Mike Ford - AMSOIL Independent Dealer

John Baker | Mar 29, 2016 11:18:20 AM The simple answer: Compared to their predecessors, modern engines run hotter and generate more wear-causing contaminants that end up in the motor oil. For maximum protection and engine life, use a durable oil filter that uses full synthetic media. It will trap smaller particles and hold more of them compared to filters that use cellulose or blended filter media, helping you get peak performance and the most years out of your engine. The detailed answer: An oil filter has one primary function: prevent contaminants in the oil from damaging your engine. It seems simple enough. However, today’s more intense operating conditions coupled with longer oil change intervals demand use of a premium filter to get the best performance and most years out of your engine. Increased contaminants – to boost fuel econom...

Ed Newman | Mar 25, 2016 9:22:00 AM Clean is good.  It’s good to eat with clean hands, and wise to wash (clean) your vegetables before you stew them.  We brush our teeth after meals, and floss routinely in order to keep teeth free of deposits and the build-up of plaque. Clean clothes smell fresh and make us more presentable. Clean air is fresher, and healthier, to breathe. When we get a cut or abrasion, we clean it to keep the wound from becoming infected. Clean is very good. When it comes to the cars we drive, we also value cleanliness. Dirty windshields can be dangerous, and in the winter good wipers are important for keeping visibility clear. Washing your car not only keeps it looking nice, removing the road salt will help it last longer and prevent an early retirement due to r...

John Baker | Mar 18, 2016 8:55:01 AM The simple answer: Most oil manufacturers recommend changing their synthetic oils according to the service guidelines given in vehicle owner’s manuals. A few synthetic oils on the market, however, provide recommended service intervals on their back labels that are generally longer than those given in vehicle owner’s manuals. Each is different, so check the label carefully. AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil , for example, protects so well motorists can use it for up to 25,000 miles/12 months (15,000 miles/12 months in severe service) if they choose. The detailed answer: Most motorists now understand that synthetic motor oil performs better than conventional oil. It delivers improved wear protection, offers better engine clea...

John Baker | Mar 2, 2016 9:00:00 AM Nearly 40 percent of engine failures can be attributed to cooling-system issues. Clearly, it pays to take care of your vehicle’s cooling system. Sludge/slime are just one of the common symptoms of larger problems. Left unchecked, it’ll plug the radiator, heater core or fluid passages, resulting in overheating and expensive repairs. What causes it, and what can you do about it? • Additives dropping out – coolant consists of a base (typically ethylene glycol or propylene glycol) mixed with additives and water. The base is primarily responsible for providing freeze and boil-over protection. The additives guard against corrosion, cavitation and scaling. Mixing of incompatible coolants, however, can cause the additives to “drop out” of the ...

What Is Cetane and Why Does It Matter? Ed Newman | Feb 24, 2016 1:18:21 PM Cetane is a   colorless,   liquid   hydrocarbon   of   the alkane series,   C   16   H   34 ,   used   as   a solvent   and   in   cetane   number   determinations. In the same way that octane number ratings are applied to rate the ignition stability of gasoline, cetane values are assigned to diesel fuel to rate its combustion quality. Cetane numbers are used to indicate the combustion speed of diesel fuel. Diesel fuels with higher cetane ratings have shorter ignition delays, providing more complete combustion and allowing engines to operate more effectively. We asked mechanical engineer Mark Nyholm, AMSOIL Product...