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.

Thank You!

Do Synthetics Give Better Fuel Mileage? Why?

Synthetic Lubrication and Fuel Mileage? Why?

If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times, synthetic lubricants get better fuel mileage because they are more slippery and with less friction you get better mileage. Really? If that were true, then using petroleum base lubricants would cause extreme wear! Is this the case? Really?

Back in the late 70s or early 80s, legendary auto mechanic and mechanic tech article author the late Smokey Yunick used a synthetic motor oil from a company that has since gone out of business. This company was created by someone wanting to duplicate the success of AMSOIL, but ultimately found the chemistry more complex than they imagined. They had neglected to add a friction modifier additive that is important for wear prevention. Smokey reported better horsepower and performance and was very enthusiastic about this new oil technology. That is until his camshaft failed due to excessive wear. Later Smokey discovered AMSOIL and became one of their best promoters witting numerous articles about the benefits of synthetics. But before that, he was disappointed at how the first experience he had with a synthetic motor oil showed improved power and performance, but proved destructive to his engine.

But wait . . .how was this possible? How could Smokey get better performance yet see destructive wear? Isn't the better mileage and performance of a synthetic due being more slippery? If it is more slippery, then how did the engine wear out? Apparently it's something other than friction that creates the better performance you see with synthetics now isn't it?

I've heard it over and over again that the reason you get better mileage with synthetics is due to less friction. I've even heard some AMSOIL Dealers make this statement. While a properly blended lubricant can have less friction and less wear, this isn't as dramatic an influence on power and performance as you might think. The truth is that there are several reasons why synthetics provide better power and performance. Most people don't care why, just like the "cheap horsepower" and "cheap insurance" as recently stated on one of those auto performance tech shows you see weekends on Spike TV. There are a lot of reasons synthetics improve mileage and performance and reducing friction is just a small part of it.

To understand the reasons synthetics provide better performance you have to study the differences. Both petroleum and synthetic lubricants can use the same additive technology, even though synthetics tend to use more expensive additive technology because they are already in a higher price bracket, so selecting more performance oriented additives tends to be a no brainer. But the main reasons for synthetic lubricants improved performance lies in the differences in their base oil which is synthetic instead of petroleum. The base oil in a modern lubricant carries the additives which do all of the work making the lubricant the marvel of technology we all take for granted, especially in motor oils which do a lot more than just lubricate. The base oils in petroleum contain paraffin and sulfur which negatively affect several different aspects of motor oils. Here's why:

Paraffin gels up really bad when the lubricant gets cold. This is why petroleum motor oils must have additives known as Viscosity Index Improvers (VI) which keep the paraffin molecules from gelling up as the temperature drops so an engine dry runs less on cold start up. The longer an engine dry runs, more severe engine wear will occur. Also, even after lubricant flow is established, the petroleum motor oil tends to be thicker requiring more horsepower to pump it until it is warmed up. Synthetics flow instantly due to the fact that they don't have paraffin and for the same reason don't usually have any VI additives. There is a limit though. If you see a synthetic that is 5W-30, 10W-40 or even 20W-50 you can assume it is a straight weight in that it can be blended with no VI additives and still not thicken when cooled so it passes the cold "W" or winter ratings at the colder temperatures. This means instant lubrication on cold start up. However, if you see a synthetic with a 5W-50 viscosity rating, it will have some VI additives since not even a synthetic can be stretched this far across the temperature scale. Some people consider VI additives a potential problem since they tend to shear back under stress and heat, so the less use of these additives the better. Of course you don't want to dry run on start up either, so we must accept the use of VI additives in petroleum. We can avoid them entirely using synthetics by avoiding the 5W-50 viscosity ranges.

The next reason for better mileage and performance of synthetics tends to be the pollutant known as sulfur which is in petroleum motor oil. There are additives added to all motor oils, including synthetics, that prevent the oil from becoming corrosive and to prevent soot and combustion by products from developing into larger and more abrasive particles. These additives are known as Total Base Number additives or TBN. As the TBN additives do their work they become depleted. In a used oil sample sent to a oil analysis lab to be spectrochemically analyzed, the TBN will have a number which represents how much of the additive is present. When the TBN number gets depleted down to a number of 2 or below the oil must be changed even if the oil is otherwise clean. This is because the TBN additives are the additives that maintain oil cleanliness and purity and once depleted the oil can no longer be trusted to do its job. Normally for gasoline engines the oil's TBN starts out somewhere between 6 and 10 depending on which oil and who manufactured it. For Diesels the oil's TBN starts out at 10 to 15 TBN depending on who manufactured it. AMSOIL targets 12 as the TBN for its gasoline synthetic motor oils and 15 for its synthetic diesel motor oils. That being said, as oils age the TBN number drops as the pollutants use up the TBN additives. A petroleum motor oil with 3,000 miles on it, depending driving conditions, after chemical analysis can show a TBN of less than 3 to even 0 while a synthetic can have 15,000 miles driven under the same conditions showing a TBN of higher than 6. The reason is the petroleum base stock deteriorate faster and the sulfur accelerates this process stressing the TBN additives more. Synthetics are more thermally stable and this shows up in how slowly the TBN additives are used up. In the final analysis, the petroleum will change chemically the longer it is driven requiring more horsepower to pump and move it about in the engine while the synthetic maintains like new properties. This averages out to be improved mileage and performance.

Last but not least, there is more power required to move petroleum oil through an engine or transmission. It's not just the oil pumping system, but the way the lubricant impedes the action of moving parts. When a piston moves up and down in the cylinder it scrapes and spreads the motor oil. The bearings turn and the oil being pumped through the bearings is hydrodynamically impelled around the moving parts by the high speed turning. In a transmission the gears and bearings impel and "squish" the oil from tight places. Synthetics require less power to impel than petroleum for two reasons. The paraffin in petroleum in a hindrance for one. The second reason is the fact that the molecular structure of petroleum in an average of so many dissimilar materials averaging out to be what's in the petroleum oil base stock. This tends to be less easy to move under loads. Synthetics are made chemically to be uniform and therefore less reactive chemically so as to last longer, but the side benefit is they require somewhat less power to impel about engines and transmissions and the absence of sulfur means the performance stays peak without the steady decline seen in petroleum based oils. This is the reason Smokey Yunick's engine had so much wear with an improperly blended synthetic motor oil, yet showed improve power and performance. It's all in the base stocks that the oil starts with.

I've had people who know little about synthetics, but use wear metals in used oil samples as a reason for not expecting better performance out of a synthetic. Most people seem to have used oil samples from Royal Purple brand synthetic motor oil, for some reason, and compare them to some samples they have taken of petroleum oil showing wear metals to be about the same. I have to educate them that wear isn't a test of motor oil performance. If they put that same synthetic motor oil to an engine test using an engine or chassis dynamometer they'll see better power output. It's about more than wear, it's they way the lube moves about the engine and how much resistance the lube gives the the moving parts.

Of course I get out my used lube samples of AMSOIL and show then how slight wear metals can be. I have more information online about the difference in wear metals in used oil samples with tests done on Highway Patrol cars here in Texas. In the Texas Department of Public Safety test comparisons between AMSOIL and petroleum motor oils in Highway Patrol cars, the AMSOIL used oil sample that had nearly 25,000 miles without being changed had slightly less wear metals than the petroleum sample with just a little less than 1,800 miles! Highway Patrol cars are an extreme test of a motor oil since these cars are driven hard and do a lot of engine idling which doesn't move the odometer. Sometimes these cars will see shift changes without shutting off the engine. Ironically, the Texas DPS wasn't interested in performance improvements such as better fuel mileage. Instead they were trying to save money on maintenance and the extended oil drains saved them several hundred dollars per vehicle per year. For more information see this article:
Texas Highway Patrol Cars Using AMSOIL (Opens in a new window)

Lastly, what I've been talking about are true Polyalphaolefin (PAO) synthetics known as Type IV lubricants. These are hard to find if you buy from major oil companies. Mobil 1 is the last major oil company to still use them as of this witting. All others, with the exception of smaller companies like AMSOIL and Redline, the major oil companies have switched to a Type III petroleum based motor oil and call them "synthetic" through a legal loop hole. Type III lubricants are 100% petroleum with the sulfur refined out. These oils last longer without the sulfur, but still have a lot of the same performance problems associated with regular petroleum based oils. The must employ VI additives for one. Another drawback is the irregular mix of petroleum that averages out to be your motor oil and don't perform to the higher level of true PAO based synthetics. So how do I know if I have purchased a true PAO synthetic? If it's from a major oil company and not Mobil 1 then it's not a PAO. AMSOIL makes about 30 different motor oils. Of them there are 4 with the XL-7500 name on the label and are short drain Type III based petroleum. Even though AMSOIL uses the "legal loophole" and calls them "synthetic" they are not true synthetic and the reason for the short advertised oil drain. You see these XL-7500 AMSOIL motor oils in auto parts stores and quick oil change centers. They cost a little less therefore making them a good choice in that market. I would advise on shelling out the extra dollar per quart for the PAO based AMSOIL. You'll be happier with the results and it would be cheaper in the long run considering the price of fuel today and the improvement in fuel mileage.

See the following articles for more technical information on Lubricants including Motor Oil. All open in a new window.

Motor Oil Testing Methods

Why does Motor Oil Deteriorate?

Change Engine Oil Light (How do these systems work and how good are they?)

Motor Oil Quality Progresses With Engine Technology (Good information on motor oil service ratings)

A Closer Look at Drivetrains (Gear Lube service ratings explained)

Don't Forget The Gear Oil! (Explains Gear Lube technology and outlines proper maintenance)

Change Gear Lube After Break-in Period for Long Differential Life

GM: 30,000-mile Drain Intervals Are Achievable

This article from Lubes-N-Greases explains the trend for future auto maintenace and how if will affect the consumer. Very good reading because it validates the use of higher class synthetic lubricants and enhanced filtration to save time and money on auto maintenance.

Read More:
http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/gm_lubes_n_greases/

Change Gear Lube After Break-in Period for Long Differential Life

Unbeknownst to many motorists, most differential wear occurs during the break-in period. Auto and truck owners can do themselves a big favor by changing their gear lube following the break-in period in order to reduce wear and extend differential life.

Motorists know when they're supposed to change their motor oil. They have oil life monitors, oil change centers and commercials all telling them when it's time for an oil change. Differential oil changes, on the other hand, often get overlooked. Many people don't even think of the differential when performing routine maintenance on their vehicles and don't realize four-wheel drive trucks have two differentials and a transfer case that all require service. In fact, according to one quick lube company, only one to two percent of their customers purchase a differential gear lube change.

Most differential wear occurs during the break-in period. Because differentials are not equipped with filters, break-in metals are suspended in the oil, causing increased wear as the particles mesh between the gears. Hauling heavy loads and towing heavy trailers cause additional stress to the differential during the break-in period and can cause premature differential damage or failure. Changing the gear lube after the break-in period (about 3,000 miles) is a low-cost maintenance investment that provides a significant payoff, including greatly reduced wear, extended differential gear and bearing life and protection for expensive vehicle investments. Auto manufacturers recognize the importance of draining abrasive break-in materials.

Read the rest of the article and see remarkable wear comparisons on different differentials using different lubes and drain intervals:
http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/differential_maintenance/

Why Does Motor Oil Deteriorate?

Motor Oil Degradation - Why does it happen?
Motoroil chemistry is more complex than you think.

It is common knowledge that, at some point, engine oil must be changed. It's something that is preached relentlessly to vehicle owners by vehicle manufacturers, quick lubes and oil companies. But consumers are widely unaware of what exactly makes oil changes necessary.

Many factors contribute to a motor oil's demise, but it is essentially the accumulation of contaminants in the oil and chemical changes in the oil itself that make the oil and chemical changes in the oil itself that make a motor oil unfit for further service. With time, it is inevitable that the oil will be contaminated by dirt or sludge, or succumb to the extreme pressures or temperatures found inside an engine. AMSOIL Motor Oils are formulated with the industry's most advanced synthetic base stocks and additive packages to combat the forces that deteriorate conventional oils.

Read the entire article and see how well the different brands of motor oils faired in the NOACK Volatility Test:
http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/why_motoroil_deteriorates/index.html

New AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils Provide Superior Transmission and Rust Protection

Rust Protection - Expected or Neglected?

Motorcycle engines are more susceptible to corrosion and rust than automobiles. Often stored and unused for extended periods of time, motorcycle engines are commonly exposed to humidity and damp environments that promote rust. In addition, the combustion process and short trip driving create condensation and acids that further promote corrosion and rust.

Because it is as abrasive as dirt, rust causes a myriad of problems, including scratching and pitting on cylinders, pistons and bearing surfaces, leading to blow-by, lower compression and reduced power and performance. When rust forms on Harley-Davidson needle bearings, bearing failure results. Rust also cause excessive wear on bearings, camshafts, lifters and gear surfaces.

Motor oil cannot provide rust protection on its own. It must be formulated with special rust inhibitors. However, because rust inhibitors typically sacrifice wear protection by competing with antiwear additives for the metal surface, most motorcycle oils are formulated without rust inhibitors. New AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils are formulated with break-through technology not previously available, providing outstanding protection against rust without sacrificing wear protection.

The ASTM D-1748 Rust Test measures a lubricant's ability to protect against rust and corrosion. A standard metal reference coupon is immersed in the test oil before being placed in a humidity cabinet for 24 hours at 120 degrees F. As evidenced in the photos, the reference coupons treated with AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils showed no signs of rust and corrosion, while the competitors failed the test.

Benefits of the two new oils include:

· Improved Transmission Protection
· Excellent Wet Clutch Performance
· Excellent Corrosion Protection
· Outstanding Heat Resistance
· Robust Additive Levels
· Excellent Value for Cost Effective Performance

Read the entire article and find out how other brands of Motorcycle Motor Oil performed in the ASTM D-1748 Rust Test:
http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/new_synthetic_manual_transmission_transaxle_oil.htm

New Oils Provide Maximum Protection for Manual Transmissions - Transaxles

Manual Transmissions & Transaxles

Transmissions and transaxles are an assembly of gears and shafts designed to transmit power to the drive wheels of vehicles. Power from the engine is provided in the form of torque, or twisted force. The amount of this force varies a great deal, depending on the individual characteristics of the engine and the speed at which the engine is running.

When the driver shifts a manual transmission of transaxle, some gears disengage and others engage inside the transmission. However, these gears are moving at different speeds and could grind during shifting. Synchromesh components are used to resolve this possible gear-grinding situation. A synchromesh system equalizes the speed of each gear for smooth shifting without gear grinding.

Some older manual transmissions do not have synchronizers, requiring them to be "double clutched." The statement "If you cannot find 'em, grind 'em" typically applies to non-synchromesh transmissions common to older cars, school busses and
heavy-duty equipment.

Read the entire article:

http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/new_synthetic_manual_transmission_transaxle_oil.htm

Amsoil European Synthetic Certified for VW 505.01!

New! 5W-40 European Synthetic Motor Oil certified for use in European Autos like Mercedes-Benz, BMW and for VW including the 505.01 specification.

Amsoil 5W-40 Synthetic European Motor Oil is the only motor oil sold in North American certified for Volkswagen 505.01 & VW 505.01 tdi that costs less that 7 dollars per quart. It is also the only Motor Oil sold in North American certified for use in BMW, Mercedes-Benz and Volkswagen Porche Audi.

More Information:
Amsoil European Synthetic 5W-40 for VW 505.01 - BMW - Mercedes

Tax Credits for Fuel Efficient Diesels

Consumers who purchase select new diesel cars, light trucks and SUVs are eligible for up to $3,400 in tax credits based on the vehicle's weight, fuel efficiency rating and emissions level, as determined by the Environmental Protection Agency. The credit is available from January 1, 2006 through December 31, 2010.

Proper Lubricant Storage

Proper storage environment and handling practices extend lubricant shelf life.

The environment in which lubricants are stored greatly affects their shelf life. Because lubricants are not always stored under ideal conditions, it is difficult to identify a specific shelf life, and recommended shelf lives cited by manufacturers often differ considerably.

A number of factors affect a lubricant's shelf life:

Product Design
Some formulation chemistries and additives are more aggressive than others. The nature of the chemistry can affect lubricant shelf life.

Storage Temperature
High heat (above 100 degrees F) and extreme cold (below 0 degrees F) can affect lubricant stability. Ideal storage temperatures are between 45 and 80 degrees F.

Water
Water can promote microbial growth, as well as react with additives to form insoluble materials. The presence of water is often the result of improper handling procedures or condensation. Water condensation can occur when storage temperatures fluctuate over a wide temperature range.

Read the rest of the article: http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/lubricationnews_2006_mar-jan.htm

Eleven Licensed Oils Fail API Testing

The results of the American Petroleum Institute's 2004 engine oil aftermarket audit program, which tests the quality of API-licensed motor oils found in the retail market, reveal that 11 of 611 motor oil samples were "nonconforming." Nonconforming oils either had incorrect additive treat levels, failed the cold cranking limit, were not the correct viscosity grade or were otherwise deficient. Two of the 11 nonconforming oils were found to have "significant nonconformances" that could cause engine damage.

Twenty-eight percent of API's 529 licensees had at least one product sampled for the 2004 audit, with 20 percent of the samples obtained from bulk oil sites, 38 percent from quick lubes, 27 percent from auto repair shops and the balance from service stations, car dealers and truck facilities. Passenger car motor oils comprised 79 percent of the samples, while the rest were heavy-duty motor oils. Samples included 10W-30 (30%), 15W-40 (19%), 5W-30 (17%) and 5W-20 (6%) viscosity grades, and 18 percent of the samples were obtained outside the United States and Canada.

In order to remain licensed, the nonconforming oils had to undergo additional third-party physical and chemical testing. One oil passed the additional requirements and retained its license, while another also met the additional requirements and had its license briefly reinstated before being caught committing the same offense.

According to Kevin Ferrick of the API, "API did not require the removal of any of the oils of the nonconforming licensee from the marketplace while the additional testing was under way, during the enforcement action or later."

Determine the Cause of Piston Failure

Piston failure can usually be attributed to its operating environment.

Engine failure may arise for a number of reasons. Finding the reason for the problem is essential in order to prevent future breakdowns. According to Bill Mirth, North American heavy-duty sales manager with the FP Diesel brand of Federal-Mogul Corp., if a piston is found to be at fault, it is critical to find out what caused the piston to fail.

"It's important to understand that very few pistons actually fail," says Mirth. "In truth, they are damaged by a faulty operating environment. These conditions commonly include lack of lubrication, abnormal combustion, the presence of debris within the engine, clearance issues that lead to physical contact between the piston and another part and operational issues such as over-reving (sic) or overloading the engine or improper shutdown."

The life of a piston is directly related to its environment. "As a result, virtually all situations resulting in damage to a piston can be traced to an issue unrelated to the construction and quality of the piston itself," says Mirth. "In other words, the worst thing a technician can do is simply assume the piston was at fault and ignore the actual cause of the damage. In that case, he's just throwing parts at the problem, which invariably leads to additional issues."

Jay Wagner, heavy-duty brand manager with Clevite Engine Parts, cites fueling problems as another cause of piston failure. "If the engine injection system is delivering the wrong amount of fuel, at the wrong time or for the wrong duration and with a poor spray pattern, this can result in excessive heat, erosion or a washing of the cylinder walls with fuel, "explains Wagner.

In order to prevent heat build-up that can lead to piston damage, it is important the correct level of lubrication reaches the piston at the skirt and piston pin. Wagner advises technicians to examine piston oilers. "Many of these are very delicate in relationship to other parts of the engine and are bumped easily, resulting in either a broken of improperly directed oiler," he says.

Contamination wreaks havoc on pistons, too. Water contamination causes erosion and fuel and lubricant dilution. "Contamination can be water, fuel, particulates from the air intake or foreign objects," says Wagner. "Particulates can wear the ring lands, resulting in increased oil consumption. Foreign matter can be anything including nuts, bolts, valve train or turbocharger parts, and much of the time foreign matter in the combustion chamber is the result of another component failing."

Read the rest of the article:
http://www.upmpg.com/lubricationnews/lubricationnews_sep-dec_2005.htm

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