Today’s Specialized Sleds Demand Specialized Oil. Is Your Oil Up to the Challenge?

Today’s Specialized Sleds Demand Specialized Oil.

Is Your Oil Up to the Challenge?

It’s a great time to be a snowmobiler. Modern sleds deliver power, performance and efficiency unthought of a few years ago. And with each new model year, sled manufacturers seem to push the limits of performance even further, allowing you to ride faster and push your sled harder, while using less gas and oil and producing fewer emissions.

Although greater performance translates into ear-to-ear grins on the trail, it can be brutal on motor oil.

The Ski-Doo* Rotax* E-TEC* and Arctic Cat* C-TEC2* engines offer perfect examples. The E-TEC incorporates electronic equipment that can adjust the amount of oil the engine uses depending on operating conditions. As a result, the engine produces fewer exhaust emissions – and more severe operating conditions.

Similarly, Arctic Cat’s C-TEC2 engine features dual-stage injection, where fuel is injected directly into the boost port side of the cylinder at low rpm and also into the crankcase area at high rpm. Like the E-TEC, it uses less oil than previous engines. In one Arctic Cat promotional video, riders are told to expect fuel-to-oil ratios in the range of 65:1, depending on riding conditions. The result, according to Arctic Cat, is improved performance, fuel-economy and emissions. 

Getting the most out of your sled requires using an oil proven to stand up to the punishment doled out by modern engines. Two-stroke oils should focus on three areas of performance:

Piston protection

Exhaust power valve cleanliness

Cold-flow properties

The intense heat and friction inside today’s snowmobile engines can overwhelm inferior oils, leading to scuffing and wear. Excellent lubricity — a term that refers to the oil’s ability to reduce friction — is essential for maximum wear protection. After 50 hours of intense dyno testing in a Rotax E-TEC 800R engine — enough time to replicate and entire riding season — AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR® Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil completely prevented piston scuffing.

High heat and increased power can also cause deposit formation on exhaust power valves, which can lead to sticking and reduced performance. Oils with outstanding cleanliness properties are key to maximum power valve performance. In the same 50-hour dyno test, INTERCEPTOR completely prevented exhaust power valve sticking. For full testing results, visit http://www.amsoil.com/proof.

In the area of cold-flow ability, INTERCEPTOR also performs. Today’s snowmobile engines direct less oil to critical components, through narrower passages, for longer distances. Oils that don’t remain fluid in sub-zero cold can fail to reach components at startup, promoting wear. With a pour point of -72°F, INTERCEPTOR remains fluid in extreme cold to ensure oil reaches critical components, keeping your engine protected.

While snowmobile manufacturers may be experts at building sleds, no one can match AMSOIL expertise and experience when it comes to formulating synthetic two-stroke oils. Plus, AMSOIL synthetic snowmobile oils are Warranty Secure™, keeping your factory warranty intact. They’re outstanding choices whether you ride a Polaris*, Ski-Doo, Arctic Cat, Yamaha* or other brand of sled.