The founder of AMSOIL, Al Amatuzio, has died. Amatuzio capitalized on his early career as a pilot, understanding that jet engines worldwide used synthetic oil exclusively, to first research, develop, and then formulate the first synthetic motor oils for automotive use in 1966. Reasoning that if jet engines could survive only using synthetics, then those same qualities could be applied to cars. At the time motor oils were not as refined as they are now, and breakdown from heat was a common problem, shortening engine life and in some cases worse. By 1972 AMSOIL synthetic oil became the world’s first synthetic to meet American Petroleum Institute requirements. Unfortunately many in the automotive industry considered synthetic oil as nothing more than snake oil. Big Oil companies filed suits to stop the marketing and advertising of what they considered “fake” oil. But Amatuzio persevered, and today AMSOIL is one of the technological leaders in the field. He went on to be awarded numerous honors from industry associations. AMSOIL continues catering to the “little guy” of which is no more apparent than with their support for HOT ROD’s Engine Masters Challenge. Amatuzio was almost 93, and remained Chairman of the Board for AMSOIL.
The post AMSOIL’s Founder and Father of Synthetic Motor Oil, Al Amatuzio, Has Died appeared first on Hot Rod Network.