Maximum Protection for Turbodiesels

Maximum Protection for Turbodiesels

AMSOIL synthetic diesel oils are well-suited for the extreme operating conditions of turbodiesel engines.

While gasoline engines still cover the majority of the North American passenger-vehicle market, turbodiesel-powered vehicles have grabbed the spotlight and gained a strong foothold in recent years. Owners appreciate the modern technology advancements that effectively combine traditional diesel power and torque benefits with fuel efficiency, quietness and reduced-emission benefits that have surpassed their gasoline-powered counterparts.

Turbodiesels in North America

Popular in Europe for years, passenger vehicles equipped with turbodiesel engines began really taking off in the U.S. and Canada with the introduction of ultra low sulfur diesel (ULSD) fuel in 2006, allowing manufacturers such as Volkswagen*, BMW*, Audi* and Mercedes-Benz* to export turbodiesel vehicles to the North American market without developing special emissions systems to deal with the higher sulfur content previously common in North American diesel fuel.

With the popularity of these European turbodiesel vehicles increasing, an increased number of U.S. manufacturers have introduced turbodiesel vehicles in recent years, including the Chevrolet* Cruze* Clean Turbo Diesel, Jeep* Grand Cherokee* 3.0L EcoDiesel* V6 and Ford* Transit* 3.2L I-5 Power Stroke*. And while full-size, gasoline-fueled V8 engines have traditionally ruled the pickup truck market, manufacturers are introducing a variety of new full- and mid-size trucks with turbodiesel engine options. The Ram* 1500 EcoDiesel was introduced in 2014, and new options for the 2016 model year include the Chevrolet Colorado* and GMC* Canyon* with a 2.8L Duramax* turbodiesel engine and the Nissan* Titan* with a Cummins* 5.0L V8 turbodiesel engine.

Much of this increased turbodiesel popularity can be attributed to turbodiesels’ ability to achieve maximum fuel economy while still putting a substantial amount of power and torque to the ground. No longer are North American customers forced to buy three-quarter ton or larger pickups to gain the advantages of a diesel engine. They now have a vast selection of smaller, diesel-powered vehicles to choose from. Considering the success and popularity of the new generation of turbodiesel-powered vehicles on the road today, manufacturers will continue to push this technology into more vehicles in the future.

Diesel Oil Challenges

Turbodiesel vehicles produce a number of challenges for lubricants, and the importance of using premium-quality synthetic diesel oils cannot be overstated.

Turbochargers can spin over 100,000 rpm, creating intense heat and shearing forces that can cause lower-quality lubricants to lose viscosity and their ability to reduce friction, wear and heat, putting critical engine components at risk. Not only that, but turbodiesel vehicles suffer a certain level of fuel dilution, exacerbating viscosity loss and creating an environment more susceptible to engine wear. Lubricants that provide maximum protection and performance under extreme heat and loads are essential to maximizing equipment life and minimizing downtime. And because one of the primary benefits drawing customers to turbodiesels is fuel economy, it is important lubricants also do their part to maximize fuel economy benefits.

The AMSOIL Advantage

AMSOIL synthetic diesel oils feature an exclusive blend of premium, shear-stable synthetic base oils and high-performance additives that protect equipment through superior viscosity retention. They provide the ultimate in protection against high heat that causes viscosity thickening from oxidation, while combating the shear effects the turbocharger and engine place on the oil. In addition, AMSOIL synthetic diesel oils provide outstanding protection against viscosity thinning due to fuel dilution, providing best-in-class engine protection no matter how you use your vehicle.

AMSOIL synthetic diesel oils maintain engine efficiency by reducing friction and helping keep the inside of the engine clean and deposit-free, while also ensuring it maintains peak fuel efficiency.

Increased Fuel Economy

The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Federal Test Procedure (FTP) confirms that, when compared to conventional 15W-40 diesel oil, AMSOIL Premium 5W-40 Synthetic Diesel Oil improves fuel economy throughout virtually all driving scenarios. Drivers save on fuel costs and enjoy the benefits of increased engine protection.

AMSOIL Premium Synthetic Diesel Oil (DEO, DME)

The premium choice for model-year 2007 and newer diesel engines requiring API CJ-4 oils

Compatible with all exhaust treatment devices

Available in 5W-40 and 15W-40

AMSOIL OE Synthetic Diesel Oil (OED, OEC)

Provides excellent performance and protection for the duration of OEM-recommended drain intervals

API CJ-4 certified

Available in 10W-30 and 15W-40

AMSOIL European Car Formula 5W-30 Improved Emissions System Protection Synthetic Motor Oil (AEL)

Engineered to meet manufacturers’ specifications, including Chrysler MS-11106, ACEA C3 and dexos2™

Excellent protection for diesel and gasoline engines

Fights sludge for superior engine cleanliness

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Maximum Dirt Bike Performance

Maximum Dirt Bike Performance

Whether you race motocross, hare scrambles or other events; or hit the trails on weekends with family and friends, you typically have one goal in mind: ride faster and more effectively. In racing, getting out of the gate quickly and grabbing the holeshot is critical to finish on the box. On the trail, you often must modulate the clutch to maneuver around obstacles and tame challenging terrain on your way to the front of the pack.  

Clutch slippage or inconsistent clutch feel, however, can lead to slow starts out of the gate and ineffective riding on the trail. To solve that problem, we introduced AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil last year. The lubricant was fine-tuned to deliver confident clutch feel and excellent clutch protection. However, some riders prefer a dedicated dirt bike transmission fluid instead of a multi-purpose motor oil. For them, new AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Transmission Fluid features a wet-clutch-compatible formulation designed to prevent clutch slippage and deliver consistent, confident clutch feel. It helps enthusiasts ride smoother and faster for maximum performance. 

It also provides excellent wear protection for gears and clutch plates. It helps reduce time and money spent on maintenance, helping enthusiasts spend more time riding. 

Revised Recommendations

If you are currently satisfied using AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil in your dirt bike transmission, there’s no need to change anything. However, Synthetic Dirt Bike Transmission Fluid is now the primary recommendation for all two-stroke bikes, since two-strokes use a separate sump. Many two-stroke riders look for lubricants labelled specifically for the transmission, and this adjustment is designed to suit their needs. 

The four-stroke market segment is slightly different. The popular Honda* CRF is the only four-stroke bike that uses a separate sump, but because the owner’s manual recommends using the same oil in the engine and transmission, AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil remains the primary recommendation. Synthetic Dirt Bike Transmission Fluid is the secondary recommendation. 

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AMSOIL Becomes Official Partner of Monster Jam

AMSOIL Becomes Official Partner of Monster Jam

AMSOIL is the official and exclusive motor oil of Monster Jam featuring the AMSOIL Series. The 2016 season will showcase the best Monster Jam vehicles and competitors battling it out in the East and West. Featuring new athletes and expanding some of your favorite teams, the leader of each tour will get a bid to compete at the Monster Jam World Finals XVI. Following the format from 2015, each athlete will hit the track in Monster Jam Speedsters, ATVs and trucks to accumulate points and dazzle the crowd.

Check out the tour dates below and visit www.amsoilracing.com/series/monster-jam-featuring-the-amsoil-series for more information.

EAST

DATE

WEST

Louisville, Ky.

Jan. 15-17, 2016

Tacoma, Wash.

Milwaukee, Wis.

Jan. 22-23, 2016

Salt Lake City, Utah

Dayton, Ohio

Jan. 29-31, 2016

Sacramento, Calif.

Kansas City, Mo.

Feb. 5-7, 2016

Spokane, Wash.

Rosemont, Ill.

Feb. 11-15, 2016

Portland, Ore.

Providence, R.I.

Feb. 19-21, 2016

Albuquerque, N.M.

Baltimore, Md.

Feb. 26-28, 2016

Nampa, Idaho

Grand Rapids, Mich.

Mar. 4-6, 2016

Reno, Nev.

 

AMSOIL Monster Jam UTV Sweepstakes

AMSOIL has teamed up with Monster Jam and Feld Motorsports to offer you the chance to hit the trails in a brand new Polaris® RZR 900. Built to take you anywhere, this dynamic UTV features:

875cc / 75 HP ProStar® 900 Engine

High Performance True On-Demand AWD

Automatic PVT Transmission

Adjustable ZF Sachs Shocks

The sweepstakes runs from January 2 to March 6, 2016. For complete contest details visit:www.AMSOIL.com/monsterjam

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Outstanding Motorcycle Chain Protection

Outstanding Motorcycle Chain Protection

In order to ensure optimum performance and life, motorcycle chains require premium lubrication. Sport bike riders need a chain lubricant that can withstand the stress of regularly going 0-60 mph in a matter of seconds, cruiser riders need a chain lubricant that helps protect and prolong chain life and dirt bike riders need a chain lubricant that protects against the elements. New AMSOIL Chain Lube (ACLSC) helps riders avoid the hassles of frequent reapplication and the stresses of worrying about chain durability, enabling them to focus on riding and providing the confidence to keep up with their buddies on the trail or street.

AMSOIL Chain Lube

AMSOIL Chain Lube (ACLSC) is a dedicated aerosol chain lubricant that provides outstanding wear and corrosion protection for all types of chains and sprockets. It penetrates deep into the pins and bushings of chains and leaves a protective coating that will not fling off or attract dirt, dust, sand or grit.

Outstanding protection against wear and corrosion

Helps extend chain life

Does not attract dirt

Does not fling off

Easy application

Fast-drying

Sprays from any position

Applications

AMSOIL Chain Lube is suitable for all types of chains, including O, X and Z roller chains found in street, off-road and racing motorcycles. It is also excellent for bicycle, agricultural and industrial applications.

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A Closer Look at Gear Lube

A Closer Look at Gear Lube

Automakers continue building vehicles that produce substantially more horsepower, torque and towing capacity than their predecessors, yet differential gears and bearings remain largely unchanged. Increasingly, synthetic gear lubes are recommended to meet these higher demands.

Increased Wear Resistance

Ring gear and input pinion in differentialDifferential designs come with inherent suffering points, and it’s here synthetics prove their worth. In a traditional automotive differential, the pinion gear concentrates intense pressure on the ring gear. As all the gear teeth mesh, they slide against one another repeatedly, separated only by a microscopic film of lubricant. The constant stress the lubricant film bears can shear lesser gear lubes, causing permanent viscosity loss. Once sheared, the fluid film weakens, ruptures and allows metal-to-metal contact, eventually leading to gear and bearing failure. The situation is worse in commercial vehicles used for towing, hauling and other severe-service application.

Conventional lubes formulated with viscosity index (VI) improvers shear more readily under stress. AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes, however, maintain viscosity better than other conventional and synthetic gear lubes despite rigorous use. AMSOIL Severe Gear® Synthetic EP Gear Lubes contain extreme-pressure (EP) additives that form a durable iron-sulfide barrier on gear and bearing surfaces to guard against metal-to-metal contact in the harshest conditions.

AMSOIL Server Gear Cost ComparisonIncreased Operating Temperatures

Differentials have always run hot, but increases in power and torque coupled with reduced fluid volume only worsen the problem. Testing has shown applications simulating trailer towing at 55 mph at a 3.5 percent grade can experience differential temperatures as high as 370ºF. Those readings could be even higher using today’s more powerful vehicles.

Thermal Runaway

As temperatures in the differential climb, gear lubricants tend to lose viscosity, while extreme loads and pressures can break the lubricant film, causing increased metal-to-metal contact and heat. The increased friction and heat, in turn, cause the lubricant to further lose viscosity, which further increases friction and heat. Friction and heat continue to spiral upward, creating a vicious cycle known as thermal runaway that eventually leads to greatly increased wear and irreparable equipment damage.

Here again AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes outperform conventional gear lubes. Not only do they resist viscosity loss due to mechanical shear, they resist thinning at high temperatures better than conventional lubes. In addition, the deposits conventional gear lubes leave behind coat gears and bearings, inhibiting heat transfer and shortening their life spans. What’s more, the lubricant thickens, increasing internal drag and reducing fuel economy.

AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes, however, are engineered in a lab and contain only uniform molecules less prone to volatilizing at high temperatures. As a result, they not only resist thinning in heat to provide better cooling and protection, they stay fluid in cold weather to ensure immediate startup protection. Their uniform molecules also reduce friction, effectively reducing drag and maximizing fuel economy. The lower cost of AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes combined with their extended-drain capabilities and superior performance make them the ideal choice.

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Upgrade to AMSOIL Performance to Get the Most Out of your Vehicle

Upgrade to AMSOIL Performance to Get the Most Out of your Vehicle

Excessive engine wear eventually leads to costly breakdowns and catastrophic engine failure. But even if your engine doesn’t fail, wear robs your vehicle of power, performance and that “like-new” feeling you crave when driving.

Modern engine parts are finely engineered to tight tolerances. This helps engines run more efficiently and last longer. Over time, however, wear causes bearings, pistons, piston rings and other parts to deviate from their original specifications. Bearings no longer run “true,” causing noise and heat. Worn piston rings and cylinders reduce the effectiveness of the dynamic seal that forms between the ring and cylinder wall, resulting in compression loss and increased oil consumption. Engines that lose compression produce less power.

Valve and camshaft wear are also a problem. Worn valve stems and cam lobes negatively affect valve timing and lift, which reduces efficiency and power. Variable valve timing (VVT) systems, common on most newer vehicles, contain intricate components that are especially prone to the ill effects of wear. VVT systems use oil-pressure-operated mechanical devices to change valve timing, duration and lift to achieve improved fuel economy and performance compared to traditional engines. Since most VVT systems are non-serviceable, wear can lead to costly problems down the road, in addition to poor performance.

To demonstrate its superior wear protection, AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil was subjected to the 100-hour Sequence IIIG Engine Test (ASTM D 7320), an industry-standard test designed to evaluate motor oil in several key performance areas. It must be passed to meet the API SN and ILSAC GF-5 motor oil specifications.

AMSOIL instructed the lab that performed the test to double it to 200 hours. Signature Series not only passed the double-length test, it did so with flying colors. Its superior wear protection in the test, and because reducing wear has a direct correlation with reducing horsepower loss, allows AMSOIL to confidently claim Signature Series guards against wear and horsepower loss 75 percent better than required by a leading industry standard.

Upgrade to AMSOIL performance to protect your vehicle against wear and horsepower loss.

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AMSOIL Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil Saves Racing Engine

AMSOIL Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil Saves Racing Engine

After a successful weekend of racing during the opening rounds of AMSOIL Championship Snocross over Thanksgiving weekend, AMSOIL/Scheuring Speed Sports driver Lincoln Lemieux made the Pro Open final on Sunday.

Lemieux fought his way into the top-three and was running strong. But, about 14 laps into the 20-lap race, he started slowing down and losing power. He pulled off the track and drove back to the trailer.

When team owner Steve Scheuring arrived, the heat from Lemieux’s Ski-Doo* RS600 engine was overwhelming. “There were parts of the engine that melted,” said Scheuring. “You could smell that antifreeze had gotten hot. Everything was just hot. That’s the best way I can describe it. Just hot.”

Julian DhananiThe crew opened the engine panels and noticed a $1 clamp had broken, separating the coolant lines and causing the engine coolant to pump from the system. Further inspection revealed intense heat had melted the exhaust power valve covers. The rubber O-rings that separate the cylinder from the head also melted, which caused the engine to lose compression and power. “There were a few other gaskets that actually melted inside the motor,” said Scheuring.

In stock condition, the engine produces about 130 hp, but the team relies on piping, clutch, carburetion and other modifications to increase power by 20 percent. “We can’t do anything to the internals of the motor, so we need to take every one of the options we have and bring them right to the edge,” said Scheuring. The modifications and lack of coolant exposed the engine to intense heat “well in excess of beyond operating temperatures,” Scheuring said.

Julian Dhanani“In a normal situation when something like this happens, the motor will lock up because of the high temperatures. The rings will stick to the piston. The pistons will score the cylinder walls. There’s a good chance the crank bearings will seize,” said Scheuring.

Instead, the rings and pistons were still free and the crankshaft still turned freely. “We saw some minor [piston] scuffing,” said Scheuring, “and it was like, ‘this is crazy how well the inside of this motor looks.’”

Each one of Scheuring’s Ski-Doo engines makes up a big portion of a race sled’s high cost. “We could take this motor, put new gaskets in it, put new exhaust valve covers on it and go racing,” said Scheuring. “We go above and beyond the capabilities of these motors. If they fail they cost us money, they cost us time and they cost us races, and we can’t afford to lose any of those.”

Scheuring credits AMSOIL DOMINATOR® Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil with saving his engine. “We’ve worked with AMSOIL the last 20 years developing two-stroke oils for our race sleds,” said Scheuring. “In my opinion, I believe 100 percent the reason that motor lived was because of the AMSOIL products.”

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