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Team AMSOIL Takes on 2024 King of the Hammers

April 13, 2024Written by Charleen

Team AMSOIL Takes on 2024 King of the Hammers

Brad Lovell crushes the King of Hammers in his Bronco race truck.

_by Lindsay Tousignant|January 26, 2024

Bragging rights and a case of beer

Each year, tens of thousands of hardcore spectators and nearly 1,000 competitors flood Johnson Valley to create the city affectionately known as “Hammertown.” Its off-grid location emulates “Mad Max,” setting the stage for what seems like pure chaos, with some racing sprinkled in.

King of the Hammers includes racing throughout an entire week, with the mack daddy of them all, the Nitto Race of Kings, taking place Saturday, Feb. 3. A race known for its carnage and chaos, only about 15% of racers who take the start finish the race.

The event was conceived by a pair of racers in search of bragging rights and a case of beer. It combines desert racing and rock crawling throughout 200 miles of grueling trails. It’s no wonder almost 80,000 people flood this otherwise deserted valley to witness the havoc.

Win and earn the title of King. Lose and the walk of shame could be your vehicle lifted out of the desert by helicopter (trust us).

Let’s take a look at where Team AMSOIL is competing this year.

A force to be reckoned with

Kyle Chaney has been called a “surgeon” when it comes to navigating the rocks. The three-time King of the Hammers UTV champ took the lead early in last year’s race and finished at a ferocious pace, crushing all lap time expectations — in a stock UTV. This year he seeks his fourth crown aboard Can-Am’s new Maverick R, a recently released model that generated a lot of buzz this past fall.

Chaney gave us a breakdown of the custom 4400 Can-Am that he raced in last year’s Race of Kings. He worked his way into the top ten before losing his transmission at Chocolate Thunder.

Runs in the family

Brad Lovell looks to keep his legendary streak alive by competing in the Every Man Challenge. Having already won the Every Man crown a total of three times, and the 4800 class 4 times, this will be Lovell’s 19th trip to the lakebed.

Historically, Brad had his brother Roger co-driving, but for this year’s Every Man Challenge, Brad’s son Adam will co-pilot for his first King of the Hammers race in their newly wrapped Bronco. The duo will also take to the start line of the Desert Challenge. Trading places, Adam will take the wheel and Brad will navigate.

Last year, Brad and his brother Roger showed us their 4600 Ford Bronco. The brothers finished second in their class last season, and fifth overall.

King of the Hammers 2024 Event Schedule

Here’s a breakdown of where you can find Team AMSOIL next week:

Saturday, Jan.27 & Sunday, Jan. 28 is opening weekend, with the Toyo Desert Challenge presented by Monster. Adam Lovell will get his first taste of what it’s like to race at King of the Hammers, with his dad by his side as his co-driver.
Thursday, Feb. 1 Bryce Menzies will also be competing alongside Chaney in the UTV Championship. Menzies led lap one of last year’s race before Chaney took the lead.
Friday, Feb. 2 is the Every Man Challenge with Brad and Adam Lovell aboard their newly wrapped Ford Bonco.
Saturday, Feb. 3 is the big race — Nitto Race of Kings. Two-time champ Erik Miller and three-time champ Shannon Campbell will line up with Chaney at the start.

Be sure to follow AMSOIL for daily updates and behind-the-scenes action from the lakebed, and don’t forget to tune in to the livestream on race day.

We’ll see you in Hammertown!

Racing 2024, amsoil, Brad Lovell, kings of hammers, team amsoil

What’s the Best Oil for My Snowblower?

February 21, 2024Written by Charleen

What’s the Best Oil for My Snowblower?

Using a high-quality, purpose-built oil can provide extra protection for your snowblower’s engine.

_by Brad Nelson|November 10, 2023

When a snowstorm hits, you need your snowblower to fire up and help you get the job done. But snowblower engines face unique challenges that can reduce their dependability, horsepower and longevity. Fortunately, there are maintenance practices that can vastly improve reliability, including using a specially engineered small-engine oil.

Using a high-quality, purpose-built small-engine oil can help improve the reliability and performance of your snowblower.

Tough on Oil

Although snowblower engines are used less frequently than other engines, they’re tougher on oil than most people realize.

Compared to liquid-cooled automotive engines, small engines usually lack oil filters, run hotter, operate under constant heavy load, generate more oil-damaging contaminants and are exposed to snow, water and extreme temperatures.

Snowblower engines are often stored in unheated garages or sheds where cold temperatures cause the oil to flow slower at startup, a key driver of engine wear.

Using a high-quality, purpose-built oil can provide extra protection for your snowblower’s engine, reducing the risk of component damage and prolonging its life.

However, most small-engine oils we’ve tested are nothing more than re-labeled automotive oils, which are formulated in large part to enhance fuel economy, not to survive the brutal operating conditions of a snowblower engine.

Although small engines are often used infrequently, they’re tougher on oil than most people realize.

Purpose-Built Protection

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Small-Engine Oil isn’t a re-packaged automotive oil. We specially engineered it from the ground up for small-engine dependability. It’s built to solve the problems that plague small engines, including wear, power loss, oil consumption, harmful carbon deposits and stuck rings and valves.

Excellent Wear Protection

AMSOIL Synthetic Small-Engine Oil is a shear-stable, high-film-strength formulation fortified with a heavy dose of anti-wear additives. It does not thin out due to mechanical shear, ensuring a thick lubricating film. It forms a durable barrier that protects against metal-to-metal contact.

Formulated for Power

Engine wear, carbon deposits, valve sticking and piston-ring sticking reduce engine power. AMSOIL Synthetic Small-Engine Oil prevents ring and valve sticking while helping eliminate carbon deposits from forming. As a result, engines produce maximum power throughout their service lives, helping you move more snow faster.

Extreme-Temperature Performance

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Small-Engine Oil is formulated with a saturated molecular structure that offers outstanding extreme-heat resistance.

In addition, we’ve fortified the oil with potent antioxidant additives that provide further resistance to damaging heat.

Its powerful detergent additives fight carbon, varnish and sludge to maximize engine life.

In extreme cold, the oil’s naturally high viscosity index and lack of paraffins (waxes) ensure it remains fluid and flows quickly, providing easier cold-weather starts and fast startup lubrication for reduced wear.

Reduces Oil Consumption

In lab testing, AMSOIL 10W-30 Synthetic Small-Engine Oil reduced oil consumption 61% compared to three leading 10W-30/SAE 30 motor oils.¹

Its heat-resistant synthetic base oils provide low volatility, excellent viscosity stability and strong oxidation resistance.

Engines run longer between top-offs, providing peace of mind your engine won’t fail due to oil starvation and will run dependably.

Let it Snow

Prepare your snowblower engine for the next big storm with a specially engineered small-engine oil. AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Small-Engine Oil provides extra protection for your snowblower engine so you can throw snow like its no big deal all winter long.

¹Based on 125-hour lab tests of small engines using AMSOIL 10W-30 Synthetic Small-Engine Oil and three leading 10W-30/SAE 30 motor oils.

Small Engines amsoil, cold, extreme temperature, maintenance, motor oil, protection, snow, snowblower, temperature, wear, Winter

The Difference Between GL-4 and GL-5 Gear Oil

December 27, 2023Written by Charleen

The Difference Between GL-4 and GL-5 Gear Oil

The main difference between GL-4 and GL-5 gear oils is in the level of extreme-pressure (EP) additives.

It’s really very simple. They are not interchangeable and GL5 didn’t replace GL4.

by Eddie Yorkman,|July 5, 2022

If you’ve ever purchased gear oil, or spent any time looking at gear-oil specifications, you have undoubtedly come across the API GL-4 and GL-5 specifications. You may have wondered, what is the difference between GL-4 and GL-5 gear oil? Where can I buy GL-4 and GL-5 gear oil?

Severity – Hypoid gears vs Helical

The American Petroleum Institute (API) classifies gears using GL ratings, ranging from GL-1 to GL-5. Higher GL rating numbers represent more severe applications; GL-1 is the least severe and can usually be satisfied with a motor oil, while GL-5 is the most severe GL rating.

EP additives

The main difference between GL-4 and GL-5 gear oils is in the level of extreme-pressure (EP) additives. EP additives effectively protect gears by providing a sacrificial layer on gear surfaces; these additives are essential for protecting gears operating under heavy loads and extreme temperatures. A typical GL-5 gear oil provides about twice as much EP additive in its formulation compared to a GL-4 gear oil.

Where are GL-4 and GL-5 gear oils used?

GL-4 gear oils are typically recommended for spur and helical gears found in manual transmissions and transaxles operating under moderate speeds and loads.

GL-5 gear oils are typically recommended for hypoid gears in automotive axles operating under high-speed, high-load conditions.

What type/weight gear oil should I use?

For top protection and performance, it is best to consult your owner’s manual/Shop manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation. There, you will find both the specified viscosity (75W-90, 75W-140, etc.) and specification (API GL-4, API GL-5, API MT-1, etc.) recommended for your application. Almost all hypoid gear sets require GL-5 due to the need for significant extreme-pressure protection.

Note the 2nd number is the KEY weight under operating temperatures and conditions. 990, 110, 140, 250, etc.. For example our 75W-80 covers and overlaps the recommendations where 80W-90, 85W-90 are written.

What’s the best gear oil for my vehicle?

AMSOIL SEVERE GEAR® Synthetic Gear Lube excels in protecting gears and bearings from the rigors of severe-service operation. By design, it resists breakdown from high heat, preventing acids and maintaining a barrier to prevent metal-to-metal contact while conditioning seals. Its wax-free construction also improves cold-flow properties, improving fuel economy and cold-weather performance.

• Superior film strength
• Controls thermal runaway
• Protects against rust and corrosion
• Helps reduce operating temperatures
• Maximum efficiency
• Long oil, seal and equipment life
• Flexible easy-pack for clean, fast installation

SEVERE GEAR is recommended in differentials, manual transmissions and other gear applications requiring an API GL-5 gear oil. It can also be used in axles where an API GL-4 lubricant is recommended.

Knowledge Base additives, amsoil, easy pack, extreme pressure, GL-4 and GL-5 gear oils, GL-4 gear oils, GL-5 gear oils, pick-up truck, severe gear, synthetic gear lube

How To Protect Your Snowmobile Engine

December 27, 2023Written by Charleen

How To Protect Your Snowmobile Engine

_by David Hilgendorf|September 6, 2023

Manufacturers are designing today’s sleds to deliver unprecedented power and performance, so snowmobile enthusiasts can push the boundaries even further. Two-stroke snowmobiles are meant to be ridden hard, but aggressive riding and running your machine at wide-open throttle all day takes its toll on the engine.

Some models use turbocharging to produce extreme horsepower, but turbos also create intense heat and pressure with the potential to damage the engine. In these extreme conditions, deposits can form on the turbo bearing, pistons and exhaust power valves, reducing engine power and causing engine wear.

AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR® Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil is designed to handle the challenging engine conditions created by high-performance sleds. To evaluate its performance, we installed INERCEPTOR in a Ski Doo* 850 Etec* Turbo R and ran it on our dyno for 30 hours, simulating a full season of mountain riding.

After testing, we tore down the engine and examined the parts. The synthetic base oils and advanced additives in AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil prevented deposits and wear, keeping parts clean and helping to deliver maximum power and engine life.

AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil is specifically designed for maximum performance in all makes of two-stroke snowmobiles, including Arctic Cat, Polaris and Ski-Doo, helping enthusiasts spend more time riding and less time performing maintenance. It is compatible with most two-stroke oils and its low-smoke, low-odor properties help ensure you enjoy every ride.

RUNS ON FREEDOM^®

We’re so confident in the performance of AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR® Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil that if you run it exclusively in your current-model-year or newer sled, we’ll cover engine repairs for up to two years or 5,000 miles (8,000 km) in the unlikely event of an engine failure under our RUNS ON FREEDOM® LIMITED SNOWMOBILE WARRANTY.

Snowmobile amsoil, maintenance, protection, snowmobile, snowmobile engine, synthetic 2-stroke oil

Bryce Menzies Conquers the Baja 1000

December 11, 2023Written by Charleen

Bryce Menzies Conquers the Baja 1000

_by Lindsay Tousignant | December 6, 2023

Bryce Menzies has conquered the Baja 1000 peninsula in multiple race lengths of 250, 400 and 500 miles. Winning these races has already cemented his name if the off-road world, but most notably missing from that list is the longest race, both distance and ongoing, the Baja 1000.

Running the full length of the peninsula for the 25th time in the race’s 56-year history, this year’s 1000 started in in La Paz, Baja California. For the first time in the race’s history, the course ran from south to north, ending in Ensenada. Encompassing 1,311 miles, this race was also the second longest in the history of the event.

The course embodied all that desert racing typically offers, straight dirt passes, coastline stretches, rocky climbs and washes, some of which had seen a radical transitioned since Hurricane Norma rocked the southern end of the peninsula earlier this year. Even though this marked the second longest 1000 in the race’s history, the times seen were relatively fast given the smoother terrain.

Check out Bryce, Andy and Tavo pre-running the course:

Teamed up with drivers Andy McMillin and Gustavo “Tavo” Vildosola, Menzies took the the first 525 miles of the race. He then handed off the Mason AWD Ford Raptor Trophy truck over to Red Bull teammate McMillin for the next 400 miles. McMillin then handed the reigns off to hometown hero Vildosola, who drove the remaining 385 miles to the finish in Ensenada.

The trio finished the SCORE Baja 1000 in 22 hours, 35 minutes and 33 seconds, taking the checkered flag. Menzies earned the official win as the registered race entrant and is only the 10th racer to earn a SCORE Baja Triple Crown, having won the San Felipe 250, Baja 500 and Baja 1000. Menzies also took home the SCORE season championship.

“It took me over 10 years to win the SCORE Baja 1000. To win the second-longest SCORE race in history feels pretty special.”
– Bryce Menzies

Menzies uses AMSOIL products to ensure his race trucks can handle extremely harsh desert racing conditions.

Next up, Menzies is setting his sights on Hammertown and gearing up for the Can-Am UTV Hammers Championship during King of the Hammers, Jan. 25 through Feb. 3, 2024.

Racing amsoil, baja 1000, Baja California, Bryce Menzies, La Paz, sponsorship