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5W-30 Viscosity Joins Synthetic Small-Engine Oil Group

Written by Charleen

For your Winter Tools – Snowblowers – New 5W30 Small Engine Oil.

Just ask for the White Cap Snowblower Oil!! 

Available Oct. 1, new Commercial Grade 5W-30 Synthetic Small-Engine Oil (AES) rounds out the synthetic small-engine oil family. It’s recommended primarily for snowblowers and generators, bringing the excellent benefits of AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-30 Small Engine Oil to applications that call for a 5W-30 viscosity oil.

Outstanding cold-flow

Cold ambient conditions and increased stress characterize snowblower operating conditions. Generators used on job sites can also run in cold weather. A 5W-30 motor oil provides improved cold-flow compared to 10W-XX motor oils. Its lower “W” viscosity means it flows more readily at startup for reliable wear protection. AMSOIL Synthetic Small-Engine Oil doesn’t contain waxes inherent to conventional oils, so it doesn’t thicken when the temperature drops, delivering superior protection and easier starts.

Commercial-grade formulation in a 5W-30

Most small-engine oils we’ve tested are nothing more than re-labeled automotive oils, which are formulated with fuel economy in mind, not durability. That won’t cut it. Compared to liquid-cooled automotive engines, small engines run hotter; operate under constant load; generate more oil-damaging contaminants; suffer from neglected maintenance; and are exposed to dirt, rain, snow and other extremes. Simply put, they’re far tougher on oil that most people think.

AMSOIL Synthetic Small Engine Oil isn’t merely a rebadged automotive oil. Instead, we designed it from the ground up specifically for small-engine dependability. You can rest assured your engines are protected even during periods of extended use when there’s no time for scheduled maintenance. It’s built to solve the problems that plague small engines, including wear, power loss, oil consumption, stuck rings and valves and harmful carbon deposits. It helps landscapers, contractors and other professionals get more work done and save money.

Reserve protection

AMSOIL 5W-30 Synthetic Small-Engine Oil is a long-life formulation that has repeatedly demonstrated its ability to safely exceed OEM drain intervals in the toughest conditions. Extensive severe-service testing proves its ability to provide service life of up to 200 hours/one year, whichever comes first. It provides an extra measure of protection when equipment goes longer between oil changes than is recommended by the OEM.

You can use any 5W-30 in any engine requiring 10W-30 and SAE-30. They are all three 30 weight oils.

Available in the Omaha AMSOIL Store on 84th St.

• Long service life
• Helps extend engine life
• Inhibits rust
• New 5W-30 primarily for
snowblowers & generator

 

Amsoil Product Reports, , , , , , ,

2019 AMSOIL Year in Review: Product & Company News

Written by Charleen

2019 Year in Review: AMSOIL Company News

Jamie Gibson|

Editor Note: – This is being posted late but that’s alright as AMSOIL’s year starts now in August when things really get started for us – Summer maintenance and in northern climates not far is the season to wrap things up for winter.

As we near the end of yet another decade, we here at AMSOIL are reflecting upon a year of product development, corporate partnerships and the promise of continued success as we head into 2020.

Take a walk down memory lane with us in this installment of the 2019 AMSOIL Year in Review: Product & Company News.

January

We kicked off the year with further immersion into the wind-turbine market.

AMSOIL products are now installed in nearly 50 percent of all wind turbines in the U.S. along with more in Europe, China, India, Brazil and others. This initiative further validates the protection and performance of AMSOIL lubricants in the most demanding operating conditions.

Several manufacturers now use AMSOIL as their OEM factory fill.

AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean + Cetane Boost launched, offering diesel owners a convenient option to protect their fuel systems.

This new product combines superior detergency and improved lubricity while increasing horsepower and cetane up to 8 points. Oh, and it won a prestigious award before the end of the year, too. More on that below.

Diesel Injector Clean + Cetane Boost

February Updates

AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 Max-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil gets an update.

This top-tier oil represents one of the most versatile products in the AMSOIL lineup by meeting the latest diesel and gasoline specifications including API CK-4 and API SN PLUS.

It features the combined wear protection benefits of a 15W-40 with the fuel economy benefits of a 5W-30.

March Addition

AMSOIL MP Metal Protector becomes even more convenient with the addition of 4-ounce aerosol packaging.

This product is truly a jack-of-all-trades for almost any application. Find ideas here and keep this one in mind for stocking suffers next year.

MP Metal Protector

April in New Packaging

The award-winning AMSOIL easy-pack expands into the powersports market with the addition of AMSOIL ATV/UTV Transmission & Differential Fluid and AMSOIL Synthetic 75W-90 Marine Gear Lube.

May- more EZ Packs!

Five more easy-pack offerings make their way into the AMSOIL lineup, reducing mess, waste and frustration for even more applications.

AMSOIL Signature Series Multi-Vehicle Synthetic ATF
AMSOIL Signature Series Fuel-Efficient Synthetic ATF
AMSOIL Manual Transmission & Transaxle Gear Lube 75W-90
AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR® Synthetic 75W-110 Gear Lube
AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR® Synthetic 80W-90 Gear Lube

June – 10W-30 Breakthrough

AMSOIL introduces new Signature Series Max-Duty 10W-30 Synthetic Diesel Oil.

In store here in Sioux Falls it’s become a hit!! Available at Stan Houston’s too.

It delivers excellent viscosity control, extended drain intervals and 6X better wear protection than required by the Detroit Diesel DD13 Scuffing Test for Specification DFS93K222.

That’s very techy, we know, but it means we exceed the highest standards.

Amsoil Signature Series Max-Duty Synthetic Diesel Oil 10W-30

July

AMSOIL revamps its powersports Product Guides, making up one of just two such guides available in the industry.

Due to the high level of research and maintenance such guides require, most lubricant and filter companies take a hard pass on offering this kind of tool.

The AMSOIL Product Guides deliver recommendations for more than 225 different equipment brands and nearly 180,000 components across all spectrums of the powersports industry.

Whatever your application, if you’re in need of an AMSOIL product recommendation, find it here.

October

The 2019 AMSOIL Direct Jobber Convention takes place in Scottsdale, Ariz.

AMSOIL President & CEO Alan Amatuzio and other corporate staff mingled with AMSOIL Direct Jobbers for training, networking and an Arizona luau topped off with a fireworks display. Good times were had by all with attendees gaining invaluable knowledge and motivation to grow their AMSOIL businesses.

Find out if becoming an AMSOIL Dealer is right for you.

AMSOIL 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Oil hit the market to round out the small-engine-oil family.

Recommended primarily for snowblowers and generators, this was a welcome addition for those who need their equipment to perform in extreme temperatures and conditions.

Amsoil 5W-30 Synthetic Small Engine Oil

AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant came right out of the gate ahead of the competition.

This premium gasoline fuel additive delivers 18 percent more lubricity than Lucas* and 20 percent more than Sea Foam* for better retention of horsepower and fuel economy¹.

Upper Cylinder Lubricant

¹Based on independent testing of AMSOIL Upper Cylinder Lubricant, Lucas Upper Cylinder Lubricant and Sea Foam Motor Treatment obtained on 02/13/2019 using the ASTM D6079 modified for use with gasoline.

(Do fuel additives work? Find out here.)

December

Closing out the year was a win for AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean + Cetane Boost at the 2019 Performance Racing Industry (PRI) Show in Indianapolis, Ind.

Selected as one of the winning products from more than 500 entries, Indian journalist Aatish Mishra of Motor Sport India Magazine chose this product with the following sentiments in mind:

“Diesel passenger cars are immensely popular in India, and a lot of enthusiasts like to tune up their diesel-engine cars,” said Mishra of his selection. “A product like what AMSOIL has showcased would go down well with this group of people. It would provide them better quality fuel and allow their cars to run better.”

This covers the notable company and product highlights from the final year of the decade, and what a great one it was.

Stay tuned for a recap of our exciting racing and event highlights from our resident expert, Race & Events Coordinator Lindsay Premo.

See you in 2020!

Amsoil Product Reports, , , , , , , , , , , ,

Small engine won’t start? Identifying the Cause.

Written by Charleen

Small engine won’t start?

Bad gas is the number-one reason, and here’s how to prevent it.

Len Groom | TECHNICAL PRODUCT MANAGER, POWERSPORTS

In northern Minnesota, where I live, the temperature occasionally breaks 80ºF (27ºC) in the summer. When it does, it’s time to fire up my Jet-Skis* and hit the lake. The last thing I want to do on a sunny summer day is mess around with equipment that refuses to start or run properly.

Bad gasoline is the number-one reason seasonal equipment starts hard or runs rough. Over time, gasoline changes, leaving behind gums, varnish and other solids that foul the fuel system and prevent gas from flowing into the combustion chamber. In severe cases, gasoline can change so dramatically that it no longer ignites.

Gasoline is predominantly a mixture of carbon and hydrogen atoms bonded together into energy-dense hydrocarbons. Like conventional base oils, it’s derived from crude oil via a distillation process that uses heat, pressure and other catalysts to create different fractions. Gasoline is comprised of hydrocarbons that are lighter than those found in, for example, diesel fuel or conventional base oils. Refiners add ethanol to the formulation, typically 10 percent, but as high as 85 percent.

Time Takes Its Toll – You Must Treat Gasoline

Time, however, takes its toll on gasoline. Exposure to heat, humidity, atmospheric pressure, oxygen and other variables degrade fuel.

In addition to gums and varnish becoming more concentrated and less soluble as lighter hydrocarbons evaporate, gas is continually oxidizing, which further contributes to varnish and other gunk. Gasoline oxidizes more quickly than motor oil and its negative effects are more immediately noticeable. That’s why it’s important to use high quality gas and store it in approved containers where air infiltration is limited, like inside a ventilated garage or shed, and not in the back of your truck or under the deck.

Meanwhile, ethanol added to gasoline at the refinery can absorb water from the atmosphere, which can lead to phase separation, which occurs when ethanol and gas separate, much like oil and water. Ethanol that has absorbed enough moisture and has sat long enough can foul the fuel system and prevent the engine from starting.

AMSOIL Fights Corrosion

AMSOIL provides corrosion protection Sea Foam® Motor Treatment can’t match, helping maintain power and performance and keeping metal looking like new even when subjected to salt water.  ?

? Based upon independent testing of AMSOIL Gasoline
Stabilizer obtained Nov. 8, 2018 and Sea Foam Motor
Treatment purchased Oct. 25, 2018 in a modified NACE
TM0172 using synthetic sea water per ASTM D665 part B.

This all sounds dire, but it’s nothing treating your gasoline with AMSOIL Gasoline Stabilizer (AST) can’t solve. Gasoline Stabilizer keeps fuel fresh up to 12 months. AMSOIL Quickshot® (AQS) stabilizes gasoline during short-term storage up to six months, in addition to providing potent cleaning benefits and protection against ethanol issues.

What does stabilizer do?

That explanation may suit some people, but this is Tech Talk, so let’s look at the chemistry behind gasoline stabilizers.

You’ve probably heard terms like “free radicals” and “antioxidants” in relation to your health. A free radical is an unpaired electron, and most are unstable and highly reactive. They can either donate an electron to, or accept an electron from, other molecules. This starts a chain reaction that can lead to oxidative stress and cell damage. Left unchecked, free radicals can lead to health problems, like cardiovascular disease and cancer. To help fight free radicals, we should eat plenty of foods rich in antioxidants, which lessen their effects. Antioxidants can “donate” an electron to free radicals or trap them, effectively reducing their instability without becoming unstable themselves. Antioxidants aren’t silver bullets, but they go a long way toward improving our health.

By analogy, gasoline stabilizer is an antioxidant for your gasoline. It disrupts the free-radical-induced chain reaction that causes gas to oxidize and form varnish and gums. Some stabilizer products, like Quickshot, also contain chemistry that increases solvency and breaks down existing varnish, helping clean a dirty carburetor and restore performance. As shown, Gasoline Stabilizer also fights corrosion better than Sea Foam Motor Treatment.

Neglecting to stabilize your gas can lead to all sorts of headaches when it’s time to remove your lawnmower, generator, string trimmer or Jet-Ski from storage. For best results, stabilize your gasoline all year long. That’ll ensure your equipment is ready to roll when you are.

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How to Fight Ethanol Problems in Small Engines

Written by Charleen
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How to Fight Ethanol Problems in Small Engines

Andy Arendt|

 

In 2005, Congress instituted a new renewable fuel standard that you didn’t get to vote on. In response, refiners made a wholesale switch, removing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and blending fuel with ethanol. Ethanol helps reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, well in special engines made for ethanol only – but you’re not suppose to know that..  (even though you end up using more fuel to make up for the losses). Derived from corn (Round-up ready which destroys our health), ethanol supports U.S. agriculture (as long as they don’t ask questions and buy the seed they are forced to) and helps support energy independence. (as if allowing private railways wouldn’t but competing with AMTRAK is against the law currently).

Ethanol, however, can cause a number of problems, particularly in small engines. These problems center on the two following issues:

1) Dissolving plastics and creating deposits

Ethanol is an excellent solvent and drying agent that dissolves old gum and varnish deposits from the gas tank and fuel lines. However, it can also dissolve plastic and create deposits. Honda states that the dissolved material can clog filters or pass through and leave deposits on fuel injectors, fuel pumps, fuel-pressure regulators, carburetor jets, intake tracts, valves and valve guides.

Small-engine manufacturer ECHO agrees, stating in its warranty that these deposits can lead to poor engine performance; loss of power; overheating; fuel vapor lock; improper clutch engagement caused by increased engine idle speeds, which allows cutting attachments to turn while the unit is idling; and premature deterioration of fuel lines, gaskets, carburetors and other engine components.

2) Ethanol and water don’t mix

Small engine manufactures have spent considerable time studying the relationship between ethanol and water.

The white flaky deposits in this carburetor are attributed to ethanol.

ECHO warns that ethanol will absorb a small amount of moisture and stay in suspension within the gasoline for a while. However, the ethanol will only absorb up to ¾ of an ounce of water in a gallon of gas before it reaches its saturation point. Once the ethanol has absorbed enough moisture to reach its saturation point, phase separation occurs. Phase separation means the ethanol and absorbed water drop to the bottom of the fuel container since it is heavier than the gas and oil, leaving the gasoline and oil mix to float on top of the tank. Most operators never notice water in the can when they refuel their equipment. The end result is often a carburetor ruined with rust and corrosion. These expensive repairs can cost more than $75 and are not typically covered by warranty.

Stihl stresses that the layer of gasoline left floating on top has a lower octane level than the original ethanol-gasoline blend, which can result in unstable engine operation, power loss and major engine failures.

Ethanol’s affinity for water explains why so many ethanol-related problems surface in the marine industry. In fact, some marina personnel say up to 65 percent of their service orders are attributable to fuel-system problems.

Combating ethanol problems

Although some fuel additives on the market claim to reverse the effects of phase separation, there’s no way to reintegrate gasoline and ethanol once they’ve separated. Instead, it’s best to prevent it.

One solution is to use non-oxygenated, ethanol-free gas in your small engines. It costs a little more, but it eliminates problems
associated with ethanol. Another solution is to treat every tank of fuel and container of gas with AMSOIL Quickshot. It helps keep water molecules dispersed in the fuel to prevent phase separation. It also cleans varnish, gums and insoluble debris while stabilizing fuel during short-term storage.

Quickshot was tested in fuel containing 10 percent ethanol. Controlled plugging of injectors showed a 70 percent flow improvement, while oxidation stability improved 44 percent over untreated fuel.

Regardless whether you’re pro- or anti-ethanol, we can all agree on the importance of taking care of our small engines.

Small Engines, , , , , , , ,

From The Presidents

Written by Charleen
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From The Presidents

The new diesel products are in the field and initial reports are positive. We made a concerted effort to keep you, your customers and accounts aware of the changes throughout the diesel oil upgrade and those efforts have paid off with a smooth transition.

That’s truly what it is – an upgrade. More products in the diesel lineup, better protection and higher commissions. With more products in the lineup, there are bound to be questions. This month we’re going to provide some guidance on helping your diesel customers choose the right oil.

We’re also going to unveil some new commercial-grade products. We’ve given Formula 4-Stroke® 10W-30 Small-Engine Oil a new name and packaging, and added a 10W-40 to the small-engine oil lineup. We’ve also added a transmission fluid designed specifically for use in zero-turn hydrostatic transmissions. Most zero-turn owners, including professional landscapers, use regular motor oil in these hydrostatic transmissions. Sure, that works, but the fact is, motor oil is not dialed-in for maximum protection and performance in hydrostatic transmissions. We performed extensive testing on this new product, and the result is nothing short of outstanding.

Of course, what else would you expect? That’s what we do. It’s who we are. Many people would reason that if motor oil works in a hydrostatic transmission, why change? Anything more is just overkill.

We say overkill is underrated. If we can make something better, we will. If we can deliver better protection for one component or another, we will. Why not? Isn’t that the point – to protect things?

When we take a look at our customer lists, it stands out that we have more landscapers as commercial accounts than any other type of business. Research into the landscaper market reveals that zero-turn mowers are frequently among their biggest investments. It also reveals that landscapers are extremely concerned about the speed with which they can complete their jobs and complete them well. Between SABER® Professional and this new line of commercialgrade products, we’re doing a lot to help them meet those goals by protecting their investments and helping maintain the power and speed of their equipment. Landscapers increase profits, Dealers increase commissions and we increase sales. Is that overkill? Sounds about right to us.

AMSOIL is expanding. Visit our dealer page and see the incentives. AMSOIL could outsell all other brands if we can increase its availability. Call us to add it too your shelves, lube center or become a dealer working out of your house or business.

Presidents Desk - AMSOIL INC, , , , ,