Increase Octane to Maximize Motorcycle Performance

Increase Octane to Maximize Motorcycle Performance 

Though many Harley-Davidson* owners don’t realize it, their bikes are equipped with electronics that detect engine knock. When the computer adjusts ignition timing to eliminate knock, performance suffers. AMSOIL Motorcycle Octane Boost offers an economical solution.

 

What is Engine Knock?

Understanding engine knock, also known as detonation or pre-ignition, requires an understanding of octane. Octane is a standard measure of gasoline performance. The three most common octane ratings include the following: 

•Anti-Knock Index (AKI)

•Research Octane Number (RON)

•Motor Octane Number (MON) 

AKI is the rating most motorists are familiar with. It’s typically displayed on gas pumps as the average of the fuel’s RON and MON. Since RON, however, is the most common industry rating, it’s the rating AMSOIL uses when conducting performance tests and product validation. Gasoline’s RON generally is a few numbers higher than the AKI posted on the gas pump (e.g. 87 octane fuel, or regular pump gas, has a RON of about 91-92).

 

The higher the octane, the more compression the fuel can withstand before igniting. Low-octane gas is susceptible to uncontrolled and early ignition in the combustion chamber. It causes a knocking or pinging sound, robs the engine of power and, left unchecked, can cause catastrophic piston damage.

 

Engine Detuning Reduces Performance

Modern Harleys are equipped with a knock sensor that adjusts timing to compensate for low-octane gasoline and eliminate engine knock. Unfortunately, when timing is adjusted decreased performance results. Rough idling and lack of throttle response are the most common side effects of the engine saving itself from low-octane gasoline. Many people don’t even know this is occurring. Engine knock may be eliminated by raising the fuel’s octane number. 

 

By increasing octane up to three numbers, which eliminates knock or ping and maximizes power and efficiency, AMSOIL Motorcycle Octane Boost offers a low-cost, effective solution to engine detuning and helps maximize bike power and performance.

 

Controls Harmful Deposits

In addition to increasing octane number, Motorcycle Octane Boost maintains engine and fuel-system cleanliness. Its active detergents help prevent deposits for improved efficiency. [For initial clean-up, AMSOIL recommends AMSOIL Quickshot®, which contains a greater concentration of cleaning agents.]

How Extreme Heat Affects Your Engine

How Extreme Heat Affects Your Engine

The average operating temperature of a passenger car/light truck engine is up to 235ºF, and higher under heavy loads. Motorists are becoming more familiar with the technologies responsible for this increased heat, specifically turbochargers and direct fuel injection. Automakers are designing engines using these performance-enhancing technologies to keep pace with increasingly strict fuel economy and emissions standards. Extreme heat, however, can lead to a host of problems, all of which reduce engine performance and life.

Deposits & Sludge

Heat can quickly break down motor oil, creating deposits on the intake valves, which impede airflow into the engine and contribute to poor sealing of the combustion chamber. This can lead to rough idle, misfire and reduced power and fuel economy.

Extreme heat depletes the additives sooner, 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. Preventing sludge is particularly important in engines that use variable valve timing (VVT). Intricate parts sensitive to sludge can fail to operate properly, resulting in reduced performance.

AMSOIL Signature Series Oil Piston Comparison

Testing done by an independent, third-party lab demonstrates AMSOIL Signature Series 5W-30 Synthetic Motor Oil’s superior extreme-heat resistance compared to a leading conventional oil. Signature Series’ superior heat resistance resulted in 81 percent fewer deposits (5 times cleaner) than the conventional oil.

Oil Consumption

When oil volatilizes, the lighter molecules evaporate, leaving behind the heavier components. This leads to viscosity increase, which makes the oil more difficult to circulate and reduces fuel efficiency. You may have experienced this when your car “uses” oil and requires frequent top-offs. Volatilization also creates emissions that contribute to air pollution.

If enough motor oil is consumed, eventually there may not be enough to reach all the complex parts of the engine, which can potentially cause damage.

Signature Series Synthetic Motor Oil demonstrated 38 percent less consumption than the conventional oil, reducing frequent top-offs.

The Double-Length Sequence IIIG Engine Test Study offers additional proof of performance. After 200 hours, Signature Series scored 86 percent better for piston deposits compared to industry standards for 100 hours, easily passing the test.

Signature Series’ high-performance additives and quality base oils offer improved resistance to heat, maximizing the performance and life of your engine and keeping it clean.

AMSOIL Motorcycle Products: Something for Everyone

AMSOIL Motorcycle Products: Something for Everyone

With the introduction of several new and repackaged motorcycle products this year, AMSOIL offers something for every type of biker, from motocross racers and off-road riders to V-Twin and metric enthusiasts. AMSOIL motorcycle products deliver the power, performance and protection that every biker wants, no matter the motivation for getting on the bike. 

Dirt Bike

To satisfy the demand for dirt-bike-specific oil, AMSOIL developed Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil in three viscosities, including 10W-40 (DB40), 10W-50 (DB50) and 10W-60 (DB60). 

AMSOIL Synthetic Dirt Bike Oil is designed to deliver consistent clutch feel and improve the performance of both bike and rider. Superior clutch consistency lets off-road (trail) riders expertly navigate trail obstacles without sacrificing momentum, helping them stay at the front of the pack. It also allows motocross racers the control needed to accurately time the gate drop to grab the holeshot. 

V-Twin

AMSOIL expanded its line of V-Twin lubricants in March to include new AMSOIL 20W-40 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil (MVI), AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Transmission Fluid (MVT) and AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Primary Fluid (MVP). AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCV) and AMSOIL SAE 60 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCS) also fall into the V-Twin Family. 

20W-40 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil

AMSOIL 20W-40 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil was developed to cater to the increasing popularity of Victory and model-year 2013 and newer Indian motorcycles*, providing riders with the security of knowing their bike engines are protected against extreme heat, internal wear and damaging sludge and deposits.

Synthetic V-Twin Transmission Fluid / Synthetic V-Twin Primary Fluid

AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Transmission Fluid and AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Primary Fluid are purpose-built for bikers who prefer a dedicated transmission or primary lubricant over a multi-use product, offering customers more options. Together, their robust formulations protect against damage from shock-loading, premature wear, clutch slippage and thermal breakdown and deliver the confidence of smooth starts, quiet operation and more effective riding.

20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil provides superior protection for newer V-Twins, including the ever-popular Harley-Davidson*. In addition to being a cost-effective, high-performance alternative for original equipment manufacturer (OEM)-branded lubricants, AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil provides superior primary chaincase, transmission and engine protection in one convenient package.

SAE 60 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

AMSOIL SAE 60 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil is a premium oil for early model air-cooled V-Twin engines specifying a 60-weight motor oil. It is specially formulated to excel in wet-clutch lubrication, extreme-pressure protection of gears and preventing rust common to short drives and storage.

Metric

To round out the entire motorcycle oil line, AMSOIL 10W-30 (MCT) and 10W-40 Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil (MCF) were repackaged and reintroduced with a more specific focus on metric motorcycle applications. 

AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil is formulated to provide smooth shifts, excellent wear protection, extreme heat resistance and trouble-free operation in metric cruisers, sport bikes and touring bikes, including Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki and Honda.* 

Get the Most out of Your Manual Transmission

Get the Most out of Your Manual Transmission

Few things connect driver and vehicle like a smooth-shifting manual transmission. Although U.S. automakers have steadily moved away from manuals, many enthusiast cars still come with optional manuals. The heavy-duty market is still dominated by manuals, with many of these transmissions being automated.  

Most modern automobile manual transmissions use synchronizers – conical brass rings attached to each drive gear – to match the rotational speed of the drive and dog gears during shifts. Without synchronizers, these gears would clash as they try to mate.  Transmissions without synchronizers require a shifting technique called double clutching to engage the gears smoothly.  

Maximizing Shift Quality

Whether you’re driving a sports car or an over-the-road truck, smooth shifts are important. The lubricant’s viscosity and friction properties play a vital role in shift quality. Viscosity that is too high could prevent shifting the gears until the transmission warms up or result in abnormally high temperatures during operation. Viscosity that is too low could cause the synchronizer and dog gear to engage too quickly, resulting in grinding or hard shifts and abnormal transmission wear. The wrong frictional properties will result in poor shift quality and possibly accelerated synchronizer wear.

Synchromesh Lubrication 

Despite their relative simplicity compared to automatic transmissions, manuals require properly engineered lubricants – particularly the synchromesh units – to operate properly. In addition to providing smooth shifts, the lubricant must…

Help control gear wear

Reduce heat for improved gear efficiency

Inhibit corrosion to gear surfaces 

Controlling wear isn’t as simple as it sounds. The relative motion between gears squeezes out the oil, meaning the microscopic film of lubricant left behind must be sufficiently resilient to withstand high pressures. Typically, the lubricant cannot contain high levels of anti-wear and extreme-pressure additives because they deteriorate synchromesh materials and disrupt gear engagement. 

Manual transmissions may call for motor oil; an automatic transmission fluid; a GL-4 or GL-5 fluid or a fluid formulated for synchromesh units. Motor oils are common manual transmission lubricants in older vehicles, but they generally do not offer adequate protection in modern transmissions. 

AMSOIL formulates a complete line of synthetic manual transmission fluids for passenger car/light truck and heavy-duty applications. They are specifically formulated to deliver smooth shifts and long transmission life for their intended applications, helping you get the most out of your vehicle. 

Synthetic Manual Transmission & Transaxle Gear Lube

Synthetic Synchromesh Transmission Fluid

Synthetic Powershift Transmission Fluid

SAE 50 Long-Life Synthetic Transmission Oil

AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil: New Look, Same Great Product

AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil: New Look, Same Great Product

AMSOIL 10W-30 and 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil have become AMSOIL 10W-30 and 10W-40 Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil. The names and packaging have changed, but the formulations remain the same. AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil delivers superior performance for metric sport, cruiser and touring bikes.

• Smooth, confident shifts

• Cool, clean performance

• Premium wear protection

Sport Bikes

AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil’s advanced synthetic technology maximizes engine responsiveness while delivering excellent wet-clutch compatibility for smooth shifts. The high speeds and rpm at which sport bikes travel can cause oil to foam. AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil controls foam, helping you confidently push the red line for maximum speed, acceleration and cornering ability.

Metric Cruisers

AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil delivers smooth, confident shifts and excellent wear protection for metric cruisers. By resisting extreme heat and helping cool hot engines, it promotes peace of mind and confidence whether cruising down the highway or showing off your ride at the rally.

Touring Bikes

AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil helps enhance reliability by delivering superior engine protection. Its outstanding performance provides the security of knowing your bike is going to provide trouble-free operation mile after mile. It extends drain intervals to up to twice the bike manufacturer’s recommendations, allowing you to enjoy peace of mind when you’re far away from home and unable to stop for an oil change. AMSOIL Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil’s wet-clutch compatibility enables smooth shifts for a comfortable ride.