Why Does Motor Oil Turn Black? John Baker|Oct 11, 2018 2:00 PM What causes black motor oil? And when your oil darkens does it mean it’s time to change it? Well, there are a couple of factors that can cause the former. Let’s dig in. Factors causing black motor oil Heat cycles naturally darken motor […]
AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil Greatly Outperforms Minimum Standards Shell* recently announced that a sample of “Mobil Delvac 1300* Super 15W-40 did not meet the passing limits for either API CK-4 performance standards, nor the more stringent requirements for Volvo*, MACK* and Cummins*.” The 360-hour Volvo T-13 test measures both oxidation and Kinematic Viscosity, indicating an […]
Signature Series Battles Sludge The health of your engine depends on motor oil circulating quickly and efficiently through the system, but sticking components and obstructed passages inhibit motor oil from lubricating, cooling and protecting your engine. Engine “sludge” occurs when oxidized oil and contaminants build up on engine surfaces. It can restrict the flow of […]
What Causes an Engine to Burn Oil? While it’s natural to assume any oil consumption indicates an engine problem, it can be a normal part of engine operation, depending on the vehicle. In fact, Chrysler considers oil consumption of up to one quart every 500-2,000 miles to be normal under certain conditions. GM considers one […]
Store Equipment With Confidence AMSOIL keeps your stored equipment fresh for our Omaha spring. Fall is the time to think about getting summer equipment put away before winter hits. Preventive maintenance is critical before storing equipment for any extended period of time. Properly storing equipment through the cold winter months protects the engine, prevents rust […]
AAA TESTING AFFIRMS SUPERIORITY OF SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS AMSOIL introduced the world to synthetic motor oil in 1972, and we’ve been extolling the benefits ever since. While we’ve been joined by many vehicle and equipment manufacturers and competing motor oil companies over the years, the American Automobile Association (AAA) is the most recent company to […]
Solving ethanol issues before they arise The fuel some love to hate isn’t the problem – letting gasoline sit too long is the real problem. Len Groom | TECHNICAL PRODUCT MANAGER How did an alternative fuel made mostly from corn grown in the Midwest become a political lightning rod? Whatever the reason, ethanol is always […]
Flat-Tappet and Camshaft Lobe Lubrication This is the Technical Service Bulletin relating to AMSOIL’s main high zinc and ZDDP oils as discussed on a recent video posted on YouTube. OBJECTIVE: Provide facts outlining the lubrication requirements of flat tappet camshaft engines and the importance of higher levels of zinc and phosphorus. ISSUES: Flat-tappet camshafts undergo […]
How do we define “severe service”? When pushing our lubricants to their limits, we sometimes find the limits of the test equipment first. Matt Erickson | TECHNICAL MANAGER – PCLT PRODUCTS AND MECHANICAL R&D One of my responsibilities here at AMSOIL is to help develop tests in our mechanical lab designed to push lubricants to […]
New Motor Oil Specs are Coming Josh Kimmes|May 02, 2017 9:11 AM As engine operating conditions grow more severe, so do the demands placed on your motor oil. New engine hardware such as turbochargers, direct injection and variable valve timing (VVT) place increased stress on your engine oil. You may find yourself asking, why do […]
Is Starting Fluid Bad for Gas Engines? John Baker|May 22, 2017 8:08 AM The simple answer: In small doses and used properly, it can be effective in hard-starting gasoline engines. But it can be bad for two-stroke or diesel engines. The real question to ask is, “Why does my engine need starting fluid in the […]
OCTANE EXPLAINED: DOES PREMIUM, HIGH-OCTANE GAS BOOST PERFORMANCE? A recent AAA report found that American motorists wasted $2.1 billion in the last year buying premium gasoline for engines designed to run on regular gas The reasons why are likely due to the following misconceptions about premium gas: Contains higher energy content (increasing power and fuel […]
What Does Horsepower Mean? John Baker|Nov 07, 2016 2:32 PM You’ve likely heard of eighteenth-century Scottish engineer James Watt. He’s credited with coining the term “horsepower.” In a stroke of marketing genius, he used the term to help sell London industrialists on the ability of his new steam engines to more efficiently produce one […]
Variable valve timing improves engine efficiency. Long overdue, we see variable valve timing suddenly appearing all over the industry. It was a fellow Corvair Club member who developed the idea and initial patents. Here’s an overview of his story but you can see a video of the car running. The prototype was a 65 Corvair […]
Should I Run Multi-Weight or Straight-Weight Oil in my Muscle Car? Ed Newman (Edited by Ches Cain)|Jan 12, 2016 4:30 PM Much of the stigma related to this has been eliminated due to technology. Here’s the straight story on viscosity grade. The “W” number in, for example, a 15W-50 motor oil outlines the viscosity […]
