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What to Know When Choosing a Fork Oil

Fork Oil – Which do I use?

We sell a good amount of fork oil in Sioux Falls thanks to some great motorcycle shops who know how to maintain the various units out there. But if you have a shop manual, the right tools and some patience give it a try!  Some units are very simple, quick and easy.

A fork oil’s number-one task is to deliver consistency. Consistent dampening despite temperature changes. Consistent rebounds despite different terrain. Consistent performance so you can ride or drive confidently.

Consistency.

What fluid would provide the best shock consistency?

Water.

Yes, water. But you don’t want to use it in your shocks for reasons you can probably guess, but we’ll get to that in a bit.

What shocks do

The shocks on your dirt bike, race car, ATV or other vehicle absorb abnormalities in the terrain and help stabilize the ride. They also absorb impact when landing a jump, taking some of the beating off the vehicle and your body. And they “load up” with energy when approaching a jump, helping you fly over whatever’s in your way.

The shock uses fluid to control dampening and rebound.

Say you’re riding your dirt bike and land a jump. The force depresses a piston inside the shock that pushes fork oil through calibrated valves. The fluid’s rate of flow through the valves influences the amount of dampening and rebound.

A thin fluid flows faster and results in quicker, springier shock feel. In contrast, a thick fluid flows more slowly and results in slower rebound and stiffer shock feel.

Fork oil viscosity matters

The fluid’s viscosity (often thought of as its thickness) influences how fast or slow the oil flows through the shock valves. If you prefer quick rebounds, use a lighter fluid. If you like slower rebounds, use a heavier fluid.

Buy AMSOIL Shock Oil

Easy, right?

Sure, if the viscosity of the shock oil never changes.

However, cold ambient temperatures increase the oil’s viscosity, resulting in slower rebounds. Then, after you’ve made a few laps and the vehicle’s heated up, the fork oil thins as it warms. That’s because fluids become thinner when they warm up. Think of molasses or honey. The warmer oil flows faster through the shock valves, leading to inconsistent shock feel.

H2O, no

That’s why water theoretically would provide the most consistent shock feel. Its viscosity doesn’t change between 33ºF (0ºC) and 211ºF (100ºC).

On a cold morning, after a long ride or on a blazing-hot day, water maintains the same viscosity provided it doesn’t freeze or boil. When was the last time you had a thin or thick glass of water? Hence, it would flow at the same rate through the shock valves, resulting in consistent feel.

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Much more than flow, though

But the fork oil must do more than influence rebound and ride feel. It also must protect against wear and corrosion, two tasks at which water is notoriously bad.

The shock oil has to protect the shock tubes, seals and valves from wear as they constantly rub together. Minus good wear protection, the shock would tear itself apart in short order. Plus, the oil must form a layer on parts to prevent formation of corrosion. If corrosion starts, it won’t stop, spreading and depositing flakes of contaminant in the oil that act like sandpaper and scour metal parts until they’re worn out.

Look for a high-VI fork oil

Instead, look for a fork oil with a high viscosity index (VI). A higher VI indicates better resistance to viscosity changes throughout broad temperature swings. That translates into consistent shock performance and feel despite the ambient and operating conditions. And a consistent ride equals a more effective rider.

Points to consider when looking for fork oil

1) No standard viscosity

Your engine manufacturer recommends a specific viscosity of motor oil for best protection and performance. In the world of shocks, there are no universal viscosity requirements or recommendations. Each shock oil manufacturer is free to formulate its oils to whatever viscosity it deems appropriate. That means one brand’s “light” fluid could behave like another brand’s “medium” fluid, and so on.

2) Once you find a shock oil you like, stick with it

For the reasons listed above, avoid switching between fluids if you can. Once you have the proper suspension set-up for your body weight and riding style, stick with it. The shock oil is one of the biggest variables in your suspension tune, and messing with it can throw off suspension feel and your riding confidence.

3) Look at viscosity at 40ºC

If you decide to switch shock oil, compare the viscosity of the fluid you’re currently using at 40ºC to the same data for the new fluid. The closer the results, the more similar the oils will perform. Reputable manufacturers publish product data bulletins for their shock oils and post them online. If you can’t find a data sheet for the oil you’re considering, think twice before using it.

Buy AMSOIL Shock Oil

Use This to Keep Mud Off Your ATV, Dirt Bike and More

Keep Your ATV Clean and Ease Clean-up

If you spend your time racing down muddy trails or forging questionable terrain on your ATV, UTV, dirt bike, off-road truck or snowmobile (well, snowy trails for the latter), AMSOIL Mudslinger is about to be your best friend.

This handy product will literally change your post-mudding experience. And, trust me, we know mudding. From sponsoring GNCC races on muddy courses in West Virginia, Indiana and elsewhere, to going off-road with Brad Lovell, the AMSOIL crew gets down and dirty with the best of them. So, we formulated Mudslinger with us and other mudders in mind.

What is Mudslinger?

Mudslinger is an aerosol that provides a protective, non-stick layer of armor against the accumulation of mud, dirt and snow on ATVs, UTVs, dirt bikes and snowmobiles. It makes removing mud and dirt with low-pressure water easy while protecting against UV rays and keeping equipment looking pristine. If you haven’t tried this standout product, here are a few ways (and reasons) to add it to your cart today and use it all year long.

The best cleaner to keep mud off your ATV/UTV or dirt bike

Mudslinger can help keep mud off your ATV or UTV or dirt bike. Here’s what a few riders and racers of off-road vehicles and powersports equipment have to say.

@moto_synthetic: “I like getting my bike dirty, but I really don’t like cleaning it very much. Applied it to the rear wheel before the ride since that seems to be the dirtiest part of the bike most people see. Went for the ride, got the bike filthy, came home and washed it up. Probably 98% of the dust came off with using just the hose. This stuff works great for people who love getting their bikes dirty but hate cleaning them like me!”

One of our sponsored race teams, Twisted Monkey Racing, said… “We are excited to try it out today to help keep the dirt and mud off the car during the triple crown race.”

Restore ATV/UTV, snowmobile or dirt bike luster

The sun’s UV rays slowly rob your powersports equipment of that light-new shine we all love. Mudslinger not only helps prevent accumulation of mud, dirt and snow, it provides a protective layer to counteract the damaging effects of UV rays. Its unique formulation restores, cleans and shines plastic, fiberglass and painted surfaces. Just spray it on a clean surface, allow it to sit for 15 minutes, then wipe off the excess with a lint-free microfiber towel for a brilliant shine.

Keep snow from sticking to your sled

Mudslinger is great for preventing the accumulation of snow, too. Before you take your snowmobile out on your next ride, apply Mudslinger anywhere you want to avoid snow buildup. Just make sure not to spray the seat or windshield.

Keeps car and truck tires clean

If you’re wondering if Mudslinger keeps tires clean, the answer is a resounding “Yes.”

Mudslinger can work on your daily driver or your prized car. Spray it on your tires to restore luster but also prevent the buildup of mud and snow. We recommend spraying it right after washing your car for the most protection.

Former NFL wide receiver and current outdoor enthusiast Jeff Janis uses it to keep the wheels clean on his truck and Chevy Camaro.

 

Protect your snowblower from sticky snow

Winter means snow. Heavy, wet snow can plug the chute on your snowblower, wasting time and trying your patience. Not only that, freeing a blockage from the chute while the snowblower is running is dangerous. Before the snow hits and you pull your snowblower out, spray a coating of AMSOIL Mudslinger in the chute to help keep the snow flying all winter.

Protect your lawnmower

As AMSOIL Preferred Customer @bturner250 found, you can use Mudslinger to keep your lawnmower clean. After using Heavy-Duty Degreaser and a water hose to remove built-up gunk and grime, he sprayed Mudslinger post-wash to protect his engine. “The engine literally looks brand new.”

Remember that next time you hit the rummage sales and find an old lawnmower with a good motor that just needs a little TLC.

How do you use Mudslinger?

Plenty of this Mudslinger is available in our Sioux Falls store at the Tea Exit (Exit 73), or at Stan Houston’s on W. 12th St. See the AMSOIL wall near the parts department.  I believe Power Brokers also keeps this product in stock.

Stan Houston for Amsoil Sioux Falls on W. 12th St