30 are formulated to exceed the strenuous performance requirements set forth by General Motors for the dexos1: Generation 3 performance standards. The list of licensed and approved products can be found on the dexos Website. http://www.gmdexos.com/brands/dexos1/index.html

Licensed dexos®1 Gen 2 brands
Amalie Elixir Full Synthetic Amalie Oil Co. dexos1™ Gen 2 0W-20 D10398HG049 Global
Amalie Elixir Full Synthetic Amalie Oil Co. dexos1™ Gen 2 5W-20 D10396HG049 Global
Amalie Elixir Full Synthetic Amalie Oil Co. dexos1™ Gen 2 5W-30 D10397HG049 Global

Conventional motor oils are made from refined crude oil. They undergo processing to create fluids that can be used as lubricants. These oils are enhanced with special additives designed to clean the engine, reduce foaming, and prevent wear. Our AMALIE conventional motor oils are formulated to exceed the latest American Petroleum Institute performance requirements in addition to multiple OEM specifications.

Always refer to the vehicle's owners' manual to determine the correct oil filter change intervals. Generally, the proper procedure would be to change the filter at the same time as the oil. Allowing an oil filter to become too contaminated could cause numerous issues. Issues include engine overheating, low-oil pressure, decreased performance, and an increase in Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Motor oils will oxidize over time due to oxygen and heat, which break down base oil components and deplete performance additives. High-quality motor oils are designed to get dirty as the detergent and dispersant additives contained in the product's formulation are used to hold dirt and contaminants in suspension until the oil is changed.

Due to stability and oxidative issues that could occur, AMALIE recommends no longer than five years when stored unopened in a climate-controlled environment.