Mike Ford - AMSOIL Independent Dealer

Help Prevent Timing Chain Stretch with Good Oil John Baker |  Aug 03, 2020 1:40 PM A problem has been surfacing among some turbocharged gasoline-direct-injected (T-GDI) engines over the past few years: timing chain stretch. Experts think soot is to blame. Although most people associate soot with old-fashioned diesel engines,  a modern T-GDI engine can produce more soot than an older diesel  not equipped with a particulate filter. Soot can cause big problems Life is often a series of trade-offs, and engine design is no exception. The industry is willing to accept a little soot in exchange for  improved fuel efficiency and performance . But “a little soot” is turning into a big problem for some drivers in the form of timing chain stretch. Soot can accumulate in the motor oil in T-GDI engines. The tiny particles can agglomerate into larger wear-causing particles that cause problems inside your engine before the oil filter has a chance to capture them. These particles appear to be causing

Mike Ford, All Service Oil  Wash and Clean - wash with soap and water, let dry.  Protect with AMSOIL Mudslinger - it creates a non-stick protective layer of armor that repels dirt, dust and helps block UV rays to prevent color fade. Returns luster for added shine and like new appearance. Inspect machine for any worn, damaged or broken parts.  Now is a good time to replace them.  Treat fuel - Add AMSOIL Gasoline Stabilizer to gas and run for about 5 minutes.  AMSOIL Gasoline Stabilizer keeps fuel from deteriorating for up to 12 months, resists the formation of varnish and gum, and is effective on ethanol-blended fuel.  Follow instructions on bottle.   Fog the engine with AMSOIL Fogging Oil -  Follow owners manual for proper fogging procedure or directions on the can.  Change the chaincase oil .  Now is also a good time to inspect chain and sprockets.  Clean and inspect brakes, check/change brake fluid .  Check coolant level .  4-Stroke snowmobiles: change oil an

Skip to content Toggle navigation AMSOIL vs. Harley-Davidson Oil: How We Perform John Baker | Mar 12, 2020 11:04 AM Bikers always want to know how AMSOIL products compare to the competition, particularly against Harley-Davidson oil. It’s no wonder since Harley-Davidson dominates two-wheeled culture despite the resurgence of the Indian brand and the rising popularity of adventure bikes and  everything you can do with them . The company’s founding is a great story. William Harley and Arthur Davidson built their first motorcycle in a 10×15 shed right here in our home state of Wisconsin. While the duo’s 116-cc prototype bike lacked the power to ascend the hills around Milwaukee, it turns out it had the power to reshape American culture. That’s one reason several AMSOIL employees ride Harleys. But, what about Harley-Davidson motorcycle oil? To see how  AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil  performs vs. Harley-Davidson oil, check out the performan

How Often Should I Change Front or Rear Differential Fluid? John Baker | Apr 16, 2019 12:05 PM How often you should change front and rear differential fluid depends on your vehicle, driving conditions and differential fluid quality. That’s a vague answer, but it’s true. If you drive your truck primarily on the highway in temperate conditions and rarely tow or haul , you likely don’t need to change front or rear differential fluid very often. But, if you tow a trailer or haul supplies frequently and the temperature fluctuates as wildly as your health insurance premium , then you need to change differential fluid more often. The only way to know the exact mileage interval is to check your owner’s manual or visit the dealership. Differential fluid change intervals Why the varying fluid-change intervals? Because severe operating conditions break down differential fluid more quickly and place greater stress on the gears and bearings, inviting wear. The truck ma

Firearm Lubricant Scent: Does it Scare off Game? Mark Nyholm |   Oct 24, 2018 10:30 AM   Have you ever heard the saying, “the nose knows?” Some of us have bigger noses than others, but in general animals have a far more advanced sense of smell than the humans who hunt them. If you’re a seasoned hunter, you know that your clothing, your choice of hunting products and your hunting spot all help determine whether you go home empty-handed or dine on fresh meat that evening. How well can animals smell? We humans don’t survive by our noses. Unless, of course, you’re a professional candle tester with a calibrated nose able to detect the faintest fragrance. In contrast, most animals use their noses for security. How good is their sense of smell? It’s said the average dog can identify smells more than 1,000 better than us . Of course, we don’t hunt dogs. What about bears? Of all the animals in the woods, bears have the best sense of smell and can detect a r

Jamie Jarvi |   Aug 01, 2017 9:26 AM The Sturgis Motorcycle Rally is a true bucket-list destination for any motorcycle enthusiast. Each year thousands upon thousands of riders descend on Sturgis, S.D., and turn this small, sleepy town into a motorcycle mecca. Some travel the road to Sturgis as an annual endeavor, while others make it a once-in-a-lifetime journey. In either case, there is always the thrilling experience of hitting the open road to Sturgis. For those taking their inaugural ride to the world-famous Rally the week of Aug. 4-13, we’ve got some ideas to keep in mind that will help make your first rally appearance a success. Formulate a plan: It’s easy to become overwhelmed with the sights and sounds of Sturgis. Leaving room for spontaneity is essential, meaning you don’t need a minute-by-minute itinerary. But having some guidelines ensures you are in the right place at the right time, whatever your dining/entertainment/riding needs. Before

What’s the Difference Between Motorcycle, Dirt Bike and ATV Oil? John Baker | Jun 13, 2018 4:12 PM   Most people who ask have an underlying question they really mean to ask: Can I use the same motor oil in my motorcycle, dirt bike and ATV/UTV? Sure, you can use a single oil formulation for all your toys (assuming you use the correct viscosity in each). But you shouldn’t. Kind of like you can dump Filippo Berio Extra Virgin Olive Oil into your machines, but you shouldn’t. Why? Because each application presents unique challenges to motor oil that one formulation can’t meet. We’ll break them all down to see why. V-Twin Motorcycle Metric Motorcycle ATV/UTV Dirt Bike But first, let’s look at what the motor oil must do regardless of the application. Whether in a Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki sport bike, UTV or dirt bike, the oil has to protect against wear and fight the damaging effects of extreme heat . These include deposit formation, which robs the