Mike Ford - AMSOIL Independent Dealer

John Baker   | Apr 22, 2016 9:06 AM   Three on the tree. Four on the floor. The transmission has contributed much to our rich automotive vernacular. With few exceptions, however, the days of manually shifting are gone. Most cars and trucks come standard with automatic transmissions. Many sports cars, long the safe haven for manual-transmission purists, have even ditched sticks for paddle shifters. A flick of your finger has replaced the satisfying feeling of letting off the gas, depressing the clutch pedal and engaging the shifter in perfect harmony. More gears equals better fuel economy Though they may not deliver the visceral connection to your vehicle like a manual transmission, automatics’ increased gears and computerized controls, which shift more optimally than all but the most skilled drivers, do increase fuel efficiency by allowing the engine to spend more time in the “sweet spot.” The “sweet spot” is simply the engine speed, measured ...

Ed Newman | Apr 15, 2016 1:17 PM   Mechanical engineer Mark Nyholm is a diesel enthusiast who is truly happy to have found a career working with something he loves. Mark is Technical Product Manager – Heavy Duty here at AMSOIL, a position for which he is well-suited being technically and process oriented as he is. Before arriving here he had experience in automotive design, aerospace design and medical device equipment design. Having so much on the line spurs him on to pay attention to the most finite of details. “And in the end,” he says, “I always want to know why.” Why did this happen and not that? Here at AMSOIL he drives his department to dig into the nitty gritty and provide solutions with lasting benefits for customers. In addition to managing our diesel oil line, Mark helps develop best-in-class diesel fuel additives. One of these is  AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean , a product he’s al...

The complete line of AMSOIL motorcycle products ensures your bike is ready to hit the road. Bikers of all stripes are gearing up for another season of motorcycle rallies and summer road trips. Whether you’re into V-twins or metric bikes, AMSOIL synthetic motorcycle oils are dialed-in to meet the unique demands of your bike. V-Twin Motorcycles Powerful, hot-running V-twins generate intense heat, especially in slow-moving rally or parade traffic. Air-cooled bikes rely on a steady flow of air over the cooling fins to conduct heat away. Stop-and-go driving and periods of idling on hot summer days can quickly cause the engine temperature to skyrocket. If a motorcycle oil cannot withstand hot operating temperatures, its ability to provide adequate engine protection is compromised. In addition, the intense heat and mechanical action inside a motorcycle engine can cause motorcycle oils to lose viscosity, or shear. Bikes that share a sump between the e...

Most motor oils only provide minimal protection against damaging engine rust and corrosion. The effects of rust and corrosion are easy to see on the exterior of vehicles and equipment. However, they can also form on the inside of your engine if you’re not using a properly formulated motor oil. The problem is especially problematic in engines used in applications that sit idle for extended periods, including the following. Boats Motorcycles Lawnmowers Classic cars Snowblowers Despite what most people assume, motor oils have no natural ability to protect against rust or corrosion. Instead, special rust and corrosion inhibitors must be added to the formulation to provide the required protection, and some oils simply don’t contain the correct additives in the correct concentration. Idleness equals no protection During engine operation, a layer of oil coats engine parts and the crankcase walls. The lubricant film protects against rust and c...

Oil filters play a major role in the performance and longevity of an engine by removing contaminants and promoting proper oil flow. Modern engines introduce more contaminants into oil than their predecessors. To compound the issue, oil sumps are shrinking, leaving fewer detergents and dispersants to help fight the by-products of the internal combustion process. An oil filter’s capacity must improve to contend with the additional contaminants. Capacity refers to the amount of contaminants a filter can hold while still remaining effective. To understand the significance of capacity, it’s helpful to know the basics of oil filtration. Clean oil is vital to keeping engines running properly. The oil filter must remove contaminants introduced into the oil and prevent them from reaching sensitive engine parts without restricting normal oil flow. Internal sources of contamination include wear products from the rubbing surfaces of the engine, and degradat...

Improved compatibility, faster engine warm-up times and reduced engine temperatures highlight the new formulation. Dominator Coolant Boost has been reformulated with the latest organic-acid technology. The new technology adds to the benefits provided by the previous formulation, including reduced engine temperatures by up to 25ºF (previously 19ºF) in straight-water applications and up to 54 percent faster engine warm-up times (previously 45 percent). Organic acids are more robust and longer-lasting than inorganic acids, offering excellent resistance to scaling, drop-out and corrosion. They also contribute to improved compatibility; the new Dominator Coolant Boost formulation can be mixed with soft, tap and distilled water, in addition to any brand of antifreeze. Users will also notice the product is now orange in color. While racers derive the most value from Dominator Coolant Boost, it provides benefits for everyday motorists, too. Helps Racers...

AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Automatic Transmission Fluid has been proven in the field to deliver reserve protection against heat and wear. The demands on today’s automatic transmissions have multiplied. Excessive idling, extreme temperatures and hauling heavy loads all pose threats to a transmission’s longevity. Work vehicles are consistently used in these severe-service conditions but operators are often unaware of the toll it’s taking on their transmissions. Automatic transmissions have evolved into an intricate mix of gears, clutch packs and narrow oil passageways that require a steady supply of lubrication. They have become smaller yet must withstand higher horsepower and torque. Transmission fluid must act as a lubricant protecting against intense heat and shearing, and also as a hydraulic fluid to enable shifting. Neglecting this vital fluid leads to extreme heat stress, erratic shifts and catastrophic wear. Ultimately, a time-consu...

John Baker | Jul 8, 2015 2:18:00 PM The environmental benefits of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants are well documented. • Extended drain intervals reduce the amount of waste oil entering the supply stream • Superior volatility resistance reduces oil consumption and air-pollution emissions • Maximum fuel economy reduces fuel consumption and our dependency of foreign oil However, our commitment to the environment extends beyond our products to our environmental management system, which is registered to the ISO 14001:2004 standard . For example, most of our packaging materials are obtained from responsible sources. Plastic containers are made of post-consumer resins, while cardboard boxes derive from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, whose benefits dramatically reduce waste (see chart). We partner with SmartWay® carriers to ship p...