AMSOIL Sponsors American Hot Rod Tulsarama Program

Legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington will use AMSOIL lubricants and filters exclusively in his mission to revive a buried 1957 Plymouth Belvedere.

On June 15, 1957, the city of Tulsa, Okla. buried a new gold and white 1957 Plymouth Belvedere Sport Coupe in a time capsule in downtown Tulsa as part of Golden Jubilee Week, a celebration of Oklahoma's 50th year of statehood. Before the car was buried, citizens were asked to guess the population of Tulsa in the year 2007 with the promise that whoever turned out to be closest would be awarded the car at Oklahoma's Centennial celebration in 2007. The entries were sealed and buried with the car inside the vault.

Boyd Coddington

On June 15, 2007, the car will be unearthed and transferred to the Tulsa Convention Center as part of Oklahoma's Centennial celebration. On hand will be legendary hot rod builder Boyd Coddington, host of the hit TLC TV series American Hot Rod. Coddington and his crew will be responsible for getting the Belvedere running after spending 50 years buried in the underground vault. The process will be filmed for an episode of American Hot Rod, which will air numerous times on TLC.

AMSOIL is an official sponsor of this historic event. AMSOIL lubricants and filters will be used by Coddington and his crew as they work to get the Belvedere running, with AMSOIL product placement and banners visible throughout the program. Watch the Action News, Direct Line and www.amsoil.com for air dates of this exciting and historic program.

The hit TLC TV series American Hot Rod draws over one million viewers each week, where they watch Coddington and his crew design and build cuttingedge hot rods. Host Boyd Coddington has won the prestigious "America's Most Beautiful Roadster" Award a record seven times and the Daimler-Chrysler Design Excellence Award twice. He's enshrined in the SEMA Hall of Fame, the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, the National Rod & Custom Museum Hall of Fame, the Route 66 Wall of Fame, the Street Rod Marketing Alliance Hall of Fame, and he was voted "Man of the Year" in 1988 by Hot Rod Magazine.

Buell to Introduce Off-Road Motorcycles

Within the next two years, Buell Motorcycle Co. plans to introduce offroad motorcycles designed for closedcourse competition. “Harley-Davidson and Buell are highly committed to broadening the range of products we offer and reaching out to new groups of customers,” said Buell President and Chief Operating Officer Jon Flickinger. “We’re always looking at new market opportunities, but this one is particularly exciting.”

Scooter Popularity on the Rise

A wide variety of consumers are drawn to the performance, efficiency and affordability of modern scooters.

Offering a combination of performance, efficiency and affordability, motorized scooters have quickly become one of the fastest growing segments in the transportation industry. Suzuki saw scooter sales increase 30 percent in 2006, despite spending the bulk of its national advertising budget on sports bikes, ATVs and other products.

Today’s scooter market offers enough variety to catch the attention of a wide range of customers. In fact, two of the largest groups of scooter owners are commuters and leisure riders.

While the stereotypical image of a scooter rider features a young college student cruising to class, today’s scooter market offers enough variety to catch the attention of a wide range of customers. In fact, two of the largest groups of scooter owners are commuters and leisure riders.

“An emerging group is those who use scooters as a way of commuting,” says Paolo Timoni, president and CEO of Piaggio Group Americas. “That group is about 50 percent of the market in our case and growing.”

The Suzuki Burgman line, featuring scooter models ranging from 400 to 650cc, offers a high performance option in the scooter market. According to Glenn Hansen, communications manager at American Suzuki Motor Corp., Suzuki’s typical scooter customers are older, experienced motorcycle riders who still enjoy riding, but have tired of moving their big, heavy motorcycles around.

Schwinn Motor Sports groups its scooter customers into three categories: college students, urban professionals and retirees. “The marketing focus comes down to scooter demographics, which are all over the place,” says Mo Moorman, Schwinn director of corporate communications and new business marketing.

Because many potential scooter buyers have questions about licensing, maintenance, parking and other scooter-related issues, Piaggio encourages its dealers to host education sessions with small groups of potential buyers. According to Piaggio research, these sessions double the chances a potential customer will purchase a scooter.

"People tend to associate scooters with motorcycles, and most people are a little afraid," says Timoni. "Education classes and demo rides are very effective initiatives."

Formula 4-Stroke® Synthetic Scooter Oil

AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Scooter Oil (ASO) is formulated specifically to meet the special needs of today’s hightech air- and water-cooled four-stroke motorized scooters, offering unsurpassed wear protection and friction reduction for longer equipment life and cooler operating temperatures. Its 10W-40 viscosity ensures consistent viscosity protection and provides additional protection for transmissions and gear boxes, while its friction modifier-free formulation ensures wet clutch compatibility and smooth clutch operation. A special anti-corrosion additive package provides long-term protection during periods of inactivity and storage.

Ford Increases Recommended Oil Change Intervals

Ford Motor Company recently extended its recommended motor oil change interval from 5,000 to 7,500 miles under normal service conditions. The change applies to select 2007 models and all 2008 models. According to Ford fuels and lubricants engineering supervisor Pete Misangyi, Ford based its decision on the improved quality of engine oils and engines. “Severe duty was also upped to 5,000,” said Misangyi. “So that one went up from 3,000 as part of the same change.” Last year, Ford increased its recommended oil change interval for diesel engines operating under normal service from 7,500 to 10,000 miles.

Formula 4-Stroke® 10W-40 Synthetic Scooter Oil and 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

With the introduction of new AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke® Synthetic Scooter Oil (ASO), many have asked if this product is the same as AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF). The answer is no, the two products are not the same. That answer, however, leads to other questions. For example, what is different between the two? Can they be interchanged? Why are two different oils needed anyway?

Though there are a great deal of similarities between scooter and motorcycle applications, there are also many differences. Some of those differences lie in the area of performance, while others are more market driven, such as cost and general consumer perception. In order to provide AMSOIL customers with the best possible product for any given application, all such factors must be considered. In this case, the end result is a separate product for scooter applications with another directed toward their motorcycle brethren.

From the standpoint of performance, the demands and requirements scooters place on engine oil are similar to those found in motorcycle applications, but differences do exist between the two in the level or degree of stress each application places on the oil. For example, the operating speeds of scooters tend to max out around 5-7,000 rpms. Café style motorcycles, on the other hand, can easily redline in the 12-14,000 rpm range. Also, though the state-of-tune of scooters is significantly higher than in the past, it pales in comparison to the horsepower per cc of displacement realized by today’s high powered motorcycles. Needless to say, in order to meet these differences most effectively, some differences in product formulation are required. That is not to say something has been left out of AMSOIL ASO. The formulation of this product, however, has been optimized to more closely match not only the performance levels demanded by scooters, but all other factors important to the application and market as well.

Another difference is in the area of longevity. Both ASO and MCF last longer in service than their competitive counterparts, but to what extent do the two vary? As mentioned, both products are built on a robust platform, a platform capable of providing exceptional durability by itself. MCF Motorcycle Oil is then fortified, however, to offer even greater life expectancy. That is the reason for the difference in the service intervals recommended for the two products. ASO is recommended to be changed at OEM maintenance intervals, and MCF is recommended for change intervals up to twice OEM maintenance intervals.

With these differences in performance requirements comes differences in manufacturing costs. This is important. While everyone wants maximum performance from the oil they use, scooter owners tend to be more concerned about price than their motorcycle counterparts. These differences in manufacturing costs allow AMSOIL to offer ASO at a lower price, making it extremely competitive in a cost conscious market.

Can the two products be interchanged? Yes, to some degree they can. MCF is more than suitable for use in scooter applications, but for the most part it may be considered overkill. It is unlikely that a scooter application will ever present the level of severity for which MCF was designed to handle. Hence, the issue of cost efficiency enters in. Keep in mind, however, that there is a contingent of owners with tricked out scooters looking for maximum performance regardless of cost. For that group, MCF is well worth consideration. On the other hand, ASO will perform satisfactorily in motorcycle applications. In fact, the level of performance and protection offered by ASO exceeds that found in conventional motorcycle oils. ASO, however, was not designed to offer the higher degree of safety margin AMSOIL believes is required by many high performance motorcycle applications. Also, from the standpoint of consumer perception, it is unlikely that an owner of a $20,000 crotch rocket would be inclined to use an oil that is directed toward scooter applications.

ASO may be the little brother of MCF, but don’t sell it short. This little brother is a real scrapper and more than capable of meeting even the most severe needs found in scooter applications. It is the perfect combination of performance and cost effectiveness.

5W-20 Increases Fuel Economy

Ford Motor Company reports that the company’s switch from recommending 5W-30 viscosity motor oil to 5W- 20 viscosity motor oil has saved 700 million gallons of gasoline since 2001. By reducing load and internal friction, lighter viscosity 5W-20 motor oils reportedly increase fuel economy by a half mile per gallon. In addition, Ford reports its use of 5W-20 oils has reduced carbon dioxide emissions by about one million metric tons a year. AMSOIL Synthetic 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil (ASM) and XL 5W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil (XLM) deliver outstanding fuel efficiency and superior wear protection over competing synthetic and conventional motor oils.

Get Ready for Motorcycle Season

The following tips ensure bikes are in top condition for the upcoming motorcycle season. AMSOIL Dealers can offer these tips as an additional service to customers.

Taking the motorcycle out of winter storage is an exciting time for every motorcycle enthusiast. Cruising Rider presents a few quick pre-ride checks to ensure bikes are ready for the first ride of the spring season.

Moisture that collected in the engine over the winter will evaporate when the engine is brought to normal operating temperature.

First, remove the cover from the motorcycle and take it off the blocks. If it wasn’t done in the fall, give the bike a thorough washing and waxing. Apply treatments, including vinyl and plastic treatment to the seat and windshield and leather treatment to the saddlebags. Check nuts and bolts for tightness, and lubricate the shift linkage, drum brake linkage and cables.

Inflate tires to riding pressure and place the bike on its centerstand (if applicable). Slowly spin each wheel and carefully inspect the tires for cuts, imbedded pebbles, glass and nail heads. Inspect the wear bars on the tires. If the tread is worn at or near the level of the wear bars, replace the tires.

Remove the battery from the smart charger, check the electrolyte level and replenish if necessary. Adding electrolyte dilutes the charge, so place the battery back on the charger.

Check the oil level through the sight glass or dipstick. If the oil was changed in the fall, another change is not necessary. Moisture that collected in the engine over the winter will evaporate when the engine is brought to normal operating temperature. If an oil change is necessary, run the bike to operating temperature and change the oil and filter. If applicable, remember to check and change the transmission oil, fork oil, coolant and brake fluid. Because brake fluid absorbs moisture, neglecting to flush and change it can trap moisture in the fluid and lead to spongy braking.

If the motorcycle has a chain or belt final drive, check it for play and adjust as necessary by loosening the rear axle bolt and sliding the rear wheel backward to pick up the slack in the drive system. Tighten everything, and remember to lube the chain.

Remove the spark plugs and check the gaps and color. The plugs should be a uniform gray color near the tips. Gap the plugs if necessary.

Finally, turn on the ignition and be sure all lights, turn signals and brake lights are in working order.

AMSOIL offers premium synthetic motorcycle oils and filters that provide second-to-none protection and performance for motorcycle applications.

Synthetic Motorcycle Oils

AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are formulated with premium synthetic base stocks and high performance additive technology that provide superior multifunctional benefits for the special requirements of motorcycle applications. These independent and exclusive AMSOIL formulations provide second-to-none viscosity protection for hot-running American and foreign motorcycle engines, transmissions and primary chaincases.

AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV) is recommended for Harley- Davidson, Buell, KTM, Ducati, BMW, Aprilia and Triumph motorcycles calling for a 15W-50 or 20W-50 viscosity.

AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF) is recommended for Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, BMW, Husqvarna and KTM motorcycles calling for a 10W-40 or 20W-40 viscosity.

Ea Motorcycle Oil Filters (EaOM)

AMSOIL Ea Motorcycle Oil Filters feature full synthetic nanofiber technology, providing superior protection for motorcycles, ATVs, four-stroke personal watercraft, snowmobiles and outboard motors. Ea Motorcycle Oil Filters last longer, stop smaller dirt particles and offer less restriction, extending equipment and filter life and improving performance. Ea Motorcycle Oil Filters are fluted for easy removal. Available in black or chrome.

Ea Motorcycle Air Filters (EaAM)

AMSOIL Ea Motorcycle Air Filters replace OEM filters from Harley-Davidson and Honda and fit S&S and Baron filter housings, incorporating nanofiber technology that offers superior efficiency, air flow and capacity for extended equipment and filter life and enhanced performance. Ea Motorcycle Air Filters are cleanable and remain serviceable for up to four years, saving money on filter costs.

Toyota Settles Sludge Lawsuit

Toyota Motor Sales U.S.A. Inc. has settled a class-action lawsuit filed for owners of nearly 3.5 million Toyota and Lexus vehicles that may have experienced damage related to oil sludge. The problems have been evident in 1997 to 2002 vehicles with 1MZ-FE 3.0L V6 engines and 5S-FE 2.2L inline four-cylinder engines. Over 3,000 owners reported the problem by the fall of 2002, prompting Toyota to extend warranties to eight years and unlimited miles. Under the new agreement, owners have eight years plus 120 days from the original purchase date to file a complaint, and they may be able to recover repair and incidental costs and losses in vehicle value. Although critics claim affected engines have flaws that encourage sludge formation on "hot spots," such as near the top of the cylinder heads and near valves, Toyota has not admitted to a design defect. Eligible vehicles with signs of sludge can be taken to a Toyota or Lexus dealer, along with proof that "reasonable efforts" were made to maintain the vehicle.

Advanced Protection for Motorized Scooters

New AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke® Synthetic Scooter Oil offers superior protection for scooter applications.

At one time, the word “scooter” conjured up visions of underpowered, noisy, smoky, illhandling bicycle-like machines. Although low in cost and offering excellent fuel economy, they were primarily seen only on college campuses and in trendy tourist locales. Most featured single cylinder, air-cooled 50 to 150cc engines capable of reaching speeds of up to 35-40 mph.

Today's scooters offer greatly improved handling and exceptional performance, while maintaining their affordability and excellent fuel efficiency. Their popularity has skyrocketed in recent years, and the scooter market is one of the fastest growing segments in the transportation industry. In fact, scooter sales increased 20 percent last year, with similar growth projected for 2007. Today’s scooters range in size from 50 to 600+ cc’s and utilize high-tech engine designs and advanced system controls. Some models are capable of obtaining road speeds in excess of 100 mph. Because these advancements place additional strain on the equipment, today’s high-tech scooters demand high quality lubricants specifically formulated to address the special needs found in scooter applications:

Shear stability - High engine rpms common to scooter applications increase shear, causing conventional lubricants to lose viscosity and reduce their ability to control wear, resulting in shorter engine life.

Thermal stability - The operating temperatures of scooter engines fluctuate greatly, especially with air-cooled engines. Elevated temperatures cause the oil to quickly break down and shorten its service life. High temperatures also cause the oil to lose viscosity, minimizing its ability to control wear.

Transmission and gear box compatibility - In many scooter applications, the engine and transmission and/or gear box share the same oil reservoir, exposing the oil to mechanical shearing forces and permanent viscosity loss as it passes through the contact areas within the gear sets.

Wet-clutch compatibility - Some scooters utilize a frictional clutch to engage and disengage the engine from the drivetrain. In many cases, this clutch is immersed in the same oil used in the engine and transmission. Frictional compatibility must exist between the oil and the clutch to prevent excessive slippage and extend clutch life.

New AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Scooter Oil (ASO) is formulated specifically to meet the special needs of today’s high-tech air- and water-cooled four-stroke motorized scooters, offering unsurpassed wear protection and friction reduction for longer equipment life and cooler operating temperatures. Its exceptional shear stability ensures consistent viscosity protection and provides additional protection for transmissions and gear boxes, while its friction modifier-free formulation ensures wet clutch compatibility and smooth clutch operation. A special anti-corrosion additive package provides long-term protection during periods of inactivity and storage.

AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Scooter Oil is recommended for air- and water-cooled four-stroke motorized scooter engines calling for a 10W-40 viscosity, as well as transmissions and gear boxes calling for a 10W-40 motor oil, including Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, Yamaha, Vespa, Aprilia, Piaggio, Benelli, Vento, Kymco, Tank and TGB. It is recommended for the longest drain interval recommended by the equipment manufacturer.

• Superior wear protection • Cool engine operation
• Controls lubricant foaming
• Exceptional shear stability
• Reduced oil consumption and deposit formation
• Excellent protection in temperature extremes
• Improved fuel economy
• Wet clutch compatible
• Long-term protection against rust and corrosion

For more information go to the AMSOIL 10W-40 Formula 4-Stroke Synthetic Scooter Oil (ASO)
page.

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