Mike Ford - AMSOIL Independent Dealer

John Baker | May 16, 2016 2:04 PM Although gas is hovering around only $2.00 per gallon these days, increasing fuel economy is still a top priority for most automakers, due in large part to more strict corporate average fuel economy (CAFE) requirements on the horizon. One strategy automakers are using is widespread use of synthetic lubricants. How do synthetics increase fuel economy compared to conventional lubricants? Reducing viscosity increases fuel economy At one time, most passenger cars/light trucks used 10W-40 motor oil. Then it was 5W-30. Today, many vehicles call for 5W-20 and 0W-20 oils. And an even lower viscosity, 0W-16, is on the horizon for certain newer vehicles. The lower the oil’s viscosity – defined as its resistance to flow – the more readily it will flow. Imagine a jar of honey and a glass of water. Stirring water with a spoon requires less energy than stirring honey. The same principle applies to your engine and motor oil. ...

Do Fuel Additives Work? John Baker | Nov 25, 2015 9:20:14 AM Store shelves are littered with fuel additives that claim to provide a number of benefits, including... • Increased fuel economy • Smoother engine operation • Reduced emissions • Extended engine life • Maximum horsepower Do they work? A quick Google search reveals multiple articles that claim they don’t. There must be a good reason so many people regard fuel additives with skepticism. One reason is, while most motorists expect to experience the benefits promised by fuel additives immediately , it takes several tanks of treated fuel before most additives provide any noticeable performance improvement. That doesn’t bode well in a society used to getting what it wants, when it wants it. Engine condition plays a vital ...

from the AMSOIL, Inc. Blog -  Why Jay Leno is Angry About Ethanol in Gasoline written by   Ed Newman   | Mar 20, 2015 3:45:00 PM Change is the one constant in life. It’s also difficult, because when there is a change – whether in technology or how we do things – there are often unforeseen consequences.  One of the changes that has been taking place is that since 2005, the U.S. government has mandated that gasoline contain ethanol, most of it derived from corn.  The aim of this policy, among other things, has purportedly been to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil, though it may also be a way to utilize the excess corn of our megafarm corn growers. What this change has done is to set in motion a number of unintended consequences, from its impact on food prices to mechanical issues in our cars and other equipment with engines. And this latter is what prompted comedian and car collector Jay Leno to write a somewhat impassioned col...