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What’s the Best Oil for My Snowblower?

Written 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.

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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.

 

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How To Protect Your Snowmobile Engine

Written 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.

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AMSOIL Hybrid Motor Oil Protects Hybrid Engines

Written by Charleen

AMSOIL Hybrid Motor Oil Addresses Hybrid Engine Challenges

_by Johnny Gage |Dec 7th, 2023

Your Maintenance Choices should match the Motives of Hybrid Engine ownership

Hybrid vehicles are designed to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions. They combine an internal combustion engine powered by traditional fuels with an electric motor powered by batteries. The electric motor is used to propel the vehicle from stops and for low-speed driving and the gasoline engine takes over powering the vehicle at higher speed and recharges the batteries.  

Hybrids are projected to be 18% of cars on the road by 2035 and roughly half of all hybrid owners identify themselves as automotive enthusiasts. These are drivers searching for modern technology and premium products, who are also committed to maintaining their own vehicles, maximizing safety and reliability, and saving money. 

Hybrid engine challenges – You mean they didn’t do any long term studies??

So often new engine technology requires specific lubricant needs but the call to the manufacturers for a new specification usually lags the issues after issues are discovered.

Hybrid vehicles endure a unique set of challenges due to frequent starting and stopping of the engine. Intermittent operation of combustion engines makes them especially vulnerable to corrosion.

The Key Issue: The infrequent use and instant load  before the engine has had time to warm up creates a situation where the engine cannot evaporate condensation inside the block. This causes rust, greater wear and reduces efficiency. Cooler cylinders can also cause incomplete combustion, increasing the likelihood of unburnt fuel leaking into the crankcase and contaminating the motor oil. It happens all the time and can be mitigated! 

Often the lubricant requirements for these vehicles unique situations are beyond what is available off the shelf at your auto parts store. Not to mention that lower standard of oil you get with the “A Year of Free Oil Changes” or vats at the quicklube.  Not so with AMSOIL!!

Additionally, motor oil needs to flow quickly to critical components every time the engine engages, which is problematic when the engine is constantly cold due to being idle. Hybrid engines are also required to engage quickly under high-load operation to assist the electric motor and must be able to rapidly reach increased engine speeds.

Hybrid engines require high-quality oil that resists moisture, flows properly before it reaches operating temperatures and resists oxidation once it heats up.  

Hybrid solution

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Hybrid Motor Oil is specifically engineered to address the unique demands of hybrid electric (HEV) and plug-in hybrid electric (PHEV) engines, with a boosted dose of dispersants and inhibitors to help prevent condensation-related corrosion and maintain optimal engine performance. Its robust viscosity combats the negative effects of fuel dilution and maintains consistent and optimal flow of oil to key engine components at low temperatures, ensuring rapid protection at startup.  

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Hybrid Motor Oil (0W-20 and 0W-16) is API Licensed & ILSAC Licensed and is recommended for service intervals of 15,000 miles or 1 year in normal service. It is a premium upgrade over vehicle manufacturer-branded motor oils, delivering purpose-built protection that extends oil drain intervals and maximizes hybrid performance, fuel economy and engine life. Follow the owner’s manual recommendation for severe service intervals. 

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic Hybrid Motor Oil is tailored to the unique challenges presented by hybrid vehicles, making it an excellent choice for hybrid owners looking for an upgrade in hybrid engine protection.

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Is High-Mileage Motor Oil a Gimmick?

Written by Charleen

Is High-Mileage Motor Oil a Gimmick?

A purpose-built high-mileage motor oil can help improve the longevity and performance of high-mileage vehicles.

_by Keith Montgomery|October 25, 2023

In the last decade, the automotive lubricant industry has seen high mileage motor oils emerge and gain popularity for vehicles with more than 75,000 miles (120,000 km) on the odometer. These motor oils are advertised to combat the challenges that high-mileage engines face. But do they really work?

The truth is, high-mileage engines do have unique needs and could benefit from a motor oil designed specifically to address those challenges.

Challenges facing High Mileage Engines

Here are a few of the most common challenges facing engines with an unknown maintenance history or used typical quick lube oil sold from tanks:

  • Increased oil consumption
    Oil consumption is common among non-Amsoil engines. Over time, they experience increased wear, leading to greater oil consumption. Using a suitable high-mileage motor oil that is thermally stable and resists volatility can help prevent oil consumption from occurring. (hint – there is only one)
  • Seal leakage
    Engines with aging seals are more prone to oil leaks. An aging seal loses flexibility, hardens and no longer effectively serves its purpose. A well-designed high-mileage motor oil provides a boosted dose of seal conditioners to restore and recondition aging seals and help stop leaks.
  • Sludge and deposits
    Over time, engines experience increased sludge and deposit buildup. This can be due to oil breakdown from high heat, low-quality oil, excessive idling or insufficient combustion of fuel. A quality high-mileage motor oil can provide enhanced detergency, removing deposit buildup to help restore peak performance.
  • Compression loss
    Engines can lose compression as cylinders and piston rings wear, eventually leading to reduced horsepower and increased blow-by. A proper fluid film helps counteract compression loss by sealing combustion chambers to maintain performance. A purpose-built high-mileage motor oil is formulated to maintain viscosity and provide proper film thickness in extreme operating conditions.

High-mileage vehicles can still provide reliable performance.

The above challenges really do hinder vehicle performance. To protect your engine’s performance and help extend its longevity, it’s important to take steps that help counteract those issues. Our testing suggests that some companies are changing their labels to appeal to customers with high-mileage vehicles but not changing the oil inside the bottle.

Purpose-Built Protection for High Mileage Engines

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil is specifically designed for the unique demands of high-mileage engines, helping extend the life of your vehicle. It delivers purpose-built protection at a time in your vehicle’s life where it could benefit from more-robust maintenance – including boosted detergency and an additive package that fights oil breakdown and leaks.

This may sound too good to be true, so to prove it, we subjected it to independent testing. The result: AMSOIL 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil reduced sludge by 67%,* demonstrating its cleaning power that helps engines last longer and perform better.

AMSOIL 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil significantly reduces engine sludge.

Trust AMSOIL 100% Synthetic High-Mileage Motor Oil to help breathe new life into your high-mileage engine.

Would I need high mileage motor oil if I started with Amsoil in the first place?

The answer is NO.. All of these issues would not be something needed to be considered if you switched to AMSOIL Signature Series after initial engine break in..

This oil was created for customers who bought a vehicle which didn’t use AMSOIL all these years or who used the questionable oil offered in these “Free oil changes from the dealership” which have no quality standard in their oil what so ever.

 

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