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AMSOIL Frequently Asked Questions
- How can I purchase AMSOIL products?
- Where can I find a Dealer near me?
- Can AMSOIL Motor Oils be recycled?
- Why does AMSOIL say to change the AMSOIL SDF Oil Filter at six months regardless of the mileage. I have only gone 5,000 miles and figure that I could go the whole year without changing it and be good.
- What AMSOIL products should I use for my Harley Davidson motorcycle?
- How Do I Change My Transmission Fluid And Filter?: 12 Easy Steps
- Is there a glossary of common lubricant terms used in technical bulletins?
- EP Additives
- Misinformation about AMSOIL Universal ATF and Mercon and Mercon V applications
- Motor Oil Recommendation For Ford Powerstroke Diesel
- Oil Filter Misinformation
- Shock Therapy Oil Weights
- What is the correct dilution ratios for BriteSide T6 Cleaning Concentrate?
- Can I use AMSOIL AFF 0W-40 in my new 4-stroke snowmobile?
- Can I use AMSOIL AFF 0W-40 in my car or truck?
- How long have AMSOIL lubricants been on the market?
- What are AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils?
- What are AMSOIL Synthetic Blend Motor Oils?
- Can AMSOIL Motor Oils be used in any engine?
- Will AMSOIL Motor Oils void the warranty of a new vehicle?
- Are AMSOIL Motor Oils All-Season Oils?
- Will using AMSOIL Motor Oils increase gas mileage?
- Are AMSOIL Motor Oils compatible with other motor oils?
- Why are AMSOIL Motor Oils capable of extended drain intervals?
- Will AMSOIL Motor Oils decrease oil consumption?
- Is there a recommended procedure for changing to AMSOIL Motor Oils?
- Should Oil Additives or After Market Products be added to AMSOIL Motor Oils?
General Questions and Answers
Q: How can I purchase AMSOIL products?
A: You can order products directly online by clicking on the Online Store link at the top of every page on our website. Or click on Preferred Customer Orders to get info on receiving a discount.
Q: Where can I find a Dealer near me?
A: You can request the location of the nearest AMSOIL Dealer on the form here. You can also find a Dealer by searching your local Yellow Pages. Or try one of the Internet Yellow Pages by clicking here.
Q: Can AMSOIL Motor Oils be recycled?
A: Regarding used synthetic oils, they can be recycled in the same manner as a petroleum-based motor oils. Synthetic oils can also be used in furnaces designed to burn waste oils.
Q: Why does AMSOIL say to change the AMSOIL SDF Oil Filter at six months regardless of the mileage. I have only gone 5,000 miles and figure that I could go the whole year without changing it and be good.
A: Once an engine is run with new oil, byproducts of combustion are introduced into the oil. These byproducts are harmful chemicals that continue to degrade the integrity of the motor oil as well as the oil filter media even though the engine may be off. This is why a time limit is published as well as mileage. Short trip driving can be just as detrimental to motor oil and filters as high mileage use, and even more so in some cases. It's possible that the oil is still intact at the end of the published time limit, but oil analysis would be needed to verify this. Heavy trucks use this practice regularly, however in small sump capacity engines, the cost of the test is nearly as much as the cost of an oil change.
Q: What AMSOIL products should I use for my Harley Davidson motorcycle?
A: Crankcase requiring 20W50 lubricant; Harley Davidson part numbers 99903-93 and 99896-88, use the AMSOIL High Performance Synthetic 20W-50 Motorcycle Engine Oil, product code AMV.
Transmission requiring 75W90 lubricant; Harley Davidson part numbers 99892-84 and 98853-96, use the AMSOIL Series 2000 Synthetic 75W90 (AGR/TGR) Gear Lube, product code TGR.
Chain Case Oil (primary) lubricants requiring 10W40; Harley Davidson part number 99887-84, uses the AMSOIL High Performance Synthetic 10W40 Motorcycle Engine Oil, product code AMF.
The exception is the Sportster. It has two oil reservoirs instead of three and uses the same oil in both reservoirs. Use AMSOIL 20W50 Synthetic Engine Lubricant in both reservoirs, product code AMV
Note: The AMSOIL 20w50 (AMV) and 10W40 (AMF) Motorcycle Engine Oils do not contain friction modifiers and meet Harley Davidson specification for the wet clutch system.
Harley-Davidson forks that recommend type "E" or "B" fork oils, use the AMSOIL Shock Therapy Suspension Fluid, product code STM
Harley Davidson air filter part numbers, 2900252, 29002-52A, 29002-57, 29002-58, and 29036-56 uses the AMSOIL, product code TS-77
Q: How Do I Change My Transmission Fluid And Filter?: 12 Easy Steps
1. Make sure the fluid is warm. Warm up the car so the transmission is at normal operating temperature. Pull the transmission dipstick (located near the firewall in most cars). Fresh fluid is translucent and cherry red. Some darkening is normal, but if it is reddish brown or mustard color and smells like burnt varnish, it is worn out.
2. Drain the fluid by loosening the pan. Select the correct Hastings filter replacement based on pan shape and prepare a large pan to catch the fluid. Then loosen each pan bolt a turn or two and loosen one corner more than rest. Drain mostly from this corner.
3. Finish removing the pan and any gasket material from the pan or case. Avoid scratching the metal and make sure the pan's gasket surface isn't bent or distorted.
4. Remove the old filter. Most transmission filters are held in place with a bolt or two, but some are held by a clip. Be careful to include O-Rings or other seals.
5. Install a new filter. Use the clips or bolts from the old filter. Be sure O-Rings, etc. are in place. If the filter has a long intake neck, gently push the neck into place without unseating the O-Ring.
6. Clean the pan thoroughly. Inspect the pan before cleaning. A small amount of fine grey clutch dust is normal. However, if you find metal shavings, there has been transmission damage. Clean the pan with solvent and wipe dry so there is no harmful residue.
7. Position gasket on pan. Some gaskets have four holes slightly smaller than the rest to allow four bolts through the pan and through these smaller holes to hold the gasket in place.
8. Hand tighten pan bolts in a criss-cross pattern. After that, use a torque wrench to tighten bolts to proper ft-lbs as per manufacturer.
9. Refill the transmission using only the amount shown as "refill capacity" in the owners manual or "AMSOIL Product Selection Guide," using the type of fluid specified for the vehicle.
10. If doing only a partial fluid replacement, skip to instruction 12 below. If doing a complete fluid replacement, follow the steps in instruction 11.
11. You now have replaced the fluid in the pan. To replace the fluid in the torque converter and oil cooler also, follow these steps.
Step 1. Obtain the total system capacity of the vehicle from the manufacturer or AMSOIL. Have this amount readily available.
Step 2. Disconnect the oil cooler line from the oil cooler. As you may not know which is the pressure side and which is the return side, have both directed so the stream of fluid will be directed toward a receptacle.
Step 3. With another person, be prepared to add ATF to the fill area as it is being pumped out of the oil cooler line.
Step 4. Start the engine, and as the old fluid is pumped out, add fresh fluid to the pan.
Step 5. When either the fluid color brightens or the total capacity has been replaced, shut the engine off and re-attach the oil cooler line. All fluids has now been changed.
12. Recheck the fluid level. With the car on level ground, set the parking brake and the transmission in "Park" or "Neutral." Let the engine idle for a few minutes. Shift the transmission into different positions before returning the lever to "Park" or "Neutral." Check the fluid level again and check for leaks.
EP Additives
Q: An individual has posted a message on an Internet message board that said AMSOIL motor oils "lack sufficient EP additives" and the "quality of the product has dropped" in the last few years. Due to lack of EP additives and the the drop in product quality he "wiped out bearings, pistons, rocker bushings, etc."
A: No truth whatsoever. AMSOIL INC. has continually improved the performance of its products over the years. The best performing oil we've ever made are the oils we make today. In addition, new technology has allowed us to improve performance as the introduction of our Series 2000 oils demonstrated. Our standard products outperform the competition and the Series 2000 products blow them away.
First of all, extreme pressure (EP) additives are not typically used in motor oil. EP additives are used in gear lubes and some greases. This is because they contain sulfur or chlorine compounds that become active under engine operating conditions. In this activated state they react with the water found in by-products of combustion, and form acids which are corrosive to engine components such as bearings.
Engine oils typically use antiwear (AW) additives to prevent metal-to-metal contact within an engine. These are commonly zinc and phosphorus compounds (zinc dithiophosphate or ZDP). These additives are different from EP additives because they activate or bond with metal surfaces at lower temperatures and pressures and do not form corrosive acids. EP additives are intended to withstand higher pressures and temperatures than found in engines. AW additives offer more than enough protection for all engine conditions without any of the harmful side effects of EP additives.
AMSOIL INC. has always used higher quality and a higher level of additives including zinc and phosphorus than most motor oils on the market. The attached tables compare the content of zinc and phosphorus of several popular motor oils for passenger car and racing applications. These additive contents were determined using spectrographic analysis. Results could be verified for accuracy by submitting unused oil for analysis to any independent oil analysis laboratory.
Misinformation about AMSOIL Universal ATF and Mercon and Mercon V applications
Problem: AMSOIL INC. has been informed that some AMSOIL Dealers and their customers have experienced problems with their local Ford Dealership service department when bringing in the new AMSOIL Universal ATF for installation in their Ford vehicle transmission. They have been told that: A) You cannot put a Mercon V labeled transmission fluid in a Mercon application. B) That you cannot put a Mercon labeled transmission fluid in a Mercon V application (this is true). C) That you cannot put a dual usage labeled ATF product in the Mercon application or the Mercon V application. Since the new AMSOIL Universal Transmission Fluid is labeled dual usage, recommended for both Mercon and Mercon V applications, some Ford Dealership service managers are telling their customers that if they put the AMSOIL Universal ATF product in their transmission it will void their transmission warranty.
Answer: At least one oil company's ATF product with a Mercon V rating does not also meet Mercon performance requirements. This has apparently caused a great deal of confusion about allowing Mercon V ATF to be back serviceable in Mercon applications. The AMSOIL Universal ATF has been formulated to meet or exceed both the Mercon and Mercon V specification, as well as G.M. Dexron III and Chrysler ATF+4. It is fully supported through documented testing. It is recommended for and can be used in ALL of the applications listed on the label. PERIOD.
If someone is misinformed on this issue and actually denies a manufacturer's warranty coverage because of the use of AMSOIL Universal ATF Fluid in one of the applications for which it is recommended by AMSOIL INC., the AMSOIL Warranty coverage would apply. The consumer's transmission would be repaired under the AMSOIL Warranty. AMSOIL INC. and our insurance company will legally pursue the dealership or the manufacturer to recover our costs. AMSOIL INC. would not make the recommendations on our label, or issue this statement, if we were not completely confident of our position on this matter. While we cannot control what individuals say about this subject, we can and do insure that consumers can use our product with complete confidence and without risk.
Motor Oil Recommendation For Ford F-350 Powerstroke Diesel
Q: I have a 2001 Ford F-350 Pickup with a Powerstroke Diesel with 7000 miles. I'm getting ready to change over to synthetic oil. What AMSOIL motor oil would you recommend to use?
A: AMSOIL Series 3000 5W30 Heavy Duty Diesel Oil is our premium top of the line product. While there are best uses for both our Series 3000 and our AMSOIL 15W40 Diesel and Marine Oil, Series 3000 is our recommendation for the Ford Powerstroke engine. It surpasses the API Energy Conserving Rating requirements designed to provide significant fuel savings. It has highly effective anti foam agents to prevent oil foaming. Series 3000 offers better protective film at higher temperatures than conventional SAE 40 oils while retaining fluidity at subzero temperatures.
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Misinformation about AMSOIL Super Duty Filters
Q: I was told that AMSOIL Super Duty Oil Filters are inferior to "Wix (Napa) filters that costs half the price!" Is there any truth to this?
A: In regard to AMSOIL Super Duty Oil Filters being inferior to Wix (NAPA) filters based upon visual inspection, AMSOIL Filters have an inner beauty that's not visible to the human eye. Unlike the person who made these comments, the Society of Automotive Engineers recognized that filter performance cannot be evaluated by visual inspection. Therefore, they created the industry standard SAE HS806 test for evaluating oil filters. The SAE HS806 test evaluates particle removal efficiency and contaminant holding capacity which are the two main functions an oil filter must perform. As you can see from the following charts, AMSOIL outperforms the competition in both areas.
The Super Duty Filter has a finer filtering media, more dirt holding capacity, heavier-duty construction and a 6-month/12,500-mile change interval recommendation which is the highest in the industry. Change a Wix (NAPA) filter two to three times as often at half the price and it will cost more. There will also be more and larger particles of dirt in your oil at all times if you don't choose the AMSOIL Super Duty.
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Shock Therapy Oil
Q: What is the actual oil weight for the following suspension fluids: STL - Shock Therapy Light and STM - Shock Therapy Medium
A: Shock Therapy Light corresponds to a 5 wt. and Shock Therapy Medium corresponds to a 10 wt.
Q: What are the correct dilution ratios for BriteSide T6 Cleaning Concentrate?
| Task 1 | Task 2 | Task 3 | Task 4 | Task 5 | Task 6 | |
| Capfuls | Full Strength | 16 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| CC's | Full Strength | 142 | 72 | 36 | 18 | 9 |
Q: Can I use AMSOIL AFF 0W-40 in my new 4-stroke snowmobile?
A: Absolutely! AMSOIL AFF 0W-40 was specifically formulated for use in small, hard working 4-stroke engines. AFF is ideal for 4-cycle snowmobiles, ATV's, personal watercraft, 4-stroke boat motors, lawn equipment etc...
Q: Can I use AMSOIL AFF 0W-40 in my car or truck?
A: YES. AMSOIL AFF 0W-40 can be used in in any gasoline 4-stroke automobile engine. Recommended change intervals are at 7500 miles, or 6 months. AMSOIL AFF can also be used in diesel powered cars or trucks, with change intervals as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer.
Q: How long have AMSOIL lubricants been on the market?
A: AMSOIL introduced the first synthetic motor oil with an API (American Petroleum Institute) Service Classification in 1972. Since that time, AMSOIL has varied and expanded its product line.
Q: What are AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils?
A: AMSOIL Synthetic Lubricants are fuel efficient, extended life lubricants manufactured from select synthetic base stocks and special purpose additives. These lubricants provide improved overall performance characteristics when compared to conventional petroleum oils.
Q: What are AMSOIL Synthetic Blend Motor Oils?
A: AMSOIL Synthetic Blend Motor Oils are a blend of synthetic fluids and petroleum oils. They are combined to form an all season motor oil that demonstrates many of the performance features of synthetic lubricants.
Q: Can AMSOIL Motor Oils be used in any engine?
A: Certainly, AMSOIL Motor Oils may be used in any mechanically sound gasoline or diesel fueled engine. Basically, that means they are excellent for use in any vehicle's engine.
Q: Will AMSOIL Motor Oils void the warranty of a new vehicle?
A: Absolutely not! Manufacturers' warranties are based upon the use of oils meeting specific API Service Classifications, for example, SJ/CF. (AMSOIL lubricants meet the current API Service requirements and, thus, are perfectly suited for use in any new vehicle without affecting the validity of the new vehicle warranty.)
Q: Are AMSOIL Motor Oils All-Season Oils?
A: Synthetic oils are made to protect and perform better than petroleum oils at both high and low temperature extremes. That's why every jet engine in the world is lubricated with synthetic oil. AMSOIL Motor Oils have extremely low pour points and flow readily at extremely low temperatures for easier winter starting and significantly reduced engine wear. At high temperatures, no conventional motor oil can compare to the overall protection AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils provide. That's extremely important for today's turbo charged and small, non-turbo charged engines!
Q: Will using AMSOIL Motor Oils increase gas mileage?
A: Tighter government regulations and increases in engine manufacturers' demands are calling for more fuel efficient lubricants. AMSOIL Motor Oils reduce friction and drag better than petroleum oils, resulting in significant fuel economy increases. In a recent 1.2 million mile demonstration, AMSOIL Lubricants showed a 4.5% increase in gas mileage. Other tests have shown increases of as much as 15% under certain weather and driving conditions. Yet, because every vehicle is different, as are driving habits and conditions, it is difficult to accurately project an exact increase.
Q: Are AMSOIL Motor Oils compatible with other motor oils?
A: Yes. AMSOIL Motor Oils are compatible with all other synthetic or petroleum motor oils.
Q: Why are AMSOIL Motor Oils capable of extended drain intervals?
A: AMSOIL Synthetic Motor Oils are highly resistant to the destructive effects of heat, and do not break down like petroleum oils. This means that AMSOIL Motor Oils can provide much longer drain intervals than conventional lubricants.
Q: Will AMSOIL Motor Oils decrease oil consumption?
A: Yes. When used in mechanically sound engines, AMSOIL Motor Oils can reduce oil consumption. Under test conditions, a reduction of as much as 42% was demonstrated for prolonged periods. However, this should not be taken to mean that AMSOIL Motor Oils are "cure-alls" for engines that consume oil because of mechanical problems.
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Q: Is there a recommended procedure for changing to AMSOIL Motor Oils?
A: There are no special requirements; however, in older vehicles or those with high mileage, it may be advisable to use AMSOIL Engine Flush first. This will ensure that the engine is clean and free of any accumulated contaminants which might have an effect on the service life of AMSOIL Motor Oils. In all cases, it is good judgment to install a new AMSOIL Super Duty Full-Flow Oil Filter (SDF) every time you change oil.
Q: Should Oil Additives or After Market Products be added to AMSOIL Motor Oils?
A: No, they are not necessary! AMSOIL Motor Oils are properly formulated under the strictest Quality Control procedure to provide superior lubrication performance.
