Compression Testing an Engine on a Car Recently Purchased Very Important

 Engine Compression Testing

If you feel you have a problem with a high mileage engine or recent purchase, good idea to do a compression check. Not a difficult task and will tell you the condition inside that engine, especially if you see signs of trouble on one or more spark plugs removed.

How to check the compression on an engine.

AMSOIL Firearms Cleaner Lubricant and Protector

 PROTECTION AND DEPENDABILITY

Keep your firearms in top working condition with AMSOIL Synthetic Firearm Lubricant and AMSOIL Firearm Cleaner.

AMSOIL SYNTHETIC FIREARM LUBRICANT

• Keeps firearms working properly for generations
• Helps prevent blockage, jams and wear
• Outstanding protection in hot and cold climates

AMSOIL FIREARM CLEANER

• Effectively cleans fouling and powder residue
• Helps reduce misfires and increase reliability
• Protects against corrosion

AMSOIL European Car Oil

 AMSOIL Synthetic European Car Motor Oil Lineup

AMSOIL Synthetic European Oil

The Difference Between Summer and Winter Gas

The Difference Between Summer and Winter Gas & the Need for Fuel Additives.

Summer has its benefits: Fishing season. Dirt-track racing. Wrenching in the garage with the door open and the tunes blaring.

Another benefit is a slight fuel-economy boost. That’s because refiners alter their gasoline and diesel formulations depending on the season, and summer gasoline contains about 1.7 percent more energy than winter-blend gas. Regardless of the time of year, it pays to know a little about what’s going in your tank to ensure you’re properly maintaining your fuel system.

Under Pressure

A primary difference between summer and winter fuels is their Reid Vapor Pressure (RVP). RVP is a measure of how easily the fuel evaporates at increased temperatures. The higher the fuel’s RVP, the more easily it evaporates.

Winter-blend fuel requires increased RVP. If the fuel doesn’t evaporate readily in cold temperatures, the engine will start hard and run rough at cold temperatures.

To achieve this, refiners often blend winter gasoline with butane, a relatively inexpensive additive with a high RVP. They adjust the RVP of the final formulation to as high as 15.0 psi to help the gasoline ignite readily in the cold. 

The Law Restricts Sales

Once the temperature warms up in summer, however, high-RVP gasoline can volatilize more easily, which contributes to increased emissions and air pollution. For that reason, federal law restricts sale of gasoline with an RVP greater than 9.0 from June 1 through Sept. 15. To comply, refiners reduce the amount of butane in the gasoline and instead use pricier additives, hence one reason gas prices generally increase in summer. The blending process also takes longer, adding to the cost. 

Some areas set even lower RVP standards in summer to further limit emissions. California, for example, has a 7.0-psi limit. Given the state’s climate, refiners may sell summer-blend gas as early as April 1 and as late as Oct. 31.

For the most part, the semi-annual switch from winter to summer gas and vice versa happens seamlessly and goes unnoticed by drivers. 

Lowest Additive Concentration 

Regardless of the season, gasoline contains detergent additives designed to keep fuel injectors and other fuel-system components clean.

Some automakers, however, think the additive content, called the lowest additive concentration (LAC), is insufficient for modern vehicles. It takes a low level of additive to pass the tests, and most gasoline on the market contains as little as 123 ppm of additive.

The low levels of detergent additives in modern gasoline allow deposits to build up on critical fuel-system components, and most motorists are unaware of how dirty the insides of their engines are. This provides a great opportunity to sell the benefits of AMSOIL fuel additives.

P.i.® and Upper Cylinder Lube

P.i. Performance Improver (API) is a potent, one-tank additive that deep-cleans your fuel system.

• Cleans fuel injectors, intake valves and combustion chamber deposits

• Reduces emissions and increases fuel economy up to 5.7 percent

• Use every 4,000 miles (6,437 km)

Upper Cylinder Lubricant (UCL) preserves and builds upon those gains. It also provides vital lubrication to the upper part of the cylinders. 

• Lubricates upper cylinders to fight wear

• Inhibits ethanol-related corrosion

• Keeps injectors clean

• Delivers 18 percent more lubricity than Lucas* and 20 percent more than Sea Foam* for better retention of horsepower and fuel economy.

For more information:
AMSOIL Fuel Additives.

AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Motor Oil Proves Superiority

AMSOIL EXCELS IN V-TWIN TORTURE TEST

• 2019 Harley-Davidson* Street Bob* • Milwaukee-Eight* 107 c.i. engine • 1,000 miles on engine dyno • 300ºF (149ºC) oil temperature • 421ºF (216ºC) max. cylinder temperature

Extreme heat is the biggest enemy for a powerful air-cooled V-twin engine, like those found on most Harley-Davidson* motorcycles. In fact, when designing its latest V-twin engine platform – the Milwaukee Eight* – Harley asked riders what they wanted from its newest engine. Two themes emerged: more power and less heat.

Extreme heat can ruin your ride

Some riders have complained about intense heat radiating from the engine while riding, particularly the rear cylinder, which doesn’t receive as much airflow as the front cylinder.

Extreme heat not only challenges rider comfort, it challenges the engine.

If, for example, heat causes the piston to expand beyond acceptable tolerances, it can rub against the cylinder wall and cause scuffing.

Heat also causes some oils to thin and lose viscosity. The oil can become so thin the engine loses oil pressure, causing the oil-pressure gauge to bottom out.

Riding conditions turn up the heat

V-twin heat becomes especially problematic when riding on hot summer days in conditions that limit airflow over the engine, such as in slow-moving parade or rally traffic. In extreme cases, the bike’s electronic temperature controls shut down the bike if it gets too hot.

Oil-cooled Milwaukee-Eight engine

Harley introduced its Milwaukee-Eight engine in 2016 in part to reduce extreme heat and enhance rider comfort. The engine uses a system of oil-filled cooling jackets surrounding the cylinders to reduce heat. The oil absorbs heat and carries it to a small oil cooler, where it dissipates into the atmosphere.

1,000-mile dyno test

To test AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil in the latest V-twin technology, we purchased a 2019 Harley-Davidson Street Bob equipped with a 107-c.i. Milwaukee Eight engine.

We instrumented the bike and rode it on the street to establish a baseline for “real-world” operation. This confirmed that low-speed, low-airflow conditions, like stop-and-go traffic, created the most challenging conditions.

We then installed the bike on the dyno in our mechanical lab and subjected it to a 1,000-mile test designed to simulate the worst-case conditions we saw on the street. One thousand miles is enough to make 640 trips down Main Street in Sturgis.

Airflow over the engine was restricted to hold the oil-sump temperature at a steady 300ºF (149ºC). Cylinder temperature topped out at 421ºF (216ºC). In these conditions, the oil can quickly oxidize (chemically break down), which causes the viscosity to increase until it’s out of grade and no longer provides the protection the engine requires.

Extreme heat no match for AMSOIL

Following the test, we chemically analyzed the oil to measure viscosity, oxidation, total base number (TBN) and wear metals. We also examined engine parts, in addition to the compensator, for wear or distress.

As shown, AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil (MCV) provided exceptional protection. The piston skirt contains virtually no wear, while deposits are minimal given the extreme conditions. In addition, the rings still move freely for maximum compression and power. The wear surfaces on the compensator are also in excellent condition, indicating the oil provided smooth, reliable shifts.

Rear-Cylinder Piston

The rings are virtually deposit free and didn’t stick for maximum compression and power. The skirt contains minimal scuffing for long engine life.

Compensator

The wear surfaces show minimal distress, indicating the oil protected the compensator for smooth, quiet shifts.

Oil analysis results are also impressive. The oil stayed within its viscosity grade despite the extreme heat. The oil limited oxidation and retained its TBN, which is a measure of its ability to fight corrosive acids. Finally, the oil limited wear metals to trace levels, indicating its excellent level of wear protection.

Click for larger image

For more information:

 AMSOIL Motorcycle Products

AMSOIL Racing Products Provided Exceptional Protection for Drag Racer

AMSOIL DELIVERS ‘SHOCKING’
PROTECTION IN DRAG RACING ENGINE

Preferred Customer and truck driver Paul Jordan of Butte, Mont. started racing a Junior Dragster at only 11 years old. At 14, he purchased a Plymouth* Duster,* which he’s dragraced since the early 2000s, competing in Montana, Idaho and the surrounding area. 

After 13 years of drag racing, the bearings in Jordan’s
Chrysler 408 showed virtually no signs of wear.

“A friend of the family talked my parents into bringing me out to the racetrack one day and from that point on I was hooked,” said Jordan. “I was only the second one in Montana to have a Junior Dragster at that point.” 

 

In 2007, Jordan built a Chrysler* 408 engine for his Duster. He used AMSOIL DOMINATOR® 15W-50 Synthetic Racing Oil (RD50) as the break-in oil and service fill.  

As you would expect, the engine constantly operates under severe conditions. It makes about 550 horsepower and regularly hits 5,000-6,000 rpm. 

Jordan estimates his Duster has made about 4,000 passes down the drag strip since 2007. 

“I’ve won five championships over the years, so I’ve made a lot of passes down a lot of tracks,” he said.

It uses six quarts of DOMINATOR Synthetic Racing Oil, a WIX oil filter as the primary filter and an AMSOIL Oil Filter as the secondary filter. Most notably, it has run on methanol fuel for the past three years, which is prone to attracting moisture and diluting the oil. 

“If you switch to methanol, the rule is you should change oil every other race,” said Jordan. Even so, he only changes oil once a year.

“There is no indication of any contamination,” said Jordan. “I look through it to see if there are any metal particles, but I’ve never had any. I probably could have put two years on the oil if I’d wanted to.”

He recently decided to tear down the engine for the first time since building it 13 years ago to refresh it, which typically includes installing new bearings, piston rings and honing the cylinders. He also wanted to make some modifications to increase power.

“I expected to open the engine, pull the bearing caps off and see a couple of them pretty much worn out and on the verge of failure,” said Jordan.

Instead, the inside of the engine looked clean and virtually free of wear. 

“It was pretty surprising when we pulled it apart, popped the bearings out and they looked nearly brand new,” said Jordan. “There’s no ridge at all on the cylinder walls, which is incredible. And I used to spray it with nitrous, too. The cylinders are in unbelievable condition. There are a few scuff marks, but nothing you’d expect for something that’s been abused for more than a decade. It was really shocking. And I can’t believe how clean it was; there was no buildup anywhere.”

Jordan said the crankshaft just needed to be re-polished. The car ran its best elapsed times at the drag strip in 2019, meaning it never lost power over the years.

“I could reassemble the engine as-is and go another 13 years,” said Jordan. “I have no reason to believe, other than AMSOIL, that the engine lasted as long as it did. I use AMSOIL in everything I own. I use it in my pickup truck, my semi, my race car...if AMSOIL made shampoo, I’d use that, too.” 

Jordan adds that he used AMSOIL Super Shift® Racing Transmission Fluid (ART) in the TF727 transmission used in the car from 2003 to 2017 without a rebuild.

“I truly appreciate the fine lubrication products offered by AMSOIL, and you can expect my loyalty for many more years to come,” he said. 

AMSOIL Racing Products

AMSOIL Limited Snowmobile Warranty

AMSOIL RUNS ON FREEDOM™
LIMITED SNOWMOBILE WARRANTY

AMSOIL Snowmobile Warranty

Don’t let the powersports manufacturers bully you into buying their brand of oil. You have the freedom to choose your brand of oil and keep your warranty intact.

To show our support for riders and to double-down on our confidence in our snowmobile oil, we offer the Runs on Freedom Limited Snowmobile Warranty. 

It covers engine repairs for two years or 5,000 miles (8,000 km), whichever comes first, on current model-year or newer sleds that use AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR® Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil exclusively.

Switching to AMSOIL products in your sleds will keep you Warranty Secure.

To get details and register, visit 

AMSOIL Warranty

 

New AMSOIL Z-ROD® 10W-40 Completes Line-up

Z-ROD® Keeps Classic Vehicles Street-Ready

AMSOIL Z-ROD® Synthetic Motor Oil protects engines on the highway and in the garage.

New 10W-40 viscosity joins the lineup, protecting engines on the street and during storage.

Taking your classic car or hot rod out of storage is an exciting time for enthusiasts. For many, it marks the end of a long winter or lengthy period of inactivity during which their prized car was stored under cover in the garage.

Storage invites engine-damaging corrosion

During that time, rust or corrosion may have formed on engine parts due to humidity and moisture from changes in ambient temperature.

Rust and corrosion can be just as devastating to an engine as dirt or sludge. It can flake off metal and populate the oil with wear-causing particles, which scour bearings, cam lobes and other parts before the filter has a chance to capture them.

AMSOIL fights corrosion

We formulated AMSOIL Z-ROD Synthetic Motor Oil to prevent this scenario.

It contains potent rust and corrosion inhibitors that protect the inside of your engine during storage so you can rest assured it will be ready to roll when you are.

Motor oil has no natural ability to resist rust or corrosion. Instead, special inhibitors must be added to the formulation to keep metal components protected. Not all motor oils contain sufficient rust and corrosion inhibitors to protect engines during long-term storage.

Added ZDDP for added wear protection

Flat-tappet cams, found in many classic cars and hot rods, present another challenge some motor oils aren’t formulated to handle.

Their design makes them especially vulnerable to wear. As the name indicates, the tappet, or lifter, is flat. During operation, the surface of the cam lobe slides rapidly over the surface of the tappet, producing high friction and temperatures. The camshaft and lifters are responsible for triggering the precisely tuned movements of the valvetrain. Here, the use of anti-wear additives becomes crucial.

Zinc dialkyldithiophosphate (ZDDP) is a commonly used motor oil additive that provides anti-wear protection and minimizes lubricant breakdown. ZDDP also exhibits mild extreme-pressure protection. As temperatures in the engine rise, ZDDP decomposes, and the resulting chemistry protects critical metal surfaces.

Because most V-8 engines of the muscle car era came standard with flat-tappet cams, the problem is prevalent to classic-car and hot rod owners.

Modern oils aren’t formulated to tackle this problem. They contain reduced ZDDP levels due to its propensity to harm catalytic converters. For that reason, it’s best to use a high-ZDDP oil formulated specifically for classic cars and hot rods, such as AMSOIL Z-ROD Synthetic Motor Oil. It’s available in 10W-30, 10W-40 and 20W-50.

AMSOIL Z-ROD Synthetic Motor Oil

• Added ZDDP to protect flat-tappet cams
• Long-term rust and corrosion protection

New Motor Oil Specifications

New Motor Oil Specifications in Effect

The automotive industry’s latest specifications, ILSAC GF-6 and API SP, are now effective. AMSOIL is ahead of the game.

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are under pressure to improve fuel economy and reduce emissions. As a result, most new engines today use some combination of turbochargers, direct-fuel injection and variable valve timing to deliver better fuel economy and increase horsepower.

The trend of lighter engine oils to achieve these goals continues with 0W-16 viscosities emerging in the market and 0W-12 and 0W-8 expected to follow. The industry has responded to these advanced engine technologies and ultra-light oil viscosities with two new oil specifications: ILSAC GF-6 and API SP.

The Split: GF-6A and B

The International Lubricant Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC) has set a new precedent in the passenger-car motor oil market by splitting its specification into two parts. One of the main differences between the two specifications is compatibility. See the chart below.

Both versions focus on wear protection, prevention of low-speed pre-ignition (LSPI) and improved engine cleanliness. However, GF-6B features a more stringent fuel economy test. Engine oils can easily be identified as ILSAC GF-6A or 6B by the API emblem on the front label of the packaging. A shield represents the GF-6B specification, while the traditional starburst indicates a GF-6A product. Both ILSAC specifications meet the industry-standard API SP specification which is most commonly found in owners’ manuals.

We Are Ready

Our claims about using advanced technology aren’t just talk, and this specification update proves it once again. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils already meet or exceed the new industry standards and require no change in formulation. This is not the first time we’ve been in this position. While the competition works on making major formulation adjustments, we are ready. Our product labels will soon feature the new specifications as inventories of current packaging are depleted.

Click for larger image

For more information on AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils click here.

What Does Viscosity Mean and Its Importance?

How does viscosity affect your engine, mileage and performance?

Motor oil viscosity is the measure of its resistance to flow. Low-viscosity oil (e.g. 0W-20) flows faster than high-viscosity oil (e.g. 20W-50).

To illustrate, think of water and honey. When poured from a container, water flows much faster than honey.

For more good information on oil viscosity including easy to understand charts, read this blog:

What Does Viscosity Mean (and How Does it Affect Your Engine)?

AMSOIL Signature Series Max-Duty Synthetic 15W-40 Diesel Oil

AMSOIL Signature Series Max-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil

• 6X more wear protection¹
• Excellent viscosity control
• Outstanding extreme-temperature performance
• Minimizes oil consumption

Shop for AMSOIL Synthetic Diesel Oil

¹Based on independent testing in the Detroit Diesel DD13 Scuffing Test for specification DFS 93K222 using a 5W-30 as worst-case representation.

Changing The Oil In Your Motorcycle

How to change the oil in your motorcycle.

Changing the oil in your motorcycle is easy.

Step by step easy to follow information on how to properly change the oil in your motorcycle at this AMSOIL Blog.

AMSOIL vs Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle Oil

AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil Compared to Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle SYN3

AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil out performs Harley's Screaming Eagle Synthetic Motorcycle oil on viscosity retention. See more detailed information on this testing done by an independent lab under controlled conditions. AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle oil compared to Harley Davidson Screaming Eagle Motorcycle oil.

AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant

Upper Cylinder Lubricant

Preserves Horsepower and Performance

Upper Cylinder Lubricant, 6 oz. bottle

Product Highlights

Your engine’s top-end is sparsely lubricated and prone to the development of performance-robbing deposits. It’s also highly susceptible to corrosion, an issue compounded by the prevalence of ethanol in today’s fuel. AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant is designed to solve those issues. Its AMSOIL-exclusive, powerful formulation helps maximize engine power and performance while increasing engine life. And unlike competing fuel additives, AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant works.

Lubricates Top-End Components

The intense heat of combustion and limitations of the oil-control piston ring result in a lack of oil at the top of each cylinder. AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant's unique additives provide that missing lubrication to fight piston-ring and cylinder wear, maximizing engine compression and horsepower. Its lubricity improvers also aid in protecting fuel injectors and other fuel-system components from wear, helping ensure excellent performance and long-life. AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant delivers 18 percent more lubricity than Lucas* and 20 percent more than Sea Foam* for better retention of horsepower and fuel economy (see chart below).*

Lubricity Performance ASTM D6079

Inhibits Corrosion

Upper Cylinder Lubricant uses potent corrosion inhibitors to coat metal surfaces, block out moisture and stop deterioration before it starts. This is particularly important when using gasoline that contains ethanol due to its propensity to attract water and hasten corrosion. Inhibiting corrosion maximizes component life and reduces wear in the engine's top-end to guard against compression loss and maintain optimum power.

• Lubricates fuel system and upper cylinders
• Fights ethanol-related corrosion
• Helps keep injectors clean
• Compatible with capless fuel systems

Keeps Injectors Clean

Upper Cylinder Lubricant contains detergent additives designed to maintain injector cleanliness. While AMSOIL P.i. Performance Improver is designed to attack and remove stubborn injector deposits that can reduce power and fuel economy, Upper Cylinder Lubricant helps preserve injector and combustion-chamber cleanliness. Using it with every tank of fuel helps retain fuel-economy and performance gains and maximizes component life.

Capless-Compatible Packaging

Many new vehicles have replaced traditional fuel caps with capless systems. The threads on most bottles restrict them from opening the flap inside the fuel neck and make removing the bottle difficult. The AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant bottle is fully compatible with capless fuel systems. It’s easy to insert, pour and remove the bottle.

RECOMMENDATIONS

• For use with cars and trucks.
• For best results, use with every tank of fuel. Do not refill tank until almost empty.
• Treats up to 25 gallons. Add entire bottle to tank at fill-up.
• Treat large gas tanks with two bottles of Upper Cylinder Lubricant. Using more than two bottles is not recommended.
• Safe for use with catalytic converters, oxygenated gas and up to 15 percent ethanol-blended fuels. Do not use with E85 fuel.
• Do not use with two-stroke or diesel engines.

AMSOIL PRODUCT WARRANTY

AMSOIL products are backed by a Limited Liability Warranty. For complete information visit https://www.amsoil.com/about/guarantee/.

HEALTH & SAFETY

This product is not expected to cause health concerns when used for the intended application and according to the recommendations in the Safety Data Sheet (SDS). An SDS is available at www.amsoil.com or upon request at (715) 392-7101. Keep Out of Reach of Children.

* Based on independent testing of AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant, Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and Sea Foam Motor Treatment obtained on 02/13/2019 using the ASTM D6079 modified for use with gasoline. *All trademarked names and images are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries. No affiliation or endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use. All products advertised here are developed by AMSOIL for use in the applications shown.

UpMPG.com

Test run of my street legal 77 AMC Gremlin at the drag strip in Lufkin, ...

How To Properly Flush a Dirty Engine

Is flushing an engine a good or bad idea?

An engine that is properly maintained should have no sludge. However, that being said, there are reasons you might encounter an engine that is sludgy. Mechanical issues such as coolant in the oil can cause sludge. Also you may have purchased an older car that you found interesting, but the engine is sludgy.

There are things to consider when flushing an engine and selection of a good quality engine flush can go a long way to having a good end result.

This blog post is the most complete and concise information you can find on flushing an engine. I highly recommend it:

"Is an engine flush good or bad?"

upmpg.com

The Best Synthetic Motor Oil

What is the best synthetic motoroil?

AMSOIL provided proof of superior performance for it's Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil.

Click photo for more information.

AMSOIL Signature Series has the proof of superiority.

www.upmpg.com

Tips To Make Your Car Last Longer

Maintenance Tips to Make Your Car Last Longer

Washing your car can go a long way to keeping it from rust and corrosion.

For good information on keeping your car in new and reliable condition, read this article:

How to make your car last longer

Automatic Transmissions and How They Work

How Does an Automatic Transmission Work?

Great easy to understand article and informative video:
How does an automatic transmission work?
CLICK HERE

Motor Oil for Cold Weather

What Motor Oil is Best for Winter? (And Other Cold-Weather Questions)

Did you know that most wear occurs on cold engine start up before thick or frozen motor oil has had a chance to circulate? Synthetic motor oils are much more fluid in cold for immediate lubrication even when starting an engine in extreme cold.

Check out this great information on motor oils and cold weather.
Synthetic Motor Oil and Cold Weather

Motor Oil Color and Service Life

What Your Motor Oil Color Means

John BakerJohn Baker | Jan 09, 2020 8:54 AM



An object’s color can reveal a lot about its condition. A brown apple? Probably not great to eat. A slice of green bread? Same. What about motor oil color? Can your eyes provide insight into your oil’s suitability to protect your engine?

Does motor oil that’s turned black require changing?

Not necessarily. In this case, the oil’s color is a sign it’s doing its job.

Oil naturally darkens during use for a couple reasons, including heat cycles. During your drive to work, your engine reaches normal operating temperature (typically 195ºF–220ºF [90ºC–104ºC]), heating the motor oil.

Shop AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Then the oil cools while your car sits in the parking lot. The process repeats as you run errands over lunch and when you return home.

This continual daily exposure to increased heat naturally darkens the oil.

In addition, normal oxidation can darken oil.

Oxidation occurs when oxygen molecules interact with oil molecules and cause chemical breakdown, just like how oxygen causes a cut apple to brown or iron to rust.

Soot also causes oil to turn black.

While we associate soot with diesels, today’s direct-injected gasoline engines can produce more soot than older diesels without exhaust-treatment devices. While individual soot particles are too small to cause engine wear, particles can agglomerate into larger wear-causing contaminants that can lead to wear before they lodge in the oil filter.

Just because the oil has darkened doesn’t necessarily mean it’s reached the end of its service life.

Motor oil contains detergent and dispersant additives designed to clean contaminants like soot and prevent them from depositing onto metal surfaces.

Oil that has turned black is an indication the additives are doing their job. You can read more about that here.

What about motor oil that looks like chocolate milk?

In this case, motor oil color does reflect performance…and oil that looks like chocolate milk is bad. Very bad.

Water or engine coolant have contaminated the oil, typically due to a head gasket leak.

We all know that water and oil don’t mix. When they combine in your engine, water droplets suspend in the oil and alter its appearance until it looks frothy or like chocolate milk.

The presence of water leads to foam bubbles, which rupture when pulled between engine parts during operation, leaving metal components unprotected against wear.

It also forms sludge, which can clog oil passages and ruin the engine. In this case, see a mechanic as soon as possible.

What if my oil looks or feels thin?

While not related to motor oil color, this is another frequent question we field from motorists.

Don’t take this the wrong way, but in this case go out to the garage and smell your dipstick.

Oil that has lost viscosity is often due to fuel dilution. You can usually smell gasoline or diesel fuel on the dipstick in such cases.

Fuel dilution occurs when gas or diesel wash past the piston rings and contaminate the oil in the sump. It reduces oil viscosity, which reduces the oil’s ability to prevent wear. It also leads to formation of harmful varnish and sludge.

Fuel dilution can occur if you idle your engine excessively or due to a mechanical defect. It’s also common in some modern direct-injected engines.

It’s important to note that no one can precisely measure an oil’s viscosity simply by looking at it or rubbing a little between their fingers.

As Oil ANALYZERS INC. manager Allen Bender likes to ask, “When’s the last time you had your eyes calibrated?”

Oil analysis in the only definitive way to determine the oil’s viscosity and whether it’s lost viscosity due to fuel dilution.

Shop AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

My oil feels gritty? Should I change it?

When checking oil level, some motorists like to rub oil between their fingers to check for particles.

Grit or other contaminants can mean the oil has chemically broken down, but this is unlikely, especially with a top-shelf synthetic oil.

More likely, the oil filter has filled with contaminants and unfiltered oil is bypassing the filter and circulating through the engine.

The filter is designed with a bypass valve to ensure the engine receives oil even if the filter is full.

While dirty oil is preferable to no oil, it’s not a long-term plan for success. In this case, change the oil and filter.

Trust oil analysis, not your eyes

While it’s possible to get a rough idea what’s going on inside your engine due to oil color, appearance or scent, you need to perform oil analysis to find out what’s really going on.

By chemically analyzing a used-oil sample, a qualified lab can tell you if the oil contains excessive wear particles, water contamination, fuel dilution and more. Ultimately, the report will tell you if the oil is suitable for continued use or not.

It’s a cost-effective way to get the most out of your oil change…and your engine. Check out this post to see how to perform oil analysis.

Shop AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Motor oil viscosity explained

How to read an oil bottle

The Need To Do Regular Oil Changes

Why Do I Need To Change My Oil?

Dan McClellandDan McClelland | Jan 07, 2020 8:36 AM




Regardless of its quality, every motor oil eventually loses its potency and must be changed to ensure peak engine protection. Let’s take a look at what happens to motor oil over time and why you periodically need to change oil.

Losing the base

Base oils are the backbone of the finished lubricant that ends up in your engine. Over time, they lose effectiveness due to the following factors:

Oxidation

The interaction between oxygen molecules and motor oil molecules naturally leads to chemical breakdown.

Just as oxygen causes a cut apple to brown or exposed metal to rust, it breaks down base oils and reduces motor oil’s effectiveness.

Oxidation can lead to increased oil viscosity, which negatively affects energy efficiency. It also causes the formation of harmful deposits and sludge.

High heat

Today’s engines run hotter than ever before, with temperatures up to 235°F (113ºC), and even higher if towing or hauling.

The rate of oxidation for oil doubles for every 18°F (10°C) increase in temperature.

Moisture

Your vehicle is subjected to temperature swings, even when it is parked in the garage.

Those temperature swings cause condensation to form inside your engine, leading to water contamination.

Leaving a vehicle parked for extended periods or taking short trips that don’t allow the engine to fully warm up allow water to remain in the oil rather than evaporating and exiting through the tailpipe. Water can lead to formation of sludge…yet another reason why you must change oil.

Viscosity is a motor oil’s most important property. The lower the viscosity, the faster the oils flows, like water. Thicker oils flow more slowly, like honey.

Viscosity loss

A lubricant’s viscosity is its most important property.

Viscosity has a direct bearing on wear protection, and your engine is designed to operate best using a motor oil of a specific viscosity (e.g. 5W-30).

The intense pressure the oil bears as it’s squeezed between moving parts, like the piston ring/cylinder wall interface, can tear apart, or shear, its molecular structure, leading to viscosity loss.

Suddenly, the 5W-30 motor oil your engine was designed to use is now essentially a 5W-20 oil, and wear protection may be compromised. When this happens, it’s time to change your oil.

Shop AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil

Fuel dilution

Fuel can wash past the piston rings and contaminate the motor oil, causing it to lose viscosity.

Frequent short trips that don’t allow the oil to reach normal operating temperature can be especially problematic because the fuel won’t volatilize and exit through the PCV system.

Excessive fuel dilution leads to sludge and varnish, requiring you to change oil more frequently.

Additives: designed to deplete

Additives are added to base oils to reduce destructive processes and enhance beneficial properties.

For example, antioxidant additives help slow the rate of oxidation. Detergency additives help prevent deposits and sludge while cleaning pre-existing deposits. Formulators add anti-wear additives to some lubricants to form a sacrificial barrier on metal components and help prevent wear.

Since they’re sacrificial in nature, additive depletion is one of the primary reasons motor oil loses its effectiveness and must be changed. 

While AMSOIL synthetic motor oil gives you the convenience of fitting oil changes into your schedule, it remains vital to install fresh oil at the appropriate time.  

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Motor Oil Viscosity Explained

Dual-Clutch Transmissions (DCT)

How Does a Dual-Clutch Transmission (DCT) Work?

John Baker | Jan 02, 2020 11:43 AM

A dual-clutch transmission (DCT) is synonymous with high performance. Compared to a traditional automatic transmission, it delivers…

• Faster, smoother shifts
• Increased fuel economy
• Improved performance

Although the DCT transmission dates to the 1930s, it made its first practical appearance decades later in several 1980s-era race cars.

In 2003, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 R32 was the first production vehicle to feature the technology.

Today you can find a DCT in a variety of cars, from the relatively tame Hyundai Sonata to the brash, sexy Nissan GT-R.

How a DCT transmission works

DCTs are essentially two manual transmissions working in tandem.

One gear shaft contains the even-numbered gears, and the other contains the odd-numbered gears. While you’re accelerating in first gear, for example, the computer selects second gear on the other gear shaft. When it’s time to up-shift, the clutch that controls the even gears disengages and the clutch that controls the odd gears engages.

Compared to a traditional automatic transmission, gears shift much more quickly and smoothly in a DCT transmission – the perfect complement to a powerful, high-performance engine.

While DCTs are capable of seamless shifts, they can suffer from shudder or lurching at slow speeds.

Transmission fluid with specific frictional properties is required to prevent shudder. DCT fluid must also maintain the proper viscosity to provide protection during the high-heat operation native to high-performance sports sedans and supercars.

Buy AMSOIL DCT Fluid

Protect the thrill

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic DCT Fluid is specifically engineered for sophisticated dual-clutch transmissions.

Its superior frictional properties protect against shudder and gear clashing to consistently produce fast, smooth shifts.

AMSOIL Synthetic DCT Fluid’s exceptional durability provides stability in stop-and-go traffic and excels under intense, high-heat conditions. Its built-in oxidation resistance helps prevent sludge formation in vital transmission parts.

Look up your vehicle

For more information on AMSOIL DCT Fluid click here.

For more information on AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants click here.