How Does Extreme Cold Affect Lubricants?

How Does Extreme Cold Affect Lubricants?

Extreme cold can cause conventional motor oil, transmission fluid and gear lube to thicken, starving vital moving parts of necessary lubrication. In many cases, thick motor oil will prevent vehicles from starting. Cold, thick transmission fluid results in delayed or sluggish shifts and inadequate protection for bearings, valves and other critical parts. Thick gear lube, meanwhile, requires more energy to turn the gears, reducing fuel efficiency. Because gears and bearings in the axle housing are splash-lubricated, conventional gear lubes that are too thick at cold temperatures can starve internal components of lubrication, which can cause excessive wear and premature failure.

Conventional petroleum lubricants thicken because they often contain paraffins (wax). While modern refining techniques remove most of the wax from petroleum oil, some wax-like molecules remain. These wax-like molecules are soluble at ambient temperatures above freezing, but crystallize into a honeycomb-like structure at lower temperatures and cause circulation problems. At startup, this can leave working parts unprotected while the lubricant warms to a temperature that allows it to flow.

AMSOIL synthetic lubricants do not contain paraffins, so they remain fluid in sub-zero temperatures. Watch the video to see what happens when AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil and a conventional oil are cooled to -40º. While the conventional oil fails to flow from the beaker, Signature Series remains fluid and delivers 36% easier and faster cold starts*. This means it can reach vital components faster, providing more immediate engine protection and reduced wear.

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How Long Does Synthetic Motor Oil Last?

How Long Does Synthetic Motor Oil Last?

Generally speaking, synthetic motor oil will nearly always last longer than conventional oil, saving you time and money. But your specific synthetic oil change interval will depend on several factors, including operating conditions, motor oil quality and personal preference.

Why Does Oil Lose its Effectiveness?

Extreme heat hastens chemical breakdown (oxidation), altering the oil’s chemistry and preventing it from lubricating, cooling and protecting as designed. Sludge can form, which clogs narrow oil passages and prevents oil from reaching vital components, causing wear. Oxidation can also lead to increased oil viscosity, which negatively affects energy efficiency. Ultimately, the oil loses its effectiveness and must be changed.

Contaminant build-up also affects oil life. Motor oil is formulated with detergent and dispersant additives responsible for holding dirt, soot (in diesel engines) and other contaminants in suspension and preventing them from depositing on engine surfaces or forming sludge. These additives are sacrificial in nature, meaning once they’re depleted, the oil’s effectiveness suffers and it must be changed.

Better Raw Materials Equal Better Oil

Like any other product, quality plays a big role, and in the case of motor oil helps determine service life and effectiveness. Synthetic motor oil is formulated using higher-quality raw materials than conventional oil, allowing it to perform better and last longer.

AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil, for example, is guaranteed for 25,000 miles/700 hours of operation/one year, whichever comes first, in normal service (15,000 miles in severe service). Its synthetic base oils don’t contain the impurities inherent to conventional oils, allowing it to more effectively resist chemical breakdown and extreme heat. Signature Series is also formulated with high-quality additives that effectively neutralize contaminants for long service life.

The graph helps demonstrate this fact. A key indicator of potential service life is the oil’s Total Base Number (TBN), which indicates the oil’s ability to neutralize contaminants, such as combustion by-products and acidic materials. Higher TBN oils are able to neutralize a greater amount of acidic materials, which results in improved protection against corrosive reactions and longer life.

Total Base Number AMSOIL Signatures Series Test Results

Compared to nine leading synthetic oils, Signature Series ranked first in the TBN test. It delivers a combination of long service life and outstanding protection other oils simply can’t touch, helping you get the most out of your vehicle and save time and money. In fact, no other oil available offers a drain interval of up to 25,000 miles.

AMSOIL also formulates XL Synthetic Motor Oil (10,000 miles/six months, or longer when recommended in owner’s manuals or indicated by electronic oil life monitoring systems) and OE Synthetic Motor Oil (3,000+ miles/3+ months), providing three tiers of AMSOIL performance.

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How to Reduce Engine Wear

How to Reduce Engine Wear

Engine wear is inevitable. But you can take steps to reduce wear and maximize the life and performance of your engine.

Wear occurs in four primary ways.

Abrasive wear starts with particles that originate as contaminants from outside the engine, such as dirt or soot. These contaminants are ingested through the air intake and circulate throughout the engine, grinding and scouring metal components. Most abrasive wear can be eliminated with high-quality air and oil filters.

Corrosive wear, sometimes referred to as chemical wear, results from chemical attack on a metal surface, such as the cylinder wall. Chemical corrosion is especially problematic in vehicles used sporadically or seasonally, such as motorcycles.

Adhesive wear is a result of metal-to-metal contact under high loads, speed or temperatures. Although the metal surfaces in your engine appear smooth to the naked eye, they contain microscopic high spots, called asperities. As asperities slide against each other, they can bond, causing the two surfaces to adhere. As they pull apart, surface imperfections result that accumulate over time and can lead to failures, such as seizure.

Fatigue wear occurs when regular stress on a lubricated surface causes fractures over time. Fatigue wear occurs predominantly in rolling-element bearings.

Four-Ball Wear Test ChartUsing high-quality air and oil filters is critical to reducing engine wear. Air filters help prevent abrasive contaminants from entering your engine, while a good oil filter will trap particles before they can circulate through the engine and cause wear. AMSOIL offers Wix and MANN-FILTER air filters, which feature high-quality media that provide superior filtration. AMSOIL Ea Oil Filters are made from synthetic media, which traps and holds a higher percentage of the small, wear-causing particles conventional filters miss for maximum engine protection.

The motor oil you choose is just as important. Modern engines run hotter and under higher pressures, increasing the likelihood of wear. Some oils may not be up to the challenge of providing the required level of protection. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated with resilient base stocks and performance additives that withstand heat and stress better than conventional oils. To demonstrate, AMSOIL Signature Series  5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil was compared to nine leading synthetic oils in the Four Ball Wear Test. It delivered excellent wear protection and revealed itself to be the top-performing oil in the test, helping you get the most out of your vehicles.

 

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Spend Less on Fuel and Motor Oil

Spend Less on Fuel and Motor Oil

Compared to conventional oils, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils help improve fuel economy while reducing oil consumption, both of which save you money.

The difference in performance starts at the molecular level. The refining process used to produce conventional base oils separates crude-oil molecules by weight, leaving molecules of different sizes and shapes. Conventional oils’ inconsistent molecular structure requires more energy to circulate throughout your engine, reducing fuel economy. Unstable molecules in conventional base oils can also evaporate more readily in the presence of extreme heat, causing your oil level to drop. If enough motor oil is consumed, eventually there may not be enough to reach all the complex parts of your engine, which can potentially cause damage.

The synthetic base oils used to formulate AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, on the other hand, are manufactured using a process that produces base oils of a uniform molecular structure. The smooth, pure molecules in AMSOIL synthetic lubricants slip easily over one another, increasing lubricity compared to conventional oils and maximizing fuel economy. They are also inherently more stable in the presence of heat, resulting in less oil consumption.

AMSOIL INC. has conducted industry-standard tests to demonstrate. For example, AMSOIL synthetic diesel oil, transmission fluid and gear oil increased fuel economy 6.54 percent in short- to medium-haul diesel applications in one test, while boosting fuel economy in diesel trucks used in stop-and-go city driving conditions 3.15 percent in a second test. The same synthetic technology extends to the entire line of AMSOIL synthetic lubricants, delivering maximum fuel economy in all your vehicles and equipment.

Likewise, a conventional oil showed 60 percent more oil consumption than AMSOIL 5W-30 Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil in testing, requiring more frequent top-offs. Conversely, Signature Series showed 38 percent less consumption than the conventional oil.*

It all means you save money at the pump and have to top-off your oil less often.

*Supported by the NOACK Volatility Test (ASTM D5800)

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AMSOIL Won’t Let Two-Million Mile Trucker Retire

AMSOIL Won’t Let Two-Million Mile Trucker Retire

In October 2012, AMSOIL told the story of Jerry Pruett’s one-million-mile-plus Kenworth. The Woodhull, Ill., native installed AMSOIL synthetic lubricants when he bought the truck new in 1999. After reaching 1.6 million miles on the original transmission and differentials and 1.1 million miles on the factory-rebuilt engine in 2012, Pruett has since eclipsed 2 million miles and shows no signs of slowing down.

The truck, which Pruett uses to haul freight predominantly around the Midwest, has required little maintenance since 2012. In November of that year, Pruett did finally need to replace the fuel injectors. “The spray pattern on the pistons was still good,” he said. “The springs must have weakened over time. Other than that, there was nothing wrong with them.” All six injectors lasted 1.1 million miles. Injectors typically require replacement prior to 500,000 miles, says Pruett. Pruett attributes their longevity to continuous use of AMSOIL Diesel Injector Clean.

Since he was replacing the head gasket anyway, Pruett elected to replace the entire cylinder head to expedite replacement of the injector cups. Other than the head and a new water pump, the engine has required no work in the intervening years. “It keeps humming along,” Pruett said. The turbocharger is still original. Pruett runs AMSOIL 15W-40 Synthetic Heavy Duty Diesel and Marine Oil. He also uses an AMSOIL DUAL-GARD® Oil Filtration System  and changes oil approximately every 100,000 miles, which saves him significant money.

The differentials and transmission are still original after 2 million miles. Pruett uses AMSOIL Severe Gear® SAE 190 Synthetic Gear Lube in the differentials, although AMSOIL primarily recommends 75W-90 Long Life Synthetic Gear Lube in over-the-road applications. “A little bit thicker oil couldn’t hurt with the high miles,” he said. He uses AMSOIL DOMINATOR® SAE 60 Synthetic Racing Oil in the transmission, although AMSOIL primarily recommends SAE 50 Long-Life Synthetic Transmission Oil. “It’s probably been in there 600,000 miles,” he said.

Pruett has learned firsthand how good AMSOIL synthetic diesel oil protects in severe conditions. He was changing his by-pass filter last winter, and it was cold and he was in a hurry. He accidently left the O-ring behind on the filter mount, which prevented the new filter from seating properly. “About four miles down the road, the oil-pressure light came on,” he said. “Sure enough, I found an oily mess by the by-pass filter.” Fortunately, Pruett always carries four gallons of oil with him. The truck required the entire four gallons to register oil on the dipstick. His engine has suffered no ill effects, however. “With any other oil, I’d probably be overhauling the truck,” Pruett said.

Pruett uses his truck and his AMSOIL experience as a rolling advertisement for his AMSOIL Dealership. The people with whom he shares his story still have a tough time believing it. “They shake their heads in disbelief,” Pruett said. “They think, ‘No way can you have that many miles on a truck.’ And I only change oil once a year.”

Now 64 years old, Pruett doubts he’ll be working long enough to see 3 million miles. He hopes to spend more time pursuing his AMSOIL Dealership – and he has a great testimonial for everyone he meets along the way. “I’m not only an AMSOIL Dealer, I’m an AMSOIL user and abuser,” Pruett said. “I won’t use anything else.”

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Protect Your Vehicle–and the Environment

Protect Your Vehicle–and the Environment

AMSOIL synthetic lubricants not only deliver exceptional protection and performance for your vehicles, they provide remarkable environmental benefits compared to conventional oils.

Less than 10% of the waste AMSOIL generates ends up in a landfill

Extended drain intervals: AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are formulated to resist chemical break down, guard against oil consumption and neutralize contaminants better than conventional oils, resulting in longer service life. AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil, for example, is guaranteed for 25,000 miles/700 hours of operation/one year, whichever comes first, in normal service. By safely extending oil-change intervals, Signature Series dramatically reduces waste oil. If every passenger car/light truck in America practiced extended drain intervals using Signature Series, up to 35.7 billion quarts of oil would be eliminated from the supply stream.

Reduced emissions: The air we breathe also benefits from AMSOIL synthetic lubricants. Conventional motor oils are more volatile than synthetics, meaning they boil off, or evaporate, more readily when exposed to extreme heat. When oil evaporates, it produces emissions that exit the tailpipe and enter the atmosphere, contributing to air pollution. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils offer better resistance to volatility, helping cut emissions and air pollution.

Maximum fuel economy: Unlike their conventional counterparts, AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are engineered with pure molecular structures that allow their molecules to slip more easily over one another, resulting in less restriction to moving engine parts. Less restriction reduces the amount of energy lost to friction, increasing fuel economy and benefiting the environment.

 

AMSOIL Center produces only one dumpster load of waste every six weeks

Going a Step Further

The commitment of AMSOIL to the environment extends beyond its products to its environmental management system, which is registered to the ISO 14001:2004 standard. AMSOIL closely monitors its environmental impact and has taken numerous steps toward improvement every year.

For example, AMSOIL obtains much of its packaging materials from responsible sources. Plastic containers are made of post-consumer resins, while cardboard boxes derive from the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, whose benefits dramatically reduce waste (see chart). AMSOIL partners with SmartWay® carriers to ship product as efficiently as possible, producing emissions-reduction results equivalent to taking 166 cars off the roads annually.

AMSOIL recycled resources facts

AMSOIL also boasts a rigorous recycling program throughout its corporate facilities. Less than 10 percent of the waste AMSOIL generates ends up in a landfill. In fact, the entire 400,000 square foot AMSOIL Center in Superior, Wis., produces only one dumpster load of waste every six weeks.

AMSOIL has always recognized that doing what’s right for the environment not only makes ecological sense, it also improves business. It’s one of the company’s founding principles and will remain so well into the future.

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Another Premium AMSOIL Option for European Vehicles

Another Premium AMSOIL Option for European Vehicles

Additional full-SAPS option fills niche demand for 0W-40 in European applications.

AMSOIL has expanded its European Car Formula line to include a full-SAPS 0W-40 viscosity. Featuring the same premium synthetic formulation and recommended for the same specifications as European Car Formula 5W-40 Full-SAPS Synthetic Motor Oil (EFM), new European Car Formula 0W-40 Full-SAPS Synthetic Motor Oil (EFO) provides European vehicle customers with a different viscosity option.

European vehicle owner’s manuals typically require the motor oil meets a certain specification, but many list several viscosity options. Some manufacturers include temperature graphs to help customers choose a viscosity based on climate, but many customers prefer using lower viscosity oils in all environments. New AMSOIL European Car Formula 0W-40 Synthetic Motor Oil provides customers that lower viscosity option, and it is ideal for customers looking for a premium AMSOIL alternative to competing 0W-40 motor oils that carry European specifications.

Delivers long-term protection and performance for the extended drain intervals recommended by European vehicle manufacturers.

Provides the additional cold-weather advantages of a 0W synthetic motor oil.

Helps keep engines clean and operating at top performance.

Engineered for maximum fuel economy.

 

Applications

AMSOIL European Car Formula 0W-40 Full-SAPS Synthetic Motor Oil (EFO) is recommended for use in European gasoline or diesel vehicles requiring any of the following performance specifications*:

ACEA A3/B3, A3/B4

API SN/SM...

BMW LL-01

Mercedes-Benz 229.1/229.3/229.5

Porsche A40

Renault 0710, 0700

VW 502.00, 505.00

 

SAPS Levels

SAPS stands for sulfated ash, phosphorus and sulfur, which comprise a significant part of a motor oil’s additive content. Because the vehicle emissions system and after treatment devices of some European vehicles are sensitive to the SAPS content of oil, it is important to use an oil that meets the proper specification to ensure optimum engine protection and performance.

The vast majority of European vehicles in North America call for a full-SAPS European oil. AMSOIL now offers premium European Car Formula Full-SAPS Synthetic Motor Oil in two viscosity options, as well as premium European Car Formula 5W-30 Low-SAPS and 5W-40 Mid-SAPS Oils.

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