Mike Ford - AMSOIL Independent Dealer

  Ed Newman | Jul 06, 2016 9:29 AM My first car was a 1961 Mercury Meteor, which I got for $125 and drove for four years. I have a lot memories associated with that car. One memory has to do with a problem butterfly valve in my carburetor. Sometimes the engine would stall when I was idling at an intersection. When this happened I had to pop the hood and shove a screwdriver down the throat of the carburetor to hold the valve open so I could get it started again and head on down the road. I became very quick and efficient at jumping out of the car to deal with this. The problem was a sticky valve that didn’t open and close as it should have. The valve controls the air/fuel mixture that is essential for an internal-combustion engine to run. Had I known about AMSOIL Power Foam at the time, I would have used it to keep the valve clean so it wouldn’t stick. AMSOIL didn’t exist when I was in school, but engines with carburetors continued to be sol...

John Baker | Jun 10, 2016 8:42 AM   The simple answer: Yes, provided the diesel oil meets the appropriate specifications and viscosity requirements of your engine. For example, if your gas engine calls for a motor oil that meets the API SN specification, you can safely use a diesel oil of the correct viscosity that meets the API SN spec. For the typical gasoline application, a diesel oil isn’t required and the more appropriate choice is a quality gasoline motor oil for both performance and value. The detailed answer: It’s common for some owners of modified gasoline-powered vehicles to favor diesel oils over their gasoline counterparts. Many assume diesel oils are more durable and more capable of withstanding the increased heat of a powerful, turbocharged engine. Others lean toward higher-viscosity oils to protect against wear, and it’s sometimes easier to find a 40- or 50-weight diesel oil than a gasoline motor oil. Others favor the incr...

John Baker   Jun 13, 2016 1:37 PM   An eye-opening news report surfaced the other day: Norway plans to ban sales of new gasoline- and diesel-powered vehicles starting in 2025. Elon Musk, CEO of electric-car-maker Tesla, tweeted his approval to the plan. It turns out the news report was inaccurate, with a press release later saying, “… there is no talk of banning the sale of diesel and petrol vehicles in 2025…” However, a Norwegian political party leader also said, “No, Norway isn’t banning diesel and petrol cars – yet”. I’m interested to see how this all plays out in the years ahead as governments continue pushing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. But for now, let’s focus on how you can help reduce emissions in your fossil-fuel-powered vehicle today without swapping it for a plug-in unit. Synthetic motor oils can reduce tailpipe emissions We tend to associate only the byproducts of gasoline or diesel combustion with harmful t...

John Baker |      May 26, 2016 8:59 AM Tracker Marine/Bass Pro Shops Photography As fun as it is to own a boat, they can create several headaches if you neglect maintenance. Following these tips can help you stay on the water and out of the garage performing unplanned, expensive repairs. Check trailer tire pressure and condition – If you don’t get your boat to the lake, you can’t get to the fish. Trailer maintenance is often completely forgotten. It’s not uncommon to see someone pulled over alongside the highway because their trailer tire blew out. Trailer tires typically run at higher psi than automotive tires. Check the sidewall for the correct pressure, which is likely around 50 psi. A low tire equals a hot tire, and hot tires are more likely to blow out. Check for weather cracking. Trailer tires often sit outside year-round, exposed to the sun. Replace cracked tires and store your trailer with the tires elevated during the off-...

John Baker | May 12, 2016 1:00 PM The garage. Protector of vehicles, incubator of great ideas. Many innovative companies owe their beginnings to the humble garage. Apple, Harley-Davidson and Google, to name a few. It makes sense. The house is where we make sensible decisions, do our taxes and plan our kids’ lives. The garage, however, promotes experimentation, novelty, freedom. An array of tools spread across the workbench, a sturdy vise and a welder offer the promise of ideas reaching full fruition and things getting done. When it comes to vehicle maintenance, some of us enjoy the challenge of fixing nearly any problem that arises, like replacing an old timing belt or bad starter. Given how tough it is to work on modern vehicles, some only perform oil changes, serpentine belt changes or other relatively simple tasks. Whatever your level of commitment, working in the garage simply feels good. Keeping track of receipts, dates of service or vehicle mil...

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. ...

John Baker |     May 02, 2016 10:36 AM   Fishing opener is right around the corner for us Northlanders. It’s essentially a regional holiday, rivaled only by the opener of gun deer season in the fall. Although some boaters and anglers don’t realize it, using a dedicated marine motor oil is vital to protecting marine motors for a few reasons: • Severe operating conditions • Exposure to rust and corrosion • Fuel dilution Demanding operating conditions Marine motors are characterized by high-rpm operation that can shear the molecular structure of oil and reduce its ability to protect against wear. On average, a marine motor propelling a boat 30 mph operates at 5,000 rpm, while an automotive engine powering a car 60 mph operates around 2,000 rpm. The added heat and stress invite wear and deposits. Heavy deposits can cause piston rings to stick, leading to compression loss and reduced power. Stuck rings can also lead to catastro...