Category: Maintenance

Snow Blower Oils

I’ve updated these suggestions – please click here to see my new snow blower recommendations.

AMSOIL has a variety of oils that will protect your snow blower this winter. The first step when deciding what oil to run in your snow blower is to read the users manual. Usually it suggests a 5W-30 or synthetic 0W-30 oil since you’ll be running the equipment in sub-zero temperatures.

Every time someone asks me what oil they should use in their snow blower it usually leads to a much longer conversation as I end up asking these questions.

  • Do you have a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine on your snow thrower?
  • What oil are you currently using in your vehicles or other OPE?
  • How cold do you expect winter to be in your area and where do you store your snow blower?
  • Do you purchase fuel that doesn’t contain ethanol?

Continue reading Snow Blower Oils

Can I change my oil and forget about it for a year?

AMSOIL’s Signature Series line of products has a service life of:

  • Normal Service – Up to 40,000 kilometres or one year, whichever comes first.
  • Severe Service – Up to 24,000 kilometres or one year, whichever comes first.

Here in Canada everyone is limited to the Severe Service schedule so that simplifies things even more. But knowing the service life of the product doesn’t mean you can simply forget about your oil or your vehicle until the mileage or the time expires. That is the same service interval as 4 “normal” oil changes!

Below are some situations when you should check your oil level:
Continue reading Can I change my oil and forget about it for a year?

How To Cross Reference NGK Spark Plugs

I’ve got an old beat up snow blower that needs a new plug for the Tecumseh Sno-King engine.
There is a Champion plug in there right now with the model number RJ19LM.

The easiest way to find the AMSOIL NGK plug stock number is to use the NGK Plugs and Wires Cross Reference found on the right side links of the amsoil.com website.

Type in “RJ19LM” into the Manufacture Part Number text box and click the “Cross Reference” button to look for matching plugs/wires.

It will return a table similar to this or an empty table if a matching product can’t be found:

Part Type        NGK Part Number      AMSOIL Stock Code      
Plugs BR2LM NGK5798

Vibe Oil Change

I used the vacation day to change the AMSOIL XL 5W-30 oil in the vibe using a Mann ML1009 oil filter and rotated the tires today.

I love my air tools. The Stanley impact wrench makes short work of getting the lugs off the wheels. The Vibes rear driver side studs are really sticky and corroded. Not sure if the impact wrench or a breaker bar is best for stuck and corroded threads on the fasteners. Switching out the Vibes winter tires in the spring I snapped a stud in the lug trying to get them off with the impact wrench. The corrosion seems to be worse with the rear drums than the front rotors. DO NOT use anti-seize or oil on those lug threads!

Don’t forget to change the oil in your compressor this fall to keep those air tools running strong. My impact wrench is very efficient working on a home duty 5 gallon tank – but most are air pigs.

AMSOIL Marine Products

I spent last weekend up north watching boats cruise by – some were towing skiers and tubes behind them others just out to visit friends at another dock. Fisherman weren’t to be seen on our section of the lake as it was far to warm in the bay – nothing but rock bass to tease with worms below us in the cribs of the dock.

How many hours do you have on your motor this season? Have a listen the next time you try to start your engine on a really cold morning? Could it be better by replacing your lower gear oil with a synthetic?

You can count on the AMSOIL marine products used in your boat with proper maintenance to keep it running strong on the water and away from the marina repair shop during the season.

Read on for AMSOIL product applications and suggestions.
Continue reading AMSOIL Marine Products

Signature Series Showcased in Magazine Ads

AMSOIL has showcased its Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil line in two national print magazines Car & Driver and Popular Mechanics.

As an AMSOIL independent dealer I’m looking forward to working with people who have read the ads and are interested in more information about AMSOIL products and business opportunities. Feel free to reach out and contact me directly for more information or though the AMSOIL online store.

AMSOIL has a wealth of excellent products above and beyond automotive applications. Motorcycles, ATV’s, watercraft and all kinds of outdoor power equipment just to name a few.

Ride Hard, Run Cool

Air cooled engines on motorcycles can really get hot when you’re stuck in traffic and the ambient temperature is already up near 30°C.

Synthetic motorcycle oils have a lower sump temperature than mineral oils due to their consistent oil particle sizes. AMSOILs oils are reported to run even cooler than the HD Screamin’ Eagle SYN3 oils. The reason for this is pretty simple.

AMSOIL makes oil, Harley-Davidson makes motorcycles.

Plan ahead for your bikes maintenance this fall with an AMSOIL dealer and save money compared to buying products off the shelf of your local retail stores.

You can shop online for AMSOIL motorcycle products for any make and model. You can look up the recommendations for your bike using the Motorcycle Products Look-up Tool. Harley owners can check out the suggested oils and cross references.

AMSOIL Expands Motor Oil Offerings

Good news for both lube shops and those with newer Ford, Toyota or Honda’s. AMSOIL has brought on board offerings for 0W-20 oils with the standard pricing for each respective line. OEZ should do quite well in the OE line of oils as your best value to maintain your new car warranty.

If your vehicle takes a 0W-20 oil you don’t have the opportunity to use a basic mineral oil. You’ll have to purchase at least a blended or semi-synthetic oil to get down to the 0 weight at start-up. Some car manufacturers allow a 5W-20 to be used but suggest going back to a 0W-20 as soon as possible.

I’d suggest stepping up to a quality synthetic oil like AMSOIL. Here is what the press release had to say about the new offerings:

With the continuing trend toward lighter viscosity motor oils, AMSOIL has expanded the Signature Series, XL and OE lines. The Signature Series line now includes a 5W-20 oil (ALM), while the XL and OE lines now each include a 0W-20 oil (XLZ, OEZ). Like the other oils in their respective lines, each new oil is formulated to provide outstanding protection and performance and meet the latest API SN/ILSAC GF-5 specifications. XL and OE 0W-20 are API licensed.

Fuel Economy and Friction Losses

A great article was published in the July Preferred Customers edition of AMSOIL Magazine titled “Frictional losses account for big part of fuel energy inputs“.

The article shows where most of the energy associated with a unit of fuel is consumed or wasted by a vehicle. The spoiler is that only about 12.6% of the fuel energy is passed through the system to drive the wheels of the vehicle. Think how your fuel economy could improve if you could decrease wasted energy by friction – even small gains in reducing friction will add up at the pump.

Some of the AMSOIL fluids you can install in your vehicle to reduce friction include: Continue reading Fuel Economy and Friction Losses