Which AMSOIL Tier Is For Me?

Which AMSOIL tier is best for my vehicle?

This can be a tricky question that can depend on quite a few variables including: cost, value, oil quality and extended drain interval expectations. The best way to start the discussion is to introduce the 3 tiers of AMSOIL synthetic oils available:

  1. Signature Series = The top tier product that has a drain interval of up to 24,000-km/1 year
  2. Extended Life (XL) Series = API certified middle tier product for those that prefer to change their oil twice a year with a drain interval of 16,000-km/6-months
  3. Original Equipment (OE) Series = API certified introductory tier with the lowest cost synthetic in the AMSOIL line for those interested in trying AMSOIL products and maintaining manufacturer warranties by using the drain interval specified by the equipment manufacturer

Continue reading Which AMSOIL Tier Is For Me?

New Canadian Freight and Handling Rates Effective January 2, 2012

AMSOIL is implementing new Canadian freight and handling rates effective January 2, 2012. While rates have increased slightly for some provinces they have decreased for others and overall, enhance convenience for Dealers, Preferred Customers and accounts.

The old rates depicted estimated freight and handling costs only, meaning the actual cost is unknown until orders are shipped. This prevents Dealers from giving accurate quotes and sometimes causes price discrepancies for accounts and customers. The new rates depict actual freight and handling costs, allowing Dealers and customers to know the exact freight and handling charge prior to placing the order. Shipments to a small minority of outlying areas remain subject to additional interline fees.

The listing of Canadian Freight and Handling Rates is available on the AMSOIL website.
Continue reading New Canadian Freight and Handling Rates Effective January 2, 2012

AMSOIL Snowmobile Outfitters Deal

Looking to get outfitted with AMSOIL products for this snowmobile season?
We haven’t seen much snow flying here in Southern Ontario but do expect it to come soon enough – hopefully early in 2012.

I’m offering a outfitting deal where you purchase these two items together in the same cart on amsoil.com and I’ll throw in a 8oz bottle of QuickShot for you to try in your first tank of fuel but you have to pay the shipping costs.

  1. Sign up as a Preferred Customer for a 6-month trial membership
  2. Purchase a case of snowmobile oil

By signing up as a Preferred Customer – even without the bottle of QuickShot to sweeten the deal – you’ll save on your first order. At the current AMSOIL pricing if you were to purchase a case of AIT Interceptor with the $15 membership fee – you still save $21.60 over the suggested retail price in Canada. You’ll save even more on your next case or by purchasing other AMSOIL products for your other equipment as you won’t have the PC membership overhead.

Contact me for details and to work out any shipping costs for your bottle of QuickShot.
Continue reading AMSOIL Snowmobile Outfitters Deal

Snow Blower Oils

I’ve updated these suggestions – please click here to see my new snow blower recommendations.

AMSOIL has a variety of oils that will protect your snow blower this winter. The first step when deciding what oil to run in your snow blower is to read the users manual. Usually it suggests a 5W-30 or synthetic 0W-30 oil since you’ll be running the equipment in sub-zero temperatures.

Every time someone asks me what oil they should use in their snow blower it usually leads to a much longer conversation as I end up asking these questions.

  • Do you have a 2-stroke or 4-stroke engine on your snow thrower?
  • What oil are you currently using in your vehicles or other OPE?
  • How cold do you expect winter to be in your area and where do you store your snow blower?
  • Do you purchase fuel that doesn’t contain ethanol?

Continue reading Snow Blower Oils

Can I change my oil and forget about it for a year?

AMSOIL’s Signature Series line of products has a service life of:

  • Normal Service – Up to 40,000 kilometres or one year, whichever comes first.
  • Severe Service – Up to 24,000 kilometres or one year, whichever comes first.

Here in Canada everyone is limited to the Severe Service schedule so that simplifies things even more. But knowing the service life of the product doesn’t mean you can simply forget about your oil or your vehicle until the mileage or the time expires. That is the same service interval as 4 “normal” oil changes!

Below are some situations when you should check your oil level:
Continue reading Can I change my oil and forget about it for a year?

How To Cross Reference NGK Spark Plugs

I’ve got an old beat up snow blower that needs a new plug for the Tecumseh Sno-King engine.
There is a Champion plug in there right now with the model number RJ19LM.

The easiest way to find the AMSOIL NGK plug stock number is to use the NGK Plugs and Wires Cross Reference found on the right side links of the amsoil.com website.

Type in “RJ19LM” into the Manufacture Part Number text box and click the “Cross Reference” button to look for matching plugs/wires.

It will return a table similar to this or an empty table if a matching product can’t be found:

Part Type        NGK Part Number      AMSOIL Stock Code      
Plugs BR2LM NGK5798

Vacation

I’m going on vacation to Europe for 3 weeks. Really looking forward to getting away this fall.
We’re stopping off in Munich, Germany to see Oktoberfest first hand and then making our way on to Italy for 2.5 weeks to do a bit of hiking and lots of eating!

The last day to place an order for in-person pickup is Tuesday September 13. I’ll be back October 10th and will start taking personal orders again.

If you spend more than $100/year on AMSOIL products you should experiment with adding a Preferred Customer membership to your cart once you’ve added your products. The online application automatically discounts the products with a PC membership in the cart and if you remove it the pricing goes back to suggested retail.

Vibe Oil Change

I used the vacation day to change the AMSOIL XL 5W-30 oil in the vibe using a Mann ML1009 oil filter and rotated the tires today.

I love my air tools. The Stanley impact wrench makes short work of getting the lugs off the wheels. The Vibes rear driver side studs are really sticky and corroded. Not sure if the impact wrench or a breaker bar is best for stuck and corroded threads on the fasteners. Switching out the Vibes winter tires in the spring I snapped a stud in the lug trying to get them off with the impact wrench. The corrosion seems to be worse with the rear drums than the front rotors. DO NOT use anti-seize or oil on those lug threads!

Don’t forget to change the oil in your compressor this fall to keep those air tools running strong. My impact wrench is very efficient working on a home duty 5 gallon tank – but most are air pigs.

An Update On Pricing

AMSOIL released this bit of information stating they are not planning another price increase as of yet.

AMSOIL Holds the Line on Price Increase

While the price of crude oil has dropped recently, the costs of lubricant base stocks, additives and other raw materials continue to rise. Most lubricant manufacturers are set to implement their fourth or fifth price increase since early February, with these increases expected to slowly work their way into the retail marketplace over the next several months. While AMSOIL has also been affected with increasing costs of raw materials, the company is holding the line on implementing another price increase. AMSOIL has limited its price increases to just three since February, while also limiting the percentage increases to approximately half of the percentage increases implemented by competing manufacturers.

AMSOIL synthetic lubricants are the best and most cost-effective choice on the market, saving customers money through extended drain intervals, reduced wear and maintenance and increased fuel efficiency. Customers save even more by registering as Preferred Customers, while the OE Synthetic Motor Oil line provides customers with the enhanced protection and performance properties of a synthetic at a competitive, lower initial price.