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

Fuel Mileage Calculator Online

New! Online Fuel Mileage Calculator!

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Click Here.

New AMSOIL Ea Filters

New! Ea Oil Filters Extend Service Life up to 25,000 miles when used with AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oil & provides vastly improved filtration and flow!

AMSOIL has once again leaped forward in leaps and bounds with Nanofiber Filtration technology by introducing the new Ea Oil Filter line. When used with AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils these flters are warrantied for 25,000 miles or one year service life! Now you can have extended oil
drains without having to repeatedly change the oil filter.

Improved filtration and oil flow! The new Nanofiber filtration media
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Find out more. . . Click Here!

Air Filter Technology Breakthrough

AMSOIL Ea Air Filters Employ Proprietary Nanofiber Technology


AMSOIL has introduced a new air filter with the capability of removing five times more dust than traditional cellulose media and fifty times more than wet gauze filters like K&N. This specially constructed filter utilizes synthetic nanofiber technology to achieve the equivalent of absolute efficiency for 100,000 miles of service life when cleaned every 25,000 miles!

No oiling necessary! Easy to clean! Just vacuum out with a shop vac or carefully blow out with compressed air.

Incredible airflow even after thousands of miles of Driving! Not only does this filter have the ability to hold a tremendous amount of dirt without affecting airflow, Ea filters flow comparable to gauze filters like K&N without the need for repeated washings.

Find out more. . . Click Here!

Racers Prefer Synthetics

Racers at all levels have recognized the benefits of using synthetic lubricants in their race vehicles.

According to Performance Racing Industry, synthetic motor oils have become quite popular in the world of racing. Despite costing more than conventional oils, racers of all levels have embraced synthetics for their ability to improve performance and extend equipment life.

"Obviously, if you reduce friction in the engine, you get more horsepower to the drivetrain, which is what every racer is looking for," says Terry Thompson of Performance Products in Oakland, Calif. "What you'd have to spend on modifications to get five or 10 more horsepower out of a racing engine, versus just changing oils, makes this a much less expensive option. Basically, it's cheap horsepower. Virtually every serious racer is going to the synthetics. There is just no comparison."

Carrying synthetic motor oils presents businesses with two clear benefits: higher profit margins and satisfied customers. "By suggesting these products, they do both parties a service," says Michael Wachholz of Prospeed Motorsport in Scottsdale, Ariz. "The dealer makes more money, and by putting a better product in the vehicle, the customer ends up being a happier camper."

As the significant benefits offered by synthetic oils have become clear to racers, cost has become less of a factor. Once they get into the synthetics, they just expect that they're going to pay more and there's not that wincing when you tell them the cost," says Bill Love of OG Racing in Sterling, Va.

Hard data, testimonials and a knowledgeable sales staff are all important tools in selling synthetic racing oils. Product data bulletins and fliers provide important information that can aid in a sale. "We like to have a lot of printed information available to go along with the product, so the customer can pick that up, read about the product and see what it really does," says Chris Paulsen of C&R Racing in Indianapolis, Ind. "We're very driven on good data to back up what the product is supposed to do."

If business owners and salespeople use the product they're trying to sell, it can be a significant advantage when speaking with a potential customer. "We can tell them, 'Look, this is a product that we use all the time' and that 'we feel very strongly about,'" says Love. "That's what they want to hear, not, 'They say good things about it,' or 'I've heard good things about it.' It's, 'We use it. We like it. We respect it.'"

Because they've already witnessed the benefits of running a synthetic oil in their racing vehicles, racing customers are likely to be also interested in synthetic lubricants for their personal vehicles, tow vehicles, recreational vehicles, etc.

"Synthetics have become very much accepted today, and once a person gets switched over, they start to see the benefits and then they want to try it for their transmission, rearend, etc.," explains Butch Stevens of BSR Products in Concord, N.C.

"In the store, I have information available so people can read up on the products." says Stevens. "We have a little mockup display out front with a little bit of everything, along with literature for the different types of oils. And I have the product available at the track - that's where our claim to fame comes in."

AMSOIL Series 2000 Synthetic 20W-50 Racing Oil is the number one choice for racers of all types of vehicles. Its special synthetic base stock blend and advanced additive package provide over twice the wear protection of other motor oils, and it effectively reduces friction to help vehicles accelerate faster, attain top speeds and use fuel more efficiently.

New Diesel Fuel Lowers Emissions and Costs

According to ChevronTexaco Inc., a new refining method known as gas-to-liquid (GTL) effectively converts natural gas into a sulfur-free diesel fuel. The fuel has the potential to significantly reduce particulate emissions, surpass 2006 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) regulations and lower diesel fuel costs. EPA regulations require that 80 percent of all diesel fuel sold for highway use have no more than 15 ppm of sulfur by June 2006
.
"We think we will have something that is essentially sulfur-free," says Mark Nelson, president of ChevronTexaco's global lubricants business. "If there is enough of it, and I think there will be, it will be a big change for the positive."
GTL converts natural gas to liquid base that can be refined at a significantly lower expense than crude oil. "The good news is production [levels] could be large enough that you could have a full range of offerings if the costs to market are as low as the early indications," says Nelson.

GTL diesel engine testing is underway, with fleet tests expected to follow by the end of the year. ChevronTexaco estimates commercial quantities of GTL fuel could be available by 2009 to 2012. To meet 2006 EPA regulations, it will produce ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel (ULSD) with around 5 to 7 ppm of sulfur by mid-2006.

Long Commutes

According to the American Community Survey (ACS) released by the U.S. Census Bureau, Americans average over 100 hours a year commuting to work, exceeding the two weeks of vacation the average employee takes each year. The daily commute for the average American worker was 24.3 minutes in 2003. The 10 cities with the highest average commuting times are New York (38.3 minutes), Chicago (33.2 minutes), Newark (31.5 minutes), Riverside (31.2 minutes), Philadelphia (29.4 minutes), Los Angeles (29.0 minutes), Miami (29.0 minutes), Baltimore (29.0 minutes), San Francisco (28.5 minutes) and Washington D.C. (28.4 minutes). States with the lowest average commuting times are South Dakota (15.2 minutes), North Dakota (15.4 minutes), Nebraska (16.5 minutes) and Montana (16.9 minutes).

AAA Supports Updated Fuel Efficiency Tests

The American Automobile Association (AAA) plans to use real-world fuel efficiency tests to prove the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is overestimating the miles-per-gallon (MPG) rates posted on dozens of new vehicles. AAA endorses the "Fuel Efficiency Truth-in-Advertising Act of 2005," requiring the EPA to update its fuel efficiency tests, which fail to account for air conditioning, traffic congestion and the fact that many trips are too short to fully warm the engine. After performing its own fuel efficiency testing on hundreds of new vehicles, including tests with stop-and-go driving, steep grades and vehicles full of groceries, AAA discovered dozens of models with overestimated mileage, sometimes as much as 10 MPG.

Preventive Maintenance Presents Opportunities for Repair Shops

Vehicles have generally increased in quality through the years, causing warranty work to decline and preventive maintenance to become a top source of income for repair shops. Opportunities for preventive maintenance are plentiful, becoming important as both a profit building and customer retention tool.
According to Dave McKallagat, advertising/marketing manager for BG Products Inc., between $60 and $70 billion in revenue is lost per year due to unperformed light repair and preventive maintenance, and the reasons are both lack of consumer awareness and failure to offer additional services. Audits of repair orders indicate an abundance of one-item repairs, suggesting that other necessary maintenance is being ignored.
Engine oil, transmission and differential lubes, coolant, brake fluid and power steering fluid top the list of potential fluid maintenance opportunities, while fuel and air conditioning systems often require maintenance work as well.
It must be clear to all repair shop personnel what services are recommended at what intervals. Integrating a professional, well-thought-out customer menu into the selling process can help increase business, acting as a focal point for the customer and the service personnel, while also demonstrating the shop's understanding of the customer's vehicle needs. It is a good idea to provide space on the menu for a stamp each time a service is performed.
Because lack of training or poor training can lead to irreversible customer alienation, proper ongoing training and accountability is important. Proper selling skills can also dramatically increase a shop's profitability.
Repetitive maintenance reminders are key to a quality preventive maintenance program. Evaluate current direct mail programs, use of reminder stickers, appointment setting systems and reminder call procedures to ensure they are being carried out as they should be.
A lot of potential revenue is being left on the table simply because customers are not being advised of the availability of extra services. Creating and implementing a well-thought-out plan can add significant profit to a shop's bottom line.
The AMSOIL XL Oil Change Program presents shop owners with another excellent way to increase profits, while providing customers superior protection and performance for extended drain intervals. Busy shops that are currently working at capacity can potentially service twice as many customers since they only need to see them half as often to make the same or greater profit.
AMSOIL XL Synthetic Motor Oils are specially formulated to deliver 7500 miles or six months between oil changes, and may be used longer where stated by the vehicle manufacturer or indicated by oil monitoring systems.

Ford Oil Leak

According to Ford, some of its 1999-2002 vehicles with V8 engines may leak or weep oil from the right rear or left front of the engine. Affected vehicles include 1998-99 Navigators; 1999-2001 Econolines, Expeditions, F-150s & F-Series Super Dutys; 2000-01 Excursions and 1999-2002 Crown Vics, Grand Marquis, Mustangs & Town Cars. Add a trace dye to the crankcase and use an ultraviolet or blue light inspection lamp to find the leakage point. It will most likely be found emanating from one of both cylinder head gaskets. Ford attributes the leak to either metal chips between the head gasket and block, chip debris between the cylinder head and gasket or damage to the head that occurred during manufacturing. The affected cylinder head should be removed and closely examined. If chips are visible, but the head isn't damaged, they should be blown away with compressed air, the head and block cleaned and the head gasket replaced with a revised service designed. If the cylinder head is damaged, it must be replaced.

Drum Storage Tip

According to Lubrication Fundamentals, when lubricant drums must be stored outside, it is best to place them under a shelter, leanto or waterproof tarpaulin to protect them from rain or snow. According to the book, "Drums should be laid on their sides with the bungs approximately horizontal. In this position, the bungs are below the level of the contents so that breathing of water or moisture is greatly reduced, and water cannot collect inside the chime. For maximum protection, the drums should be stood on end with the bung ends down on a well-drained surface."

Fuel Management is Top Fleet Concern

Truck fleets are searching for ways to lessen the impact of rapidly escalating fuel expenses.

According to First Fleet Corp. survey of private fleet managers, fuel management is the top issue facing the nation's trucking fleets. In attempts to help manage escalating fuel expenses, 48 percent of survey respondents indicated they use on-site fueling stations, while 36 percent provide their drivers with credit or debit cards to be used at stations where they have negotiated rates with oil companies. The remaining 16 percent pay for fuel with a regular credit card or cash.
"The hottest topic in the trucking industry is finding solutions to reduce fuel consumption and ways to lessen the impact of soaring prices on fleet profit margins," says John Flynn, First Fleet Corp. president and CEO. "In the ongoing cost control war, private truck fleets are constantly looking for ways to rein in operating expenses. Based on extensive research, First Fleet is advising customers to review operating methods to lower current fuel consumption and adjust specs on their new truck orders to counteract the impact new engine emissions standards will have on their fleet operating costs."
According to XATA Corp., a provider of onboard fuel management technology, considering the following factors can help improve fuel economy:
Idling: Five minutes of engine warm-up is adequate and cool-down can occur when the vehicle is pulled in for parking.
Speed: Reducing speed to a reasonable level and eliminating unnecessary stops improves fuel economy. Every mph increase over 55 mpg reduces fuel economy by 0.1 mile/gallon.
Shifting/Accelerating: Shortshifting at 1,100 to 1,200 rpms in all the low-range gears minimizes fuel consumption while still moving the vehicle. The step to high range requires more revs and consumes more fuel.
Trip Management: Find the most economical and efficient routes that still enable drivers to meet delivery deadlines. Pre-planning trips can eliminate out-of-route miles, unnecessary stops, excessive fuel use and lost time.
Tools: Onboard fuel management technology measures such factors as idling, speed and driver habits, helping drivers monitor and take steps to improve fuel economy performance.
According to the First Fleet survey, another major concern for fleet managers is maintaining vehicles at optimum operating conditions. The survey indicates 34 percent have on-site maintenance facilities, 23 percent outsource maintenance and repair services and 43 percent use a combination of on-site maintenance and outside facilities.
Thirty-three percent of respondents indicated trouble recruiting and retaining qualified service technicians. "Our biggest issue is downtime," says Associated Materials fleet executive Mike Hatfield. "It's almost impossible to get same-day service on the road. There are 24/7 shops that close at midnight. Why? Lack of techs."
A question regarding the reliability of new trucks purchased over the past two years produced mixed results, with 38 percent believing newer trucks are more reliable than older trucks, 38 percent indicating newer and older trucks are equally reliable and 15 percent saying older trucks are more reliable than newer ones.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are ideal for fleet owners looking to reduce fuel expenses, improve equipment performance and reliability and reduce downtime. Independent tests show the use of synthetic lubricants can increase fuel efficiency by two to five percent, while many AMSOIL customers report even larger gains. The extended drain intervals offered by AMSOIL synthetic motor oils keep trucks on the road longer between oil changes, reducing downtime and maximizing productivity.

Lubricant Handling Guidelines for Employers

According to Lubrication for Industry by Kenneth E. Bannister, the following guidelines should be followed when handling and disposing of lubricants:
1) Wear goggles and viton/butyl rubber gloves whenever pouring or handling lubricants.
2) use a respirator if pouring or handling lubricants in a confined or poorly ventilated space for prolonged periods of time.
3) Store used lubricants in proper containers and avoid mixing them with volatile or hazardous liquids.Such mixing will increase disposal expenses.
4) Locate a reputable, licensed carrier to dispose of used lubricants.
5) Post MSDS sheets regarding any special lubricant handling instructions.
6) Wash hands before handling food.
7) Create a spill action plan.
8) Never use a dispensing pump for different products unless it is thoroughly cleaned and purged between uses.
9) Never pour used lubricants directly into the sewer or ground.
10) Never siphon lubricants by mouth.

Vehicle Customer Satisfaction Survey

Asking vehi9cle owners to rate how their personal vehicles compare to their ideal vehicles, the annual American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI) recently released by the University of Michigan's Ross School of Business indicates that about half the vehicle brands showed improvement, one-quarter stayed the same and one-quarter saw their scores decline over previous years. While the average score was 80, Toyota led the pack with a satisfaction score of 87.

To see the other brands score Click Here

Brand Loyalty on the Upswing

Although brand loyalty among Class 8 truck buyers has mostly decreased in recent years, the J.D. Power and Associates 2004 Heavy Duty Truck Consumer Satisfaction Study indicates it may be coming back. When it comes time to replace their current truck, 43 percent of respondents said they will definitely purchase the same brand. That number is up from the 39 percent reported in 2003, but below the 50 percent levels typical of the late 1990's. Kenworth ranked the highest in customer satisfaction among vocational trucks, followed by Peterbilt and International. International ranked the highest in dealer service, followed by Peterbilt, Kenworth and Mack.

Water Ingress Tip

According to Martin Williamson, Senior Technical Consultant, Noria UK Ltd., although water-removing type filters can remove small amounts of water from a gearbox, significant levels of water require addressing the root cause of the water ingress. "Too much water subjective, buy technically, if there is visible emulsified water (cloudiness of the oil), this is too much," says Williamson. "As such, there is an ingress source that needs attention. Typically water will be an issue dependent upon the unit location (indoors/outdoors), proximity to any process water, or any wash down activity that may take place near the gearbox. or any steam source in the vicinity. The use of a desiccating breather of expansion diaphragm-type sealed unit may also reduce the moisture ingress, as will deploy8ing better quality seals and education the personnel responsible for wash-down activity."