Tech Articles Archives

09Jan 2019

EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE ENGINE IDLING

January 9, 2019 Tech Articles

EFFECTS OF EXCESSIVE ENGINE IDLING Excessive idling leads to more than just poor fuel economy. Engine idling is often unavoidable during day-to-day vehicle operation. Whether it’s sitting in traffic or waiting in the school parking lot, excessive idling creates engine wear without advancing the odometer. The detrimental effects of high idle times are numerous: Decreased […]

09Jan 2019

Why Does Motor Oil Turn Black?

January 9, 2019 Tech Articles

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 […]

18Dec 2018

AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil Greatly Outperforms Minimum Standards

December 18, 2018 Diesel Oils, Tech Articles

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 […]

20Nov 2018

Signature Series Battles Sludge

November 20, 2018 Tech Articles

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 […]

19Feb 2018

What Causes an Engine to Burn Oil?

February 19, 2018 Tech Articles

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 […]

16Nov 2017

Store Equipment With Confidence

November 16, 2017 Tech Articles

stabilize your fuel and protect your engine in storage

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 […]

15Nov 2017

AAA TESTING AFFIRMS SUPERIORITY OF SYNTHETIC MOTOR OILS

November 15, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

24Oct 2017

Solve ethanol issues before they arise – It’s Easy

October 24, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

19Oct 2017

Flat-Tappet and Camshaft Lobe Lubrication

October 19, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

19Sep 2017

How do we define “severe service”?

September 19, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

15Jul 2017

New Motor Oil Specs are Coming

July 15, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

17Jun 2017

Is Starting Fluid Bad for Gas Engines?

June 17, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

24Mar 2017

Does Premium, High-Octane Gas Boost Performance?

March 24, 2017 Tech Articles

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 […]

24Mar 2017

What Does Horsepower Mean?

March 24, 2017 Automotive Enthusiast Stories, Tech Articles

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 […]

08Jan 2017

Variable Valve Timing Needs Maintaining Too

January 8, 2017 Tech Articles

Variable Valve Timing lubrication issues

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 […]

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