Motor Oil Info

Clean oil is vital to keep engines running properly. Oil must lubricate, cool and clean the engine as it circulates. In order to remain effective it must be filtered as it cycles.

The filter is connected to the engine sump, which contains the oil pump. Full-flow filters pass all the oil output from the pump through the filter.

The function of the oil filter is to remove the contaminants introduced into the lubricating oil and prevent them from reaching sensitive engine parts without restricting normal oil flow to the various points requiring lubrication. Internal sources of contamination include wear products from the rubbing surfaces of the engine, blow-by gases leaking past the rings of the pistons and degradation of the oil itself. A filter must perform well in the areas of efficiency, capacity, flow and life.

Efficiency is the filter’s ability to capture contaminants. The more efficient a filter is, the more contaminants it will remove from the oil. To make a filter more efficient the spaces between the fibers in the media are made smaller, creating more resistance and limiting the oil’s ability to flow through the filter. Achieving maximum efficiency along with limited resistance is critical to good filtration.

AMSOIL Ea Air Filters represent a major breakthrough in filtration technology. For the first time, revolutionary nanofiber technology is available to the auto/light truck market.

Nanofiber technology has been used exclusively in heavy-duty applications, including the US ARMY Abrams M1 tank. AMSOIL has brought this technology to the auto/light truck market. AMSOIL Ea Air Filters provide the absolute best filtration for AMSOIL customers and with an unmatched four-year/100,000-mile guarantee, AMSOIL Ea Air Filters save money!

Nanofiber is a phrase generally referring to a fiber with a diameter less than one micron. Cellulose fibers on the other hand, are larger than nanofibers and have larger spaces between the fibers,causing contaminants to load in the depth of the media and plugthe airflow path, resulting in higher restriction and less capacity. AMSOIL Ea Air Filters incorporate a specially constructed cellulose media with synthetic nanofibers applied to the surface. Dust and submicron particles are trapped on the nanofiber surface, preventing them from lodging in the filter media depth.

Cleaning is done by using light air pressure, or a shop vacuum.

Just because summer is coming to an end doesn’t mean there’s any excuse to sacrifice boat maintenance. As you prepare to winterize your small vessel, you might be concerned about the health of the fuel system. When an engine sits dormant for an extended period of time, water vapor can build up and wreak havoc on the fuel tank and lines. After you’ve emptied the outboard motor of most of its fuel, add a healthy dose of gasoline stabilizer.

These invaluable gasoline additives keep the system well lubricated so that rust and corrosion don’t build up on the bare metal parts in the fuel system. And of course they keep excess water at bay, preventing varnish and sludge from depositing inside the injectors, carburetors and other vital parts of the engine. Before you stow your boat away for the season, make sure all your bases are covered.

Heat is a major cause of reduced equipment and lubricant life. The ability of drivetrain fluids to minimize operating temperatures can significantly extend both equipment and oil life.

In a study conducted by General Motors, it was determined that an Automatic Transmission Fluid operating temperture of 175f. would translate into a service life of 100,000 miles for an automatic transmission. That life would be reduced by 50 percent for every 20f. increase in fluid operating temperture. This demonstrates that small temperture changes can result in big differences in transmission life expectancy. The use of AMSOIL ATF can promote component longevity through reducing operating temperatures by as much as 15 to 30f. This particularly significant for applications equipped for towing or hauling heavy loads.

Combination fluids are common in the agriculture and construction marketplace. In these applications, a single fluid is shared between such components as the hydraulic system and the manual transmission. As the two components possess differing lubrication needs, the fluid must be formulated to meet both sets of requirements.

Such fluids typically display viscosity performance equal to an SAE 10w-30 multi-grade product, or SAE 5w-30 products which are commonly referred to as ” all weather” fluids. However, they are also often marketed as only an SAE 30. Such fluids exhibit low coefficients of friction and generally the most slippery of all fluids used in transmissions. It is important to note that the fluid is also common to the braking system used in many such applications. Because the braking system ( referred to as a wet brake ) will be in direct contact with the fluid in this situation,it must not cause abnormal slippage of the braking components. This would result in a loss of braking efficiency and a situation known as chattering.

The use of automatic transmissions can be found in virtually every transportation and mobile equipment application. Just as the designs of such equipment vary, so do the demands placed upon the required lubricants.

Viscosity requirements for an automatic transmission differ by application. these products are typically multi-viscosity fluids. However, single grades fluids are also commonplace. The multi-viscosity products generally contain viscosity index improvers which allow for the low temperature performance typically required of ATF fluids.

The low temperature properties of an Automatic Transmission Fluid have become increasingly important in recent years. For example, one of the key differences between Dexron II and Dexron III fluids recommended by General Motors is the increased ability of the Dexron III product to function at lower operating temperatures. The same holds true for the Mercon and Mercon V fluids, which are recommended by Ford.

The coefficient of friction of a fluid affects the shifting characteristic of an automatic transmission. Whether the shifting characteristics of a transmission are smooth and subtle or aggressive will depend on its design and the fluid used. It is, therefore, prudent to use a fluid matching the requirements of the transmission manufacturer.

In today’s applications, base stocks alone cannot provide all the characteristics required to perform the needed functions of a lubricant. This holds true regardless of whether the stock is petroleum or synthetic oil in nature.

However, the performance of base stocks can be enhanced by the addition of certain chemical compounds. Referred to as additives, they not only enhance existing properties, but can also impart new ones. Additives have become an essential part of today’s lubricants, as they comprise a significant amount of each quart you buy. The concentration of additives found in a typical quart of oil is7.5 – 25%.

How are multigrade oil made? Some exist naturally. For example, many synthetic oil base stocks have sufficient viscosity stability to qualify as multigrade oils. For mineral base oil , it is another story. They are created by first selecting a base stock that possesses the desired low-temperature properties. To that stock, chemical compounds known as viscosity index improvers are added. These viscosity index improvers minimize the thinning of the oil as temperatures increase. This allows the lighter base stock to now also meet the higher temperature requirements.

Multigrade oils offer the best of both worlds. They provide low-temperature fluidity as well as the high-temperature stability required for operation in a changing environment.

When selecting a lubricant, there are three basic rules of thumb to consider. 1 – The lower the starting and/ or operating temperture, the lighter or thinner the selected oil should be. The higher the starting or operating temperature, the heavier or thicker the selected oil should be.

2 – The higher the load a component is subjected to, the heavier or thicker the oil should be. The lighter the load a component is subjected to, the lighter or thinner the oil should be.

3 – The faster the operating speed for a piece of equipment, the lighter or thinner the oil should be. The slower the operating speed for a piece of equipment, the heavier or thicker the oil should be.

Of all the characteristics of a Synthetic oil may possess, the most important is its viscosity. The viscosity of a fluid and how that viscosity reacts to variables will determine how well a fluid can perform the basic functions of a lubricant. There is no compromise for the proper viscosity!

What is viscosity? When a fluid is subjected to external forces, it resists flow due to external molecular friction. Viscosity is a measure of that internal friction. Viscosity can be referred to as the measurement of a fluid’s resistance to flow. You can think of this as the energy required to move an object through a fluid. It takes little energy to stir water with a spoon. However, significantly more energy is required to stir honey with the same spoon.

There are also other ways to refer to a fluid’s viscosity. Some of the more common terms are thin, light or low. These terms suggest how a relatively free-flowing fluid such as water flows. Terms such as thick, heavy or high suggest that the fluid demonstrates a strong resistance to flow. Honey is a good example of a fluid with a high viscosity.

A fluid’s viscosity is important because it is directly related to its load-carrying capabilities. The greater a fluid’s viscosity,the greater the loads it can withstand. The viscosity of a fluid must be adequate to separate moving parts under normal operating conditions ( temperature and speed).

Knowing that a fluid’s viscosity is directly related to its ability to carry load, one would think that the more viscous a fluid, the better it is. The fact is, the use of a high- viscosity fluid can be just as detrimental as using too light an oil.

Too low = Metal-to Metal contact ( friction and wear), poor sealing and increased oil consumption.

Too high = Increased fluid friction, reduced enery efficiency, higher operating tempertures and equipment starting difficulties particulary at cold tempertures. The key is to select a fluid that is not too light and not too heavy.

As most gardeners know, tilling and watering the soil will only do so much to improve its quality. If you really want to bring out the big guns, you’ll need to find a way to improve the soil’s pH level, boosting the number of nutrients and making the space generally more hospitable to plants. Limestone, a naturally occurring mineral that restores fertility to acidic soil, can make all the difference.

Lime fertilizer hits the plants’ root systems with a burst of calcium, in effect strengthening the roots and improving the soil structure in general. Now that fall is upon us, it’s the best time to add lime to your garden. Just clear the area of debris such as leaves and branches, and then get down to business. Your crops and your family will be sure to thank you.