subject: Dependable Cold - Weather Performance [print this page] Many of us use the fall months to prepare their equipment for the winter. Winter brings unique challenges for lubricants and is an opportunity for showcasing the advantages of AMSOIL synthetics. Extreme cold can cause conventional oils to thicken, starving vital moving parts of lubrication, sometimes even to the point that the vehicle wont start. AMSOIL synthetic lubricants are made for extreme cold weather performance, allowing for quick starts and superior protection.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils dramatically outperform conventional petroleum motor oils, especially in the cold. Conventional oils often contain a small percentage of paraffins(wax). These wax-like molecules can start to crystallize once the temp drop below freezing and cause circulation problems. At startup, parts can go without proper lubrication for as long as five minutes while the oil warms. AMSOIL synthetic motor oils provide low temperature fluidity for fast, dependable winter starts and startup protection. In addition, the muti-viscosity formulations allow AMOSIL motor oils to provide excellent protection at high temps in hard working vehicles.
An oils pour point is the lowest temperature at which an oil will flow and is an indicator of an oils ability to perform at low temperatures. Pour point depressants additives are used to keep the wax crystals from forming and in turn help to lower an oils pour point. Synthetic oils do not contain wax and therefore tend to offer better cold temperature protection properties.
AMSOIL offers several low viscosity motor oils with lower pout points than the competition, including AMSOIL Synthetic 5W-30 (-58F), AMSOIL Signature Series Synthetic 0W-30 Motor Oil(-60F) and AMSOIL 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil (-65F). AMSOIL synthetic motor oils allow engines to start faster and wear is greatly reduced for extended engine life.
Gear lubes face the same cold weather challenges. Synthetic gear lubes possess the same cold weather performance as the motor oils. One difference is that gear lubes dont have heat from combustion to warm up, but rather rely on friction which is only created once the parts start to move. This initial movement is where gear are most susceptible to damage. Gears and bearings in the differential rely on splash lubrication, and at low temps, the lubricants are too thick and can channel and starve parts which can cause failure. AMSOIL Severe Gear Synthetic Gear Lubes deliver exceptional performance and protection at extremely low temperatures.
Diesel applications can also be sensitive to cold weather issues. At lower temperatures, wax that is naturally found in diesel fuels can begin to form crystals and can eventually clog the fuel filter and starve the engine of fuel, preventing it from starting. AMSOIL Cold Flow Improver lowers the cold filter plugging point by as much as 34F in ULSD.
AMSOIL also offers Diesel Concentrate plus Cold Flow Improver to offer tow additives in one to keep fuels from gelling.
In the case where fuel isnt treated and the fuel has gelled, AMSOILs Diesel Recovery is an emergency diesel fuel treatment that dissolves the wax crystals that form. It liquifies gelled fuel and thaws frozen fuel filters, avoiding costly towing and getting the diesels back on the road.
