AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Products

AMSOIL Motorcycle Products

Ride Hard. Run Cool.®

AMSOIL has you covered.

AMSOIL Synthetic Marine and Boating Products

AMSOIL Marine and Boating Products

AMSOIL Coolant Boost

Reformulated AMSOIL DOMINATOR® Coolant Boost

DOMINATOR Coolant Boost has been reformulated with the latest organic-acid technology. Organic acids are more robust and longer-lasting than inorganic acids, offering excellent resistance to scaling, dropout and corrosion. They also contribute to improved compatibility; the new DOMINATOR Coolant Boost formulation can be mixed with soft, tap and distilled water, in addition to any brand of antifreeze.

RACERS

•  Up to 25ºF reduced engine temps help protect the engine and maximize horsepower, helping racers confidently push their vehicles to the limit.

•  Excellent corrosion resistance helps protect expensive engines and cooling-system components

MOTORISTS

•  Up to 54 percent faster warm-up times mean a more comfortable vehicle on cold days.

For more information:

AMSOIL Dominator Coolant Boost

Synthetic Motor Oil for Victory® and Indian® Motorcycles

Click for larger image

New AMSOIL20W-40 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil (MVI) is formulated to provide premium protection for Victory and model-year 2013 and newer Indian motorcycles. It is the only full-synthetic 20W-40 motorcycle oil on the market, presenting riders a premium alternative to Indian- and Victory-branded semi-synthetic oils. Indian and Victory motorcycles incorporate a shared sump, and AMSOIL 20W-40 is formulated to provide outstanding protection for engines and transmissions. It is absolutely shear stable, keeping motorcycles well-protected even in extreme heat conditions.

V-Twins Synthetic Oil For V-Twin Transmissions or Chaincases

Click for larger image

AMSOIL SyntheticV-Twin Transmission Fluid (MVT) and AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Primary Fluid (MVP) are purpose-built for bikers who shy away from using a motor oil in their motorcycles’ transmissions or primary chaincases. Their introduction establishes secondary product recommendations in these applications, giving customers more options and helping Dealers reach a previously inaccessible segment of the market. The main recommendation for motorcycle transmissions and primary chaincases remains AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil.

The Value of Consistent Clutch Feel

It’s well-known that racing is one of the ways AMSOIL motor oils are tested, proven and fine-tuned to become the exceptional products we stand behind. We don’t invest in racers simply to put the AMSOIL brand in front of fans; AMSOIL racers become technical partners.

AMSOIL Synthetic Dirtbike Oil

The development of new AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil, introduced last month, offers a perfect example. AMSOIL-sponsored supercross and motocross racers identified consistent clutch feel as a key performance attribute on the track. At the time, there was no dirtbike-specific oil on the market that provided the level of clutch consistency professional and amateur riders need. Consistent clutch feel is critical to riders during race starts to keep the bike from lurching forward prior to the gate dropping. Trail riders, meanwhile, need consistent clutch feel to confidently navigate obstacles without having to shift gears and lose momentum.

Armed with that information, AMSOIL engineers went to work. Clutch feel is inherently subjective, which creates challenges in designing a lubricant that delivers this benefit. To overcome that challenge, AMSOIL designed an extreme simulated-start test for dirt bikes. The test allows AMSOIL engineers to apply accelerated stress to a dirt bike’s clutch in order to monitor clutch feel produced by a candidate lubricant.

AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil was also subjected to extensive ontrack testing in the bikes of GEICO/AMSOIL/Honda Factory Connection and other professional riders. This combination of rider feedback and lab testing resulted in the final formulation of AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil.

Premium Protection For High-Horsepower Chrysler & Nissan Applications

New synthetic 0W-40 motor oil rounds out the Signature Series line. 

AMSOIL Synthetic 0W-40

Muscle cars ruled the American landscape in the 1960s and ‘70s, and many of those signature models, such as the Dodge Challenger and Charger, are now available in faster, more powerful designs. In this day and age, it’s not uncommon to find production models that top 600 horsepower and 600 pound-feet (lb-ft) of torque. In fact, the 2015 Challenger Hellcat is the fastest production muscle car of all time, kicking out 707 horsepower and
650 lb-ft of torque.

Powerful muscle car and big truck engines need a high-performance lubricant, and much like these powerful vehicles, AMSOIL sets the bar high when it comes to performance. AMSOIL established all-new standards for motor oil quality and performance when it introduced the world’s first synthetic motor oil to meet American Petroleum Institute (API) service requirements in 1972, and it continues to produce the top-performing lubricants available on the market.

New Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil

Along with the new 5W-50 viscosity formulated for high-horsepower Ford Mustang engines, the Signature Series line now includes a robust 0W-40 synthetic motor oil formulated specifically for high-horsepower Chrysler and Nissan engines. AMSOIL Signature Series 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil (AZF) provides top-of-the-mark protection and performance that customers expect from Signature Series.

· Withstands the stress of high horsepower and heat to provide outstanding wear protection

· Resists viscosity loss due to mechanical shear

· Resists thermal breakdown

· Helps prevent sludge deposits and keeps engines clean

· Reduces oil consumption and emissions

· Maximizes fuel economy

Applications

Signature Series 0W-40 is recommended for Chrysler and Nissan applications calling for a 0W-40 viscosity and requiring the following performance specifications:

· API SN, SM...

· Chrysler MS-12633, MS-10725, MS-10850

· Nissan GT-R®

Applications include, but are not limited to, the following:

· Dodge Charger 6.1L/6.4L

· Dodge Challenger 6.1L/6.4L

· Dodge Viper 8.3L/8.4L

· Dodge Ram 2500/3500/4400/5500 6.4 L

· Chrysler 300 6.1L/6.4L

· Jeep SRT Grand Cherokee 6.1L/6.4L

· Nissan GT-R 3.8L

More information on AMSOIL Synthetic 0W-40 Motor Oil

Lubrication Technology Explained

 LUBRICATION 101: A LOOK AT BASIC LUBRICATION CONCEPTS

Lubrication can be a daunting subject for someone unfamiliar with its basic concepts. Even someone with experience in the field can be confused by the multitude of lubricants available on the market today. Reviewing a few basic lubrication principles can make it easier to understand why proper lubrication is necessary in every application.

FRICTION

Webster defines friction as the “rubbing of one body against another,” and as “resistance to relative motion between two bodies in contact.” Friction can be beneficial. It generates heat that can be used to start a fire, and it is the principle behind a vehicle’s braking system.

Friction can also be detrimental. The heat generated as the result of friction can cause damage to an engine. Because contact is required to generate friction, wear can take place in these areas of contact, leading to material failures, overheating and the formation of deposits. Although there are many ways to reduce friction, the most common way is through the use of a fluid or semifluid lubricant. The key characteristic of lubricants is that they are not readily compressible, minimizing component contact or eliminating contact altogether.

TYPES OF LUBRICATION

There are three types of lubrication conditions that can exist between two surfaces:
Hydrodynamic or Full-Film Lubrication is the condition in which surfaces are completely separated by a continuous film of lubricating fluid. The non-compressible nature of this film separates the surfaces and prevents metal-to-metal contact. The lubricant’s viscosity assumes responsibility for the majority of wear protection; additives play a limited role. Although full-film lubrication does not generally allow metal-to-metal contact, abrasive wear or scratching can still occur if dirt particles penetrate the lubricating film.

HYDRODYNAMIC LUBRICATION

SURFACES SEPARATED BY BULK LUBRICANT FILM

Engine components operating under a full-film lubrication regime include the crankshaft, camshaft and connecting rod bearings, and piston pin bushings. Under normal loads, transmission and rear-axle bearings also operate under a full-film regime.

Elasto-Hydrodynamic Lubrication exists when a sudden reduction of the oil film causes a temporary increase in viscosity. When viscosity increases, the film can become rigid, creating a temporary elastic deformation of the surfaces. The lubricant’s viscosity and additives work together to protect surfaces in an elasto-hydrodynamic regime.

The shear strength of the fluid increases due to an increase in load or pressure of a surface and behaves as though it were stronger than the metal surface it acts against, thus causing the surface to deform.

 

Anti-wear additives are often relied upon to protect engine bearings in high-load conditions, while both anti-wear and extreme-pressure additives work to protect gears in high-load conditions.

BOUNDARY LUBRICATION

PERFORMANCE ESSENTIALLY DEPENDENT ON BOUNDARY FILM

Boundary Lubrication is a condition in which the lubricant film becomes too thin to provide total surface separation. This may be due to excessive loading, low speeds or a change in the fluid’s characteristics. In such cases, occasional metal-to-metal contact takes place between surfaces, and the surfaces are almost entirely dependent on the lubricant’s additives to provide protection.

Anti-wear additives protect the cam lobes, cylinder walls and piston rings in engine high-load conditions, while antiwear and extreme-pressure additives protect ring and pinion gears in rear axles.

OTHER LUBRICANT FUNCTIONS

Though minimizing friction and wear is the primary function of a lubricant, it is also required to perform the following tasks:

Clean - A lubricant must maintain internal cleanliness by suspending contaminants or keeping contaminants from adhering to components.

Cool Moving Elements - Reducing friction minimizes the amount of heat generated and lowers the operating temperature of the components. A lubricant must also absorb heat from the components and transport it to a location where it can be safely dissipated.

Prevent Contamination - The lubricant must act as a dynamic seal in locations such as the piston, piston ring and cylinder contact areas. This minimizes contamination by combustion byproducts, for example, in the lubricating system. Lubricants are also relied upon to support mechanical seals found elsewhere and to minimize external contamination and fluid loss.

Dampen Shock - The lubricant may be required to cushion the blows of mechanical shock. A lubricant film can absorb and disperse these energy spikes over a broader contact area.

Transfer Energy - A lubricant may be required to act as an energy transfer medium as in the case of hydraulic equipment or lifters in an automotive engine.

Prevent Corrosion - A lubricant must have the ability to prevent or minimize internal component corrosion. This can be accomplished either by chemically neutralizing the corrosive products or by setting up a barrier between the components and the corrosive material.

COMPONENTS OF A LUBRICANT

Lubricants are generally composed of two groups of materials. Base oils comprise 75 to 95 percent of the finished product. The most commonly used base oils are derived from petroleum crude oil. Additives are usually added to the base oils to enhance or impart new properties. The use of such special chemical compounds is another way to minimize friction and wear, and they can offer protection when the lubricating fluid cannot maintain component separation.

INCREASED DEMAND ON LUBRICANTS

As time goes on, the lubrication needs of equipment continue to change. As equipment becomes more advanced and sophisticated, the demands placed upon the required lubricants become more severe. What may have been a preferred lubricant in the past is likely to be totally unacceptable today.

The automotive industry is an excellent example of how demands on equipment have changed. The engines used in today’s vehicles require significantly more from a motor oil than they did in the past.

Modern vehicles are requiring lighter viscosity oils for improved fuel economy, but feature engines that output more power per cubic inch of displacement than ever before. To achieve this power level, vehicle manufacturers are adding turbochargers that expose motor oils to higher temperatures and greater stress. Meanwhile, requirements for cleaner exhaust emissions have contributed to higher levels of contaminants in the oil and increased the oil’s operating temperature. By reducing aerodynamic drag, manufacturers have also minimized the amount of air that flows over engines and drivetrains, causing operating temperatures to trend further upward. Even with all these changes, manufacturers are requiring lubricants to last longer than they ever did before.

HOW ARE SYNTHETIC OILS DIFFERENT?

Although the engineering of synthetic base oils varies, synthetics are generally made through a reaction process that significantly improves the consistency of the base oil and its molecular uniformity. Conventional petroleum base oils, on the other hand, are obtained through a process of distillation.

Distillation slightly limits the molecular diversity that may exist within the base oil, but does not completely eliminate nonessential molecular structures. This is important because unnecessary molecular structures produce variations in the base oil’s performance. The ideal lubricant’s chemical composition is one in which the molecular construction is identical throughout, such as in a synthetic base oil. Because of the way synthetic base oils are produced, they are molecularly uniform and contain significantly less undesirable materials than a conventional base oil. 

Molecular uniformity also affects the properties that each type of lubricant possesses. The properties of conventional oils tend to vary due to inconsistencies in the crude oil from which they are obtained. The properties and performance features of synthetics, on the other hand, are predictable due to their molecular uniformity. 

AMSOIL synthetic lubricants are formulated to take advantage of the superior properties of premium synthetic base oils and top-of-the-line additives. They provide excellent lubrication and wear protection and have been designed to resist the chemical breakdown processes that limit the service life of conventional petroleum oils. 

 

 

Cold-Temperature Performance is not Just Reserved for Sub-Zero Conditions

Startup lubrication is directly affected by a lubricant's cold-flow ability, and the impact is felt at higher temperatures than most consumers realize. An oil’s cold-temperature performance refers to its ability to flow when the engine is cold, or below typical operating temperature (212°F), and not simply to what feels cold to humans – even some summer days can be cold to an engine.

Pour point has been defined as the lowest temperature at which a motor oil will continue to flow under prescribed conditions. ASTM D97 spells out the standardized procedure for determining an oil’s pour point. After heating it to 45°C (113°F) the sample is slowly cooled and tilted sideways every time the temperature drops 3°C (5°F). When the oil stops flowing it has reached the pour point.

AMSOIL synthetic motor oils have lower pour points and better cold-cranking capabilities than petroleum-based products. Long after petroleum oils have solidified, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils continue to flow.

The problems with cold weather go beyond this, however. Motor oils really need to be heated well above the pour point to achieve the desired pumping viscosity. Even at just below freezing (32°F), motor oil can become difficult to pump into the engine. It sits in the pan while the friction from moving parts heats the engine and conducts this heat down into the pan. As you can imagine, this lack of oil in an engine with fast moving parts has consequences. Cold-weather start-ups are a leading cause of engine wear.

AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils

OE 0W-20 Now Available in Gallons

AMSOIL OE 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil (OEZ) is now available in gallon containers.

AMSOIL Adds 700-Hour Limit to Signature Series Drain Interval

Because a motor oil’s service life can be greatly affected by vehicle operating conditions, AMSOIL provides definitions for normal and severe service and recommends corresponding drain intervals for each. One of the conditions used to identify severe service is “excessive idling.” Because this term is somewhat ambiguous, AMSOIL is adding a 700-hour limitation to its Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil drain interval for vehicles subjected to excessive idling. In normal service, Signature Series is recommended for up to 25,000 miles, 700 hours of operation or one year, whichever comes first. In severe service, Signature Series is recommended for up to 15,000 miles, 700 hours of service or one year, whichever comes first.

More information:
AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oils

New AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil Expands Market

AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oils

New AMSOIL 10W-40(DB40), 10W-50 (DB50) and 10W-60 (DB60) Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil delivers consistent clutch feel and outstanding gear protection in four-stroke dirt bikes, helping riders maximize their performance on the trail and at the track. It fulfills the demand for dirt-bike-specific motor oil and helps Dealers diversify their businesses.

For more information:
AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oils

Premium Protection for High-Horsepower Ford Mustangs

5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil

AMSOIL has expanded the Signature Series line to include a robust 5W-50 synthetic motor oil formulated specifically for high-horsepower Ford Mustang engines. Signature Series 5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil (AMR) provides top-of-the-mark protection and performance that customers expect from Signature Series, and it is excellent for all Mustang engines calling for a 5W-50 viscosity.

For more information:

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-50 Synthetic Motor Oil for High-Horsepower Ford Mustangs

AMSOIL Now Offers Free Shipping to Online/Catalog Customers

Effective May 1, 2014, online/catalog customers in the continental U.S. will receive free shipping on orders of $100 or more. Customers who order less than $100 will be charged a flat shipping fee of $8.50.

Preferred Customers do not receive free shipping, but continue to save much more in discounts making the Preferred Customer option the best option in total savings in purchases of AMSOIL products.

To purchase products at the Preferred Customer price you need only visit the AMSOIL Online Store. Once you add the Preferred Customer option to cart, prices immediately drop to reflect Preferred Customer pricing. If you are already a Preferred Customer just login with your Preferred Customer number.

AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid

AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid

CVTs require a unique transmission fluid with specialized frictional characteristics designed to ensure the belt or chain remains in contact with the pulleys without slipping. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid provides outstanding metal-to-metal frictional properties and excellent protection and performance for CVTs throughout vehicle manufacturer-recommended drain intervals.

Package sizes include:

• Quart Bottle
• 2.5-Gallon Bottle
• 55-Gallon Drum

Continuously variable transmissions (CVTs) create unlimited gear ratios using a belt or chain running between two variable diameter pulleys. CVTs require a unique transmission fluid with specialized frictional characteristics designed to ensure the belt or chain remains in contact with the pulleys without slipping. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid provides outstanding metal-to-metal frictional properties and excellent protection and performance for CVTs throughout vehicle manufacturer-recommended drain intervals. It is Warranty Secure and will not void your vehicle's warranty. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid is a cost-effective, high-performance alternative to original equipment manufacturer (OEM) fluids.

Excellent Frictional Properties

The metal-to-metal frictional properties between the CVT's belt/chain interface and the pulleys are important, relying on the CVT fluid to prevent slipping. AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid provides exceptional metal-to-metal frictional properties to help prevent belt and chain slipping and help extend transmission life.

Outstanding Wear Protection

AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid is durable. In normal and severe service, it effectively resists wear to the transmission's vital parts, helping achieve long life.

Resists Heat

In elevated heat, Synthetic CVT Fluid's thermally stable formulation guards against the harmful effects of thermal breakdown. It resists the formation of varnish that can threaten transmission performance and life.

Superior Wet-Clutch Performance

AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid provides superior wet-clutch performance for outstanding anti-shudder durability and reduced noise, vibration and harshness.

Field Proven

Field testing was conducted to compare AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid and Nissan NS-2 CVT Fluid. Four vehicles (two equipped with AMSOIL CVT Fluid and two with Nissan NS-2 CVT Fluid) were driven 100,000 miles before the transmissions were torn down and inspected.

Lab Tested

AMSOIL lab testing also reveals AMSOIL CVT Fluid met, and in some cases surpassed, the protection and performance of Nissan NS-2 CVT Fluid:

• In FZG wear testing (ASTM D5182), Nissan NS-2 achieved a 7 stage pass, while AMSOIL CVT Fluid significantly surpassed it with an 11 stage pass.
• In the JASO LVFA Anti-Shudder Durability Test, AMSOIL CVT Fluid lasted six times longer, translating into improved anti-shudder durability and reduced noise, vibration and harshness.

APPLICATIONS

AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid is recommended for belt- and chain-type continuously variable transmissions requiring the following:

• Audi/Volkswagen TL 52180, G 052 180
• Dodge/Jeep CVTF+4®, NS-2
• Ford CVT23, CVT30, MERCON® C
• GM/Saturn DEX-CVT
• Honda HMMF, HCF-2
• Hyundai Genuine CVTF, SP-III
• Kia SP-III
• Mercedes-Benz 236.20
• Mini Cooper EZL 799
• Mitsubishi CVTF-J1, SP-III
• Nissan NS-2
• Subaru Lineartronic® CVTF (P/N K0425Y0710), NS-2
• Suzuki TC, CVT Green 1, NS-2
• Toyota TC

Not for use in eCVTs

For more information or to purchase AMSOIL Synthetic CVT Fluid.

AMSOIL Injector Clean

BAD FUEL FOULS INJECTORS

Keep them clean with Diesel Injector Clean

AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean (ADF) removes performance-robbing deposits from diesel fuel injectors to restore horsepower and improve fuel economy. It is formulated for all types of diesel engines, including high-pressure common-rail designs.

Erik Buell Racing Continues to Shake up the Industry

After 30 years, Erik Buell's drive to develop motorcycles on his own terms remains as strong as ever. That drive led him to found Erik Buell Racing (EBR) in 2009, a company devoted to building innovative superbikes that prove jaw-dropping performance is not exclusive to Japanese or Italian companies. Buell's pioneering attitude and commitment to American ingenuity mirror the values of AMSOIL INC. Fittingly, the two companies entered a partnership in 2011, making AMSOIL a sponsor of the EBR team's efforts in the AMA Pro SuperBike Series. This year the team will also compete in World Superbike, the first time an all-American brand will compete on this world-class level.

"We are doing the very best for our customers when we ship with AMSOIL in the bikes and with a strong recommendation that they continue to use AMSOIL products." - Erik Buell

But the partnership goes further than sponsorships. AMSOIL personnel work hand-in-hand with EBR engineers to develop lubrication programs that maximize the tremendous potential of EBR motorcycles. Every bike that leaves EBR's East Troy, Wis. shop, including the new EBR 1190RX, contains AMSOIL synthetic lubricants as the factory-fill and the primary service-fill recommendation.

With peak motorcycle season starting soon and the racing season in swing, AMSOIL Magazine caught up with Buell.

AMSOIL Magazine: It's been five years since you founded EBR. What are you most proud of?

Buell: The people. We started as a tiny company, and it has been so inspiring to see how the young staff at EBR has stepped up to the task of building world-class motorcycles. And it's just as wonderful to have great suppliers and partners like AMSOIL who, without hesitation, put it all on the line to support EBR.

AMSOIL Magazine: What do you still want to accomplish?

Buell: Oh, there is so much more to do. We are busy with all sorts of new products, both for the EBR brand and also for customers of our engineering-consulting business. I just want more of the world to see and enjoy the many exciting two-wheeled products that can come from the minds at EBR.

AMSOIL Magazine: One of those exciting new products is the 1190RX, named by Ultimate Motorcycling as its most anticipated motorcycle of 2014. How does it continue your tradition of innovation?

Buell: There are a lot of unique technical innovations in the bike. Our biggest goals are always related not to any one invention or concept, but putting together a package of ideas where the sum is more than any one part. There are many chassis innovations, like the unique brake [the "inside out" system Buell pioneered that places the rotor outside the caliper for increased suspension effectiveness], magnesium subframe, split radiators, fuel in frame, etc., but the sum total is a lightweight, superb-handling motorcycle.

AMSOIL Magazine: How else does the bike break new ground?

Buell: In another area, since this has been our first time building our own engine, it was important to us to make a real statement of innovation. There is a package of technology in the powertrain aimed at making it a very "green" superbike. The results are a highhorsepower engine that also has a wide and flat powerband, with huge torque, yet is very smooth and easy to ride at part throttle, gets 51 mpg on the EPA drive cycle, emits only 25 percent of permitted HC+NOx exhaust emissions and, incredibly, only 6 percent of CO emissions. These are spectacular numbers.

AMSOIL Magazine: This bike delivers 185 hp and nearly 102 ft. lbs. of torque while weighing just 419 lbs. What do those numbers translate into on the road?

Buell: For us, again, it is a whole package. So big power, big torque and light weight make for speed, but we wanted the 1190RX to also be very easy to ride every day. So we made sure it had a very predictable power delivery, excellent ergonomics, stable handling, great dashboard, powerful brakes and lightweight wheels for the smoothest ride on bumpy roads. It is so fun to ride, no matter where you are riding.

AMSOIL Magazine: Why did you choose AMSOIL synthetic lubricants as the factory-fill lubricant for your bikes, including the 1190RX?

Buell: We have had such good results with AMSOIL, both in the quality of the products and in technical expertise. Because of that, we feel most comfortable that we are doing the very best for our customers when we ship with AMSOIL in the bikes and with a strong recommendation that they continue to use AMSOIL products.

AMSOIL Magazine: On the track, Larry Pegram, formerly of Team AMSOIL, joins Geoff May, Aaron Yates and Cory West this season. What influenced your decision to expand the team?

Buell: The factory EBR Hero/AMSOIL-backed team was headed overseas to run the World Superbike (WSBK) Series, which left a gap in the AMA [SuperBike Series]. Larry had been talking with me for a couple years, and called to say he wanted to switch to our EBR 1190 for 2014. It was a perfect opportunity. Larry is a great rider, and quite a personality as well (an Ohio farm boy with a cool TV show on Velocity called Superbike Family), and he has a very professional crew. His lead sponsor, Foremost Insurance, fits well as another partner – a hardworking, all-American, Midwestern company out of Michigan. AMSOIL has worked with Larry before, and he was happy to be back working with their technical group.

AMSOIL Magazine: Why did you choose this year to broaden the scope of the team and compete overseas?

Buell: The team in WSBK runs an exhausting series, with races ranging from Australia to Europe to Russia to South Africa to Malaysia and even to the U.S. EBR and our sponsors, AMSOIL and Hero, are global companies, and since we finally had the 1190RX ready, with production sufficient for WSBK homologation, we decided it was time to move to that next level to maximize worldwide exposure. (Editor's note: AMA and WSBK homologation rules require a minimum quantity of produced units to guard against specialized bikes built only for racing.)

AMSOIL Magazine: What are your thoughts on EBR introducing the first all-American bike to WSBK?

Buell: We are really happy to have EBR competing in this premier international road-race series. There have been a number of American riders who have raced in World Superbike, but until now, never an American motorcycle.

Follow Team AMSOIL/Hero EBR all season on www.amsoilracing.com.

AMSOIL Arena Named #1 Stadium Experience of 2013

Stadium Journey Magazine recently released its third annual list of the top 100 stadium experiences in the United States and Canada, and AMSOIL Arena took the top honor. Ranking sports arena experiences based on atmosphere, fans, neighborhood, access, food/beverage, return-on-investment and extras, Stadium Journey writers have reviewed more than 1,700 venues throughout the world. The following is the top 10 of the publication’s Top 100 Stadium Experiences of 2013 list:

1. AMSOIL Arena
Home of the University of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs
Duluth, Minn.

2. Daytona International Speedway
Home of the Daytona 500
Daytona Beach, Fla.

3. Compton Family Ice Arena
Home of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
South Bend, Ind.

4. Lucas Oil Stadium
Home of the Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis, Ind.

5. Fenway Park
Home of the Boston Red Sox
Boston, Mass.

6. Heinz Field
Home of the Pittsburgh Steelers
Pittsburgh, Pa.

7. Xcel Energy Center
Home of the Minnesota Wild
St. Paul, Minn.

8. Notre Dame Stadium
Home of the University of Notre Dame Fighting Irish
South Bend, Ind.

9. AT&T Center
Home of the San Antonio Spurs
San Antonio, Texas

10. Oriole Park at Camden Yards
Home of the Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore, Md.

Harmful Motor Oils Prompt Investigations and Consumer Warnings

A rash of obsolete and contaminated motor oils have recently been popping up for sale at gas stations and convenience stores around the country, prompting state regulators and the Petroleum Quality Institute of America (PQIA) to investigate, warn consumers and sometimes pull products from shelves. Due to stringent quality control measures, AMSOIL Dealers and customers enjoy the peace-of-mind of knowing they receive top-quality AMSOIL products with every purchase.

"Kane in Your Corner" Reveals Bad Motor Oils in New Jersey

News 12 in New Jersey recently broadcast a three-part "Kane in Your Corner" investigation that found obsolete and contaminated motor oils for sale at gas stations and convenience stores across the state. Because state authorities have not yet stepped in, the onus is on consumers to avoid these harmful products.
"The probability of getting some of this bad stuff is pretty high here in New Jersey," says PQIA President Tom Glenn.
As part of the investigation, News 12 purchased four motor oil brands (MaxiGuard, Black Knight, U.S. Economy and US Spirit) readily available in New Jersey and had them tested at an independent lab. The results indicated that all four were unsuitable for use in modern vehicles.

MaxiGuard Super Premium

While the MaxiGuard label indicated it's "a superior all weather motor oil," it also indicated it's an API SA motor oil, meaning it contains no additives and is unsuitable for vehicles manufactured after 1930. In addition to carrying a long-obsolete specification, lab tests indicated it did not meet the viscosity standards on the label and had significant levels of abrasive contaminants, including silicon levels more than 400 times higher than normal.
As part of the investigative piece, longtime New Jersey mechanic Kenny Wetzel noted that the MaxiGuard oil looked used right out of the bottle due to its black, cloudy appearance. "That looks like what we take out of a car when we change the oil," he said.

Black Knight

Black Knight Motor Oil was labeled as an API SB motor oil, meaning it contains only a minimal level of additives and is unsuitable for vehicles manufactured after 1951. Lab tests also indicated it was contaminated with significantly higher-than-normal levels of silicon. Its viscosity presented a mystery. Labeled "10-30," its viscosity tested significantly lower than 10W-30.

U.S. Economy

U.S. Economy Motor Oil did not carry an API specification, but test results showed it had silicon levels 10 times higher than typically found in new motor oil. Like Black Knight, its label also indicated a viscosity grade without a "W." Labeled "5-30," the label explained it means the viscosity can be anywhere between 5 and 30.

US Spirit

Not only did test results indicate US Spirit is unsafe for modern vehicles, the small print on the back label indicated it is "not suitable for use in most gasoline-powered automotive engines built after 1930" and "use in modern engines may cause unsatisfactory engine performance or equipment harm." Labeled as an API SA motor oil and indicating "it contains no additive," lab tests revealed it is full of additives, but not the right kind for today's vehicles.

North Carolina and Michigan Authorities Remove Harmful Oils from Store Shelves

State authorities in Michigan and North Carolina have taken action to remove harmful motor oils from store shelves.
The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (NCDA&CS) has launched several investigations into harmful and obsolete motor oils, the latest coming against the Everclear brand. Everclear motor oils failed to meet viscosity claims and were not labeled in accordance with industry standards. The action extended to Everclear brand transmission fluids.
"The results for both the oil and automatic transmission fluid showed that additives were either absent or not at the correct levels," said NCDA&CS Standards Division Director Stephen Benjamin. "This issue, along with the presence of wear metals, indicates these products are likely recycled in origin. Any of these results would put the products out of specification and cause them to be pulled from shelves."
Last fall, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development removed a number of motor oils from store shelves, including City Star and Bullseye, due to their failures to meet the viscosity grades labeled on the packages.

API Reveals Nearly 20 Percent of Bulk Oils Fail Performance Standards

The problems aren't just limited to smaller oil distributors. Bulk motor oil testing performed by the American Petroleum Institute (API) indicates many motorists may be receiving substandard motor oil when they drop their vehicles off for an oil change. According to the API, it purchased and tested more than 1,000 samples from bulk motor oil tanks throughout North America over the past five years, and nearly 20 percent failed API performance standards.

PQIA Issues Advisory for Valvoline NextGen 5W-20 Motor Oil

In January, PQIA issued an advisory for Valvoline NextGen 5W-20 Motor Oil. After twice testing a sample of the oil acquired at a retail store in New Jersey, PQIA determined it did not meet volatility requirements set by the API and the International Lubricants Standardization and Approval Committee (ILSAC). While the sample passed viscosity and elemental requirements for the API SN and ILSAC GF-5 specifications, its weight losses of 18.4 and 18.3 percent in the NOACK Volatility Test (ASTM D5800) are about 22 percent higher than the 15 percent maximum required for the specifications.

AMSOIL Quality

Customers buying AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils can be sure that AMSOIL performs beyond the specifications required by the industry. AMSOIL quality control samples all base oils before accepting them from the manufacturer. Then AMSOIL samples after blending and then again after bottling. You can be sure AMSOIL products are the best quality, always.

Low-Volatility Motor Oil Helps Unlock Vehicle Performance

To meet today’s strict motor oil specifications and adequately protect modern engines, motor oils must demonstrate increased resistance to volatility. Nearly 30 years ago AMSOIL became the first oil manufacturer in the United States to use the NOACK Volatility Test (ASTM D5800) as a measure of performance excellence. Today, it’s an industry standard.

Why is Volatility Important?

Modern engines, particularly those equipped with performance-enhancing technologies like direct fuel injection and turbochargers, generate increased heat compared to their predecessors. At elevated temperatures, such as during severe service or when driving in hot summer weather, the oil’s lighter-weight molecules can volatilize, or literally “boil off.” The more volatile a lubricant is, the lower the temperature at which the lubricant will begin to evaporate. The more it evaporates, the less oil is left to protect equipment and the faster a user must replace the lost oil. You may have experienced this phenomenon by owning an automobile that “uses” motor oil in irregular intervals.

Volatility affects more than the rate of oil consumption. When light elements in oil evaporate from heat, the oil’s viscosity increases. This thicker oil forces the engine to work harder, resulting in several problems, including the following:

• Reduced performance
• Reduced fuel economy
• Poor cold-temperature starting
• Increased engine deposits
• Out-of-balance oil formulation, potentially leading to a higher concentration of additives than designed

NOACK Volatility Test (ASTM D5800)

The most common method used in measuring oil volatility is the NOACK Volatility Test. But that hasn’t always been the case. Originally developed and used in Europe, the NOACK test was not commonly used for lubricants until AMSOIL President and CEO Al Amatuzio pioneered its use for automotive motor oils in 1985. Previously, a lubricant’s flash point was the primary way to approximate an oil’s volatility.

In the NOACK test, an oil sample is weighed and heated to 250°C (482°F) for one hour. Dry air is passed over the sample, carrying the oil vapors that have boiled off and depositing them in a beaker. The original sample is removed and re-weighed. Any reduction in weight is reported as a percentage lost of the original weight.

Superiority of AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils

When AMSOIL began using the test, it was common for competitors’ conventional oils to demonstrate a volatility loss in the 17-25 percent range. In contrast, the volatility loss of AMSOIL synthetic motor oil was often less than half that. The NOACK Volatility Test introduced a new measure of performance to the industry, while allowing AMSOIL to distinguish the performance of its synthetic motor oils from competitors. 

Currently, API SN and ILSAC GF-5 performance classifications require weight lost due to volatility to be no greater than 15 percent for all viscosity grades of motor oil. General Motors’ proprietary dexos1™ motor oil specification is more stringent, requiring no greater than 12 percent weight lost.

AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are more stable and heat-resistant than conventional oils. They resist volatility to resist deposits and oil thickening, maximizing fuel economy and engine performance and life. 

NOACK Volatility of AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils

Performance Specification	API SN	ILSAC GF-5	GM dexos1™
NOACK Volatility Limit, % weight loss (g/100g) (ASTM D5800)	15%	15%	12%

Did You Know?

If a vehicle “uses” oil it may be due to the oil’s volatility. The light-weight molecules in oil evaporate more readily when exposed to high temperatures, causing the oil level to drop. Switching to AMSOIL synthetic motor oils, which resist volatility better than conventional oils, can reduce oil consumption and maximize engine performance.