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Can Your Motorcycle Survive Heat this Extreme?

Can Your Motorcycle Survive Heat this Extreme?

Motorcycle Survive Heat this Extreme

V-Twins Get Hot

Harley-Davidsons* and other bikes with big V-twin engines generate significant heat, especially in low-speed parades, in rally traffic or on long climbs on hot days. Motor oil plays a critical role in cooling these big air-cooled engines, and even more so in low-speed operation with limited wind generated to cool the bike. If the oil can’t withstand the heat, its ability to protect your bike is compromised.

 

Is your motorcycle protected against extreme heat?

Watch what happens when we push a 2012 Harley Davidson FXDB to 500ºF in our mechanical lab to see how AMSOIL synthetic lubricants protect against extreme heat.

AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil Protects in Extreme Heat

To demonstrate its extreme-heat protection qualities, AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil was subjected to a dynamometer test designed to simulate conditions even more extreme than the demanding stop-and-go driving conditions of a motorcycle rally or parade route.

A 2012 Harley-Davidson FXDB Dyna Street Bob* motorcycle equipped with AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil was subjected to a strenuous low-speed test cycle, with significant idle time broken by short bursts of engine revving and little to no air moving across the cylinders. Like most Harley-Davidson motorcycles, the Dyna Street Bob features an air-cooled V-twin engine, which relies on cooling

fins arrayed along the cylinder walls to conduct heat away. To create the most-severe operating conditions possible, the electronic temperature controls, which safeguard the motorcycle when temperatures reach dangerous levels, were deactivated. The combination of low airflow and inoperative temperature controls allowed the test lab to subject the oil and engine components to intense heat not normally experienced in the real world. Cylinder temperatures reached more than 500°F, and oil temperatures exceeded 300°F – temperatures well into the range where oils begin to break down and often lead to catastrophic failure.

 

500°F is No Problem

The extreme temperatures were no match for AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil. After nearly 70 minutes of torturous testing and heat exposure, oil analysis revealed no change in oil viscosity and only minor levels of oxidation, TBN depletion and wear.

 

Dyno Test Results

Not only did AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil prevent the engine from overheating and seizing

during the extreme dyno test, it did so without losing chemical integrity or ability to protect vulnerable engine components. See full results here. Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil provides outstanding protection in even the most compromising and severe high-temperature riding and idling conditions, providing peace of mind that your air-cooled V-twin is protected even in low speeds on hot days.

AMSOIL formulates a full line of products for V-twins, including AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Transmission Fluid and AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Primary Fluid.

Your bike should never get this hot. If it does, AMSOIL has you covered.

*All trademarked names and images are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries. No affiliation or endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use. All products advertised here are AMSOIL-engineered for use in the applications shown.

Our Sioux Falls AMSOIL store is the #1 source for quality motorcycle oil in the region. Go ahead and try another brand, ride for awhile, then switch to AMSOIL. No need to read technical data sheets or consult with that Sioux Falls know-it-all. Just decide on performance. With performance you also get protection. Check out the AMSOIL corporate Youtube page and see just how much heat the motorcycle oils can take yet hold their viscosity. The other oils will not show test proving how stable their oils are and in order to match AMSOIL’s protection over time you should expect that oil to cost well over $15 per quart. With stockholders there would be no other way to make a profit!!

Troubleshooting a String Trimmer that has Lost Power

  Troubleshooting a String Trimmer that has Lost Power

A few simple maintenance practices can help restore the performance of a faulty string trimmer (Weed Eater).

Troubleshooting a String Trimmer

Check the Age of the Fuel

Today’s ethanol-containing gasoline can break down in relatively short time periods. If your blended fuel supply is more than two or three weeks old, blend a new batch of fuel. AMSOIL Saber Pro now features an additional fuel stabilizer to help offset these effects.

Check Air Filter Condition

A clogged air filter prevents the engine from receiving sufficient air to operate properly. Before removing the air filter, brush away loose debris from around the filter cover and filter element. Tap the filter on a tabletop or the palm of your hand to dislodge any dirt or debris. If you use compressed air, make sure you direct air through the filter from the inside to avoid lodging debris deeper in the filter. Avoid washing the filter as this can collapse its micro-fine structure. If cleaning doesn’t remove debris, replace the filter with the appropriate part recommended by the trimmer manufacturer.

Check the Spark Plug

Spark plug fouling occurs when oil, carbon or other foreign substances coat the tip of the plug and interfere with normal firing. Too much oil in the gasoline, inferior oil, a dirty air filter and/or continued operation at less than full throttle will eventually cause spark plug fouling. Replace the spark plug with a new one recommended by the trimmer manufacturer.

If a new plug is not immediately available, remove the plug and clean all carbon and oil deposits from the plug tip. Set the gap according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and reinstall the plug.

Clean the Exhaust Spark Arrestor Screen

On many trimmers, a small screen covers the exhaust outlet and prevents sparks from exiting the muffler and potentially starting a wildfire. For this reason, trimmers should not be operated if the screen is missing, punctured or disintegrating.

As with plug fouling, too much oil in the gasoline, inferior oil, a dirty air filter and/or continued operation at less than full throttle will plug the screen with carbon deposits. This prevents exhaust gas flow, which leads to power loss. To fix the problem, remove the spark arrestor screen and inspect it for plugging. If plugged, either replace it with the appropriate part recommended by the trimmer manufacturer or clean it.

To clean the spark arrestor screen, spray it with AMSOIL Power Foam® to soften the deposits before cleaning the screen with an abrasive pad. Reinstall the screen and test the weed wacker.

If these attempts to restore power fail, take the trimmer to your servicing dealer.

Use High-Quality Oil to Help Avoid Power Loss

Using a high-quality two-stroke oil with excellent detergency can help avoid many of the problems listed here. Two-stroke oils that burn cleanly help reduce plug fouling and spark arrestor screen deposits. AMSOIL SABER® Professional Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil withstands high heat and stress to protect handheld equipment engines against wear and harmful deposits. It can be mixed at conventional mix ratios (32:1, 40:1, 50:1) or the SABER Ratio (80:1, 100:1), offering the convenience of one mix ratio for all applications.

Just by using the AMSOIL 2-cycle oils you will have the last laugh when you first bring out your trimmers and yard tools and they start right away. Still after making the suggestion to your other Sioux Falls neighbors they will insist their method is better and struggle with starting and a un-necessary cloud of smoke. That’s right folks, AMSOIL’s Saber is practically smokeless and we get praise on its lack of foul order just as we do with our other 2-stroke oils for powerports.
Take care of your yard equipment and trust AMSOIL for your lubricants and also checkout our award winning fuel treatment designed for small engines – AMSOIL Quickshot – cleans, prevents fuel issues, stabilizes (non 2-cycle too) fuel and prevents the effects of ethanol.

Find all AMSOIL Saber PRO 2-cycle products and bottle sizes in our local Sioux Falls store
Synthetic Warehouse
4610 W. 12th St
Sioux Falls, SD 57107
402-933-3902

 

*All trademarked images are the property of their respective owners and may be registered marks in some countries. No affiliation or endorsement claim, express or implied, is made by their use. All products advertised here are AMSOIL-engineered for use in the applications shown.

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