Mike Ford - AMSOIL Independent Dealer

Why Does Motor Oil Turn Black? John Baker | Oct 11, 2017 8:35 AM Motor oil turns black during use for a couple reasons: 1) Heat cycles During your drive to work in the morning, your engine reaches normal operating temperature (typically 195ºF-220ºF), heating the motor oil. Then the oil cools while your car sits in the parking lot. During lunch, the oil again is exposed to heat during your drive to Walmart for butter and shoe laces. The process repeats on the way home. And the next day. And the next. That’s what’s meant by “heat cycles.” The continual exposure to periods of high heat naturally darkens motor oil. Some additives in motor oil are more susceptible to darkening in the presence of heat than others. In addition, normal oxidation can darken oil, too. Oxidation occurs when oxygen molecules interact with oil molecules and cause chemical breakdown, just like how oxygen causes a cut apple to brown or iron to rust. High heat accelerates oxidation. 2)...

How A Motorcycle Wet Clutch Works Lubricating a clutch with oil seems like an invitation for slippage and inconsistent shifts. Lubricating a clutch with oil seems like an invitation for slippage and inconsistent shifts. However, a properly formulated oil can reduce clutch slippage. Here’s how. Wet clutches are widely used in motorcycles and dirt bikes. The term simply means the clutch is lubricated with oil, as opposed to a dry clutch. A wet clutch typically lasts longer and is more forgiving to operate than a dry clutch. Frictional Performance Vital As shown in the images, the clutch connects the engine and transmission via a series of alternating friction and steel plates. Friction plays a big role in proper clutch operation. To illustrate, imagine sitting aboard a motorcycle or dirt bike with the clutch lever activated, idling at a red light or in a starting gate. The friction and steel plates are separated, allowing the bike to run wit...

Why are We Tearing Apart this Indian Scout? (Plus, Check Out this New Product) John Baker | May 01, 2017 1:28 PM   Motorcycles occupy a prominent place in our national lore. The V-twin engine, one can argue, belongs in our menagerie of quintessentially “American” items, right next to the bald eagle, the Liberty Bell and Abe Lincoln’s stovepipe hat. It’s easy to see why. Motorcycles stand for freedom, rebellion, power. For many Americans ( like Guinness World Record holder Danell Lynn ), a motorcycle is their weapon of choice to fight the specter of an unlived, ordinary life. One of the best… Most opt for a Harley-Davidson, whose engines have provided the soundtrack of the American summer for decades. It’s impossible to drive through just about any paved corner of America and not hear the rumble of a Harley. The brand is so firmly entrenched in our psyche that, for many, “Harley” has become the generic term for “motorcycle,” the way “Coke” stands for...

How To Dispose of Used Motor Oil Josh Kimmes | Mar 15, 2017 11:11 AM Changing your own oil may not always be enjoyable, but it is fulfilling and worthwhile. DIY projects such as changing your own oil promote self-reliance and extra peace of mind that the job was well done. One of the often-overlooked aspects of changing your own oil is properly disposing of the used motor oil. Here are a few essential tips before your next oil change. Contain used oil First, you need to safely catch the used motor oil. While draining the crankcase and removing the oil filter, it is ideal to catch every drop of used oil. I use a GarageBOSS drain pan , which has a screen on it to catch the filter or drain plug, a feature I sought out after dropping the drain plug in my bucket on many occasions, causing me to fish it out. Some oil may end up on the ground. Absorb it with kitty litter (or an oil-absorbent powder), sweep it up and clean with a degreaser  to help rem...

Written by Daisy Quaker, AMSOIL Inc. Why does honey flow more slowly than water? Because of the difference in its viscosity. Viscosity is the measure of a fluid’s resistance to flow. Water, for example, flows much faster than honey or maple syrup (if you prefer that in your morning coffee) when poured from a container. Thin and light  describe fluids with low viscosity Thick and heavy  describe fluids with high viscosity What causes differences in viscosity? Molecules, honey (get it?) I think best in visuals, so let’s think of molecules as a group of people in a room. In one group everyone is holding hands very lightly. It’s flu season and they don’t want to get sick. On the other side of the room, everyone is holding hands fairly tightly. It’s a close-knit group, that one. If you weave through both groups and break through the chains of people, you have an easier time weaving through the first group than the second. ...

  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...