Johnston Synthetics

  Different equipment manufacturers recommend different two-stroke oil mix ratios. Two-stroke engines derive lubrication from the oil mixed directly into the gasoline, unlike your car engine, which lubricates itself with oil housed in an oil sump and circulated by an oil pump. Read more about the  differences between two- and four-stroke engines . Untangling different mix ratio recommendations and mixing multiple containers of fuel is a hassle, particularly for professionals who run several different pieces of equipment. What if there was one solution for different two-stroke oil mix ratios that worked in all your equipment? Oil mix ratios explained If your manufacturer recommends a 50:1 fuel/oil mix, it means you need 50 parts of gas to one part  two-stroke oil . To mix one gallon of fuel at 50:1, add 2.6 ounces of two-stroke oil to one gallon of gas, as shown in the chart below. Don’t worry, we’re going to eliminate the need for a metric chart shortly. Different mix rat...

Motorcyclists expect their bikes to perform flawlessly in all kinds of operating conditions. Whether it’s used for urban mobility, commuting to work, cruising the backroads or touring the country, reliability is paramount. In conditions like these, your bike can generate extreme heat and undergo stress that can lead to oil consumption and engine and transmission wear. Find out how AMSOIL  Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil  stands up to an 8,000-mile torture test! To demonstrate the performance of AMSOIL  Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil , it was installed in a high-performance 890cc Yamaha* MT-09.* The bike was rolled onto the dyno and subjected to test conditions designed to generate extreme heat and engine stress. The bike endured a torture cycle of 8,000 miles of simulated heavy traffic under load. During the test, the oil temperature hit 200°F. The oil was analyzed at the end of the test, and the engine and transmission were disassembled. AMSOIL  Synthetic Metric Mo...

Vehicle maintenance is an important part of preparing for winter months. Extreme winter weather can make breakdowns especially dangerous, and most people aren’t aware of the effect cold weather has on conventional lubricants. An oil’s cold-temperature performance refers to its ability to flow when the engine is cold, or below typical operating temperature (212°F), and not simply to what feels cold to humans. In other words, warm summer days are also cold to an engine. Startup lubrication is directly affected by a lubricant’s cold flow ability, and the negative impact happens at warmer temperatures than most consumers would think. For example, in early 1991, General Motors* halted sales of the Corvette* ZR-1 because eight engines had seized at the Bowling Green assembly plant in Kentucky. The temperature had only dipped to slightly below freezing and at startup the hard-to-pump motor oil did not reach the front camshaft bearings, which were destroyed by lack of lubrication. GM responded...

  Using a high-quality, purpose-built oil can provide extra protection for your snowblower’s engine. When a snowstorm hits, you need your snowblower to fire up and help you get the job done. But snowblower engines face unique challenges that can reduce their dependability, horsepower and longevity. Fortunately, there are  maintenance practices  that can vastly improve reliability, including using a specially engineered small-engine oil. Using a high-quality, purpose-built small-engine oil can help improve the reliability and performance of your snowblower. Tough on Oil Although snowblower engines are used less frequently than other engines, they’re tougher on oil than most people realize. Compared to liquid-cooled automotive engines, small engines usually lack oil filters, run hotter, operate under constant heavy load, generate more oil-damaging contaminants and are exposed to snow, water and extreme temperatures. Snowblower engines are often stored in unheated garag...