Understanding Oil Grades

What does an SAE engine oil grade really mean?

Let’s begin to understand. The number preceding the W is the dynamic viscosity range of the oil. In other words, how much energy is necessary to move the oil at cold temperatures? The W stands for winter and means that the oil has a cold temperature...

Super Knock LSPI

Ping, Knock, Detonation, LSPI (Low Speed Pre-Ignition) or Super Knock

These are names for conditions that can cause damage to the pistons in our engines. LSPI (Low Speed Pre-Ignition), the newest of this type of phenomena is also the most damaging. This “Super Knock” can occur when turbo charged...

Home Heating Oil Additive

While not everyone operates a diesel engine, a lot of us heat our homes with #2 fuel oil. Amsoil's Diesel Injector Clean, product code ADF, is specifically recommended to treat home heating oil, providing the same benefits it does for diesel engines. Considering that a 330 gallon tank of...

Unique and Proprietary Automotive Lubricant Formulations

Dictionaries describe UNIQUE as unlike anything else, and PROPRIETARY as something that is produced under exclusive rights of the inventor or maker. UNIQUE and PROPRIETARY are also how the AMSOIL corporation describes it's lubricant formulations. Many of the lubricants that are available...

Engines Burning Oil

Many newer automobile engines are using quantities of oil that would have only been associated with that of well-used cars. Their manufacturers are stating that this is normal. While it may be “normal”, this oil usage would not make me happy as a new vehicle owner. Some of the causes of...

What is an oil to do?

An engine oil has seven basic functions. LUBRICATING the moving parts and reducing friction in an engine comes to mind as obvious. COOLING, as much as 40% of engine cooling is facilitated by the engine oil. SEALING pistons, rings and cylinders and supporting mechanical seals. TRANSFERING power as...

How Extreme Cold Effects Oil

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...

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...

Amsoil Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil

AMSOIL Synthetic Tractor Hydraulic/Transmission Oil is an all-weather Universal Tractor Transmission Oil (UTTO) engineered to meet the tough demands of heavy-duty, hydraulic-powered farm and commercial equipment. Its...

Newest API Engine Oil Grades

In 2013 the American Petroleum Institute has approved the following engine oil grades, 8, 12 and 16.
These viscosities are to aid fuel efficiency by reducing the engine lubricant's resistance to flow. We may be seeing engine manufacturers requiring these specifications in the...

OUR BLOG

What does an SAE engine oil grade really mean?