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Quantifying Performance: Signature Series Motor Oil and the NOACK Volatility Test

Brad Nelson
A man pours AMSOIL Signature Series 100% Synthetic Motor Oil into a Ford F-150 Raptor.

The relentless environment inside modern engines pushes motor oil to its limits. High temperatures and mechanical stress challenge an oil’s ability to protect critical components. Volatility — the tendency of an oil to evaporate under heat – is one area of motor-oil performance with huge implications. Volatility can compromise engine protection and lead to increased oil consumption, deposits and reduced performance.

AMSOIL Signature Series 100% Synthetic Motor Oil is engineered with premium base oils and a robust additive system to resist evaporation and maintain its protective properties, even in extreme conditions. To quantify volatility performance, we put Signature Series to the test at a third-party lab using the NOACK Volatility Test (ASTM D5800).

What Is the NOACK Volatility Test?

The NOACK Volatility Test is the industry-standard method used to measure how much motor oil evaporates when exposed to high temperatures over a set period. It evaluates volatility as the percentage of an oil’s mass that is lost due to evaporation. A lower percentage indicates better resistance to evaporation and, therefore, better ability to maintain its viscosity and protective film under extreme heat.

The Protocol

The NOACK test protocol is precise and controlled. First, a weighed sample of motor oil is placed in a test apparatus, and the oil is heated to 250°C (482°F). Airflow is introduced to simulate real-world evaporation conditions. The sample is held at this temperature and airflow continuously for 60 minutes. The oil is weighed again, and the percentage of mass loss is calculated. This percentage is the NOACK volatility result — a direct indicator of how well an oil resists evaporation in extreme environments.

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Why Volatility Matters

When motor oil evaporates, it creates a chain reaction of negative effects:

  • Increased oil consumption
  • Thickening of remaining oil
  • Formation of harmful deposits
  • Reduced engine performance and protection

Why It Matters to Customers

For vehicle owners, volatility isn’t just a lab measurement — it translates directly to fewer oil top-offs between oil changes, cleaner engine operation, more consistent performance in extreme conditions and longer-lasting protection for critical engine components. Oil that resists evaporation provides a substantial advantage to engine performance and longevity.

Signature Series vs. NOACK

The NOACK Volatility Test allows a maximum of 15% mass loss to meet the specification. AMSOIL Signature Series had a result of 7.2%, delivering 2X better protection against volatility,1 helping reduce oil consumption, minimize top-offs and keep engines cleaner over time.

Real-World Benefits

AMSOIL Signature Series doesn’t just meet industry standards — it surpasses them, providing a margin of protection that becomes especially valuable under high-load, high-heat driving conditions. Volatility plays a critical role in how well an oil protects your engine over time, and the NOACK Volatility Test offers a clear, objective way to measure this performance aspect. AMSOIL Signature Series blows away the standard. By resisting evaporation, maintaining viscosity and reducing deposits, AMSOIL Signature Series delivers measurable benefits that drivers can depend on mile after mile, even in extreme conditions.

1Based on AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-20 100% Synthetic Motor Oil compared to the API SQ limit using the ASTM D5800 NOACK Volatility Test.