AMSOIL vs. Liqui Moly: Which is the Best?

Deciding between popular synthetic motor oil brands like Liqui Moly and AMSOIL? We've analyzed oils from both companies below so you can make the most informed purchasing decision possible.

Brief Overview of AMSOIL & Liqui Moly

Before diving into the specifics of both brands' oil products, it's beneficial to have a general overview of AMSOIL and Liqui Moly.

AMSOIL, a pioneer in synthetic lubrication, was founded by Al Amatuzio in 1969 in Superior, Wisconsin. Originally named "Life-Lube, Inc.," AMSOIL has been at the forefront of synthetic lubricant technology for over five decades, dedicating itself to innovation and quality in the automotive industry.

Liqui Moly, headquartered in Ulm, Germany, was established in 1957. This brand is renowned for its commitment to high-quality automotive lubricants, additives, and service products. While it may not have the same lengthy history as AMSOIL in synthetic lubricants, Liqui Moly has made significant strides in the European market and beyond, emphasizing robust research and development.

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AMSOIL & Liqui Moly Similarities

Both companies specialize in a wide array of synthetic lubrication products catering to a diverse range of applications—from motor oils for gasoline and diesel engines to various automotive additives and service products.

Strategic partnerships and sponsorships also play a key role in both brands' marketing strategies. AMSOIL has a strong presence in motorsports and automotive events, sponsoring entities like the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally and the Championship Off-Road series. Their involvement extends to partnerships with high-profile motorsports teams and events, underlining their commitment to performance and reliability in demanding conditions.

Similarly, Liqui Moly is actively involved in motorsports, with sponsorships in Formula 1, MotoGP, and various international racing and sporting events. These partnerships not only enhance their brand visibility but also allow them to demonstrate the performance of their lubricants in highly competitive settings.

In addition, both brands are associated with high-performance tuning and engineering companies. For instance, AMSOIL recently became the official lubricants provider for Lingenfelter Performance Engineering, indicating their trusted quality in high-performance applications—a realm where Liqui Moly also has significant endorsements and technical partnerships.

By understanding the backgrounds and similarities of AMSOIL and Liqui Moly, consumers can better appreciate what each brand brings to the table in terms of quality, innovation, and performance in the automotive lubricants market.

AMSOIL vs Liqui Moly Matchup

Since both oil brands produce a wide variety of lubricants for many different applications, we'll be directly comparing oils of similar viscosities based on manufacturer recommended oil products for specific vehicles.

First up, we'll look at recommended oils for 14th F-150's (2021 and newer). In this case, we'll compare AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-20, which offers up to 25,000 miles or one year of protection with Liqui Moly's Special Tec AA SAE 5W-20 rated for 15,000 miles.

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-20 vs. Liqui Moly Special Tec AA 5W-20

While both manufacturers do list some oil ratings & specifications for the selected oils, they don't always match up perfectly, so we'll compare them as closely as possible. First we'll take a look at the approved industry specs.

Both oils are approved for these specs:

• ‍API SP, SN PLUS
• ILSAC GF-6A
• Ford WSS-M2C947-B1
• Ford WSS-M2C962-A1
• GM dexos1 Gen 3
• Chrysler MS-6395

Specs unique to AMSOIL Signature Series:

• API SN
• ACEA A1/B1
• Ford WSS-M2C947-A
• ILSAC GF-5, GF-4

Specs unique to Liqui Moly Special Tec:

• Fiat 9.55535-CR1

From these specs alone, we see that AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-20 is slightly more versatile due to its broader range of backward compatibility and inclusion of European standards. Both oils are high-quality options, ensuring excellent engine protection and performance.

Next we'll compare technical data provided by both manufacturers.

Manufacturer Specified Ratings

*hover over each specification for more details.

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It's important to know that not all of these ratings equally factor into the quality of any given motor oil. If you want to learn more about how motor oil's are tested read on here. In my experience, the three most important ratings of the ones that we compared above are viscosity index, pour point, and Cold Cranking Viscosity (CCS). These three ratings somewhat effectively sum up an oil's volatility and protection potential over varying temperatures. AMSOIL is currently on top of Liqui Moly with better ratings for 2 of these 3 so far.

Comparing European-Specific Oils

Liqui-Moly really excels in European-specific engine oils, so let's compare some of their best oils with AMSOIL's European line of lubricants. Let's look at AMSOIL 0W-20 LS European oil versus Liqui Moly Top Tec 6600 0W-20, both of which are recommended for the latest 3 series BMW.

Both oils are approved for these specs:

• API SN Plus
• ACEA C5
• ILSAC GF-5
• Ford WSS-M2C947-B1
• BMW Longlife-17 FE+

Unique to AMSOIL 0W-20 LS:

• MB 229.71
• Volvo VCC RBS0-2AE
• Fiat 9.55535-GSX
• Opel/Vauxhall OV0401547
• Chrysler MS-12145

Unique to Liqui Moly Top Tec 6600:

• ACEA A1/B1

Both oils are high-quality options for European vehicles, with shared specifications ensuring they meet the rigorous demands of modern engines. The unique specifications highlight their broader applicability, with AMSOIL being suitable for a wider range of manufacturers, while Liqui Moly is particularly focused on fuel efficiency and specific European standards.

Now let's compare technical data for both of these lubricants:

Again, in this oil matchup, AMSOIL comes out on top with better ratings for 2 out of the top 3 technical oil specs I consider to be the most important of those provided by most manufacturers.

AMSOIL & Liqui Moly Lab Testing

Unfortunately, there haven't been many independent lab tests directly comparing products from both of these oil companies. But, a handful of people have published oil testing results online for us to examine.

There are also extensive tests that have been performed comparing AMSOIL to other oil companies like Mobil 1 and Royal Purple

Project Farm Testing Royal Purple and AMSOIL

The Project Farm YouTube channel ran a series of tests comparing 16 popular motor oil brands in what he called the oil championships (March madness style bracket tournament). While he didn't directly compare AMSOIL with Liqui Moly, AMSOIL came out on top, defeating all of it's competitors, while Liqui Moly was defeated in the first round by Amazon Basics motor oil.

AMSOIL or Liqui Moly?

When comparing prices, AMSOIL is typically a bit more expensive than Liqui Moly without any discounts. However, if you're an AMSOIL Preferred Customer, you can save up to 25% on all products and receive many other benefits which drives the cost of AMSOIL down considerably, making prices comparable to Liqui Moly, and even cheaper in some cases.

Overall, both oil companies produce high quality lubricants that do very well in many different applications. Liqui Moly boasts over 4,000 products while AMSOIL has really focused down on just a few hundred. If you want to go with the best overall oil, and an American-made company, I highly recommend AMSOIL!

Sources

• Liqui Moly Special Tec AA 5W-20 Data Sheet
• AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-20 Data Sheet
• Liqui Moly Top Tec 6600 0W-20 Data Sheet
• AMSOIL 0W-20 European LS Data Sheet