Category: Maintenance

AMSOIL Motorcycle Octane Boost Available in Canada

AMSOIL Motorcycle Octane Boost (MOB) is now available in Canada.

MOB increases octane for power and efficiency. It is designed to improve startup performance and eliminate engine ping and knock for increased power at low-rpm operation.

MOB also contains detergents that help combustion chambers and fuel delivery systems maintain cleanliness for optimum performance. At the recommended treat rate, it does not harm catalytic converters or oxygen sensors.
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Motorcycle vs Automotive Oils

What’s the difference between motorcycle and automotive motor oils?

Every once in a while someone wants to know why regular motor oil can’t be used in motorcycles. The short answer is that oils are formulated for specific applications. Motorcycle engines and automotive engines function differently, and the lubricants that service them have different requirements.

  1. Motorcycles operate at significantly higher operational speeds than automobiles, placing additional stress on engine components and increasing wear protection requirements
  2. Motorcycles operate with higher engine compression ratios than automobiles, placing additional stress on engine components and increasing operating temperatures
  3. Motorcycle engines produce nearly twice the horsepower per cubic inch of displacement as automobile engines
  4. Many motorcycles are air-cooled or use a combination air/oil design. Though effective, they result in greater operating temperature fluctuations, particularly in stop-and-go traffic
  5. Because the engine and transmission share a common sump, many motorcycles need a multi-functional fluid. Many motorcycles also incorporate a frictional [wet] clutch within the transmission that uses the same oil
  6. Motorcycles are typically used less frequently than automobiles. These extended periods of inactivity place additional stress on motorcycle oils. Rust and acid corrosion protection are critical

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Castrol Syntec @ Costco

Did you miss the sale of Castrol Syntec at Costco last week? $9 off is an ok deal on 6 quarts of “synthetic” oil but there is no need to wait for Costco to put Castrol on sale for a quality oil change at an excellent price.

AMSOIL Original Equipment is available any time you need it at wholesale pricing for 0W-20, 5W-20, 5W-30 or 10W-30. If you live near one of the Canadian distribution centres in the GTA or Edmonton areas you can eliminate minimal shipping charges by picking up your order directly at the distribution centre.

Your $30/year membership fee gives you access and wholesale pricing to top quality AMSOIL synthetic oils, oil and air filters – including partners like Wix, Mann and NGK.

Contact me to discuss how to get you set up with a Preferred Customer account to gain access to the private warehouse and wholesale pricing.

Mitsubishi Outlander Oil Change

I spent Friday evening making a mess changing the oil on my 2009 Mitsubishi Outlander. This was my first DIY oil change on the vehicle. Below are some notes and photos specific to the Outlander, in general it’s very similar to other vehicles but hopefully this can help some others get started. Any questions or comments post below in the comment section.
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Ready To Go Fishing?

Here in my part of Southern Ontario the sport fishing season is starting to open up soon.

People are already getting their boats on the water for perch and crappie. Trout opens today, walleye and pike open in mid-May and then bass and muskies open later in June of 2012. Check your local fishing regulations and be careful which zone you are fishing in – I can be inland or out on the Great Lakes which changes dates and locations.
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UOA: 2006 Pontiac Vibe – 14,000-kms

Posted the second UOA for my wife’s 2006 Pontiac Vibe on bobistheoilguy.com for review.

Everything remained fairly constant between the two samples. The AMSOIL XL line of oils is a pretty stout product. We ended up pushing it out to 14,000-km/7-months which is a month overdue on time and 2,000-km under in mileage for the product service life.

Fueling Up

I filled up the tanks with fresh fuel today. Just need to put the blade back on the Ariens mower and everything is ready to go for the spring season.

A dose of Quickshot SE goes into both tanks to stabilize the fuel and keep ethanol in suspension.

The 44ml pillow packet of AMSOIL Saber™ Synthetic 100:1 Pre-Mix 2-Cycle Oil is the perfect size for my string trimmer. I use it with 4L of fuel which is roughly a 90:1 ratio which lasts me all summer in that tiny engine.

Spring Has Sprung

I’m not a meteorologist but all of a sudden we seemed to skip spring as temperatures soared over 25°C last week. My poor winter tires must have been sweating with the summer like temperatures on Thursday – I swapped them out this morning.

When the weather starts to warm up people start getting out their equipment. Boats are being uncovered as fishermen tighten their lines on some catfish in Dunville and rainbows in Grimsby. Everything seems to be early this year with our lack of snow and ice in Southern Ontario the water surface temperatures are already at spring levels.

I’ve had lots of calls about Motorcycle oil last week.
20W-50 MCV and 10W-40 MCF are in stock and ready to be picked up in Mississauga so you can install it in your bike this weekend. Don’t forget a bottle of Quickshot to stabilize and clean your fuel system. EA Motorcycle filters are available but I don’t stock them and will pick up filters Thursdays on my weekly trip to the warehouse.

If you need some AMSOIL products to get your equipment ready this spring give me a call – I’d be happy to give product recommendations for your specific equipment.

Video: Snow Blower Maintenance

This is a new video from the AMSOIL Information series about snow thrower maintenance – including storage over the summer.

Since the temperature hit 17°C today it seems like the right time to start thinking about putting the snow blowers away and looking at preparing the mowers for fresh spring grass. The snow blower didn’t even get used this winter at our house in Mississauga so it should be a very easy job this year.

If you’ve used quickshot all winter you should now add a proper fuel stabilizer to your last tank or run/drain your tank dry before putting the machine into storage this summer.

UOA: 2006 Pontiac Vibe – 9,000-kms

I received the used oil analysis report from the Oil Analyzers lab in Edmonton and posted my results on BITOG to get some feedback.

I’m not happy with the fuel dilution in the report but the lab technician seems to think the oil is fit for use for another 5,000-km. I’m interested to see how the fuel dilution number changes as the oil approaches its end of life.

Other than that everything looks good to go for 15,000-km/6-month OCI’s in Laurens Vibe.