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Short-Trip Driving Is Tough
on Engines
AMSOIL
Synthetic Motor Oils Can Make the Difference
According to a recent survey conducted by the U.S. Bureau of
Public Roads, 63 percent of motor vehicle trips equal six or fewer miles. The
American Petroleum Institute, however, has indicated that engines require as
much as six miles of travel to reach normal operating
temperatures. Frequent short trips often allow water, fuel and acids to
accumulate in the
oil and sludge and varnish to form in the engine.
AMSOIL synthetic motor oils
are formulated
to protect engines from the rigors of short-trip, severe-service driving.
Water: Water is a normal combustion by-product that bypasses the piston
rings in its gaseous state, then condenses on internal engine walls when the
motor oil is not warm enough to drive it off as steam. Circulating oil picks up
the water and carries it to the oil filter. Full flow filters cannot trap water,
so it continues to circulate with the oil, where it depletes additives and
reduces the oil’s ability to lubricate. If the oil is heated to “normal”
operating temperatures (200-220º F), the water returns to a gaseous state
(steam) and is vented out of the engine. However, when the engine is shut down,
the water may accumulate on engine metals, promoting rust. AMSOIL synthetic
motor oils contain top-performing anti-rust agents that cling to metal surfaces
and protect them from rust even when the engine is not running.
Fuel: In vehicles equipped with carburators, fuel accumulates in the
oil during repeated short-trip driving because the engine runs with a closed
choke when it’s cold. The closed choke allows more fuel than can be burned into
the combustion chamber. The excess fuel bypasses the rings and gets into the
crankcase. Warming the engine to normal operating temperatures, as usually
occurs during trips longer than six miles, promotes fuel evaporation. With the
advent of fuel injection systems, fuel dilution problems have been significantly
reduced. Using AMSOIL
Performance Improver can keep fuel injectors free of deposits and working
properly.
Acids: Some fuel by-products interact with water to form acids. The
water must be in its liquid form, so this process takes place more readily in
the cool short-trip engine than in the warm long-trip engine. AMSOIL synthetic
motor oils are high TBN (Total Base Number) oils, which
means they have maximum acid-neutralizing chemistry. Most passenger car motor
oils are formulated with significantly less TBN than AMSOIL
synthetic motor
oils, and therefore counteract significantly less acid than
AMSOIL synthetic
motor oils do.
Sludge and varnish: Sludge (a soft, sticky material that accumulates on surfaces)
and varnish (a hard material
that adheres to surfaces) form as water, acids and other oil contaminants
interact in the oxidizing engine environment. Since short-trip driving
encourages water contamination
of the engine oil, vehicles frequently engaged in short-trip driving are prone
to developing sludge and varnish. Because AMSOIL synthetic motor oils are highly
resistant to oxidation and contain powerful acid-fighting TBN chemistries and
high-quality detergents and dispersants, their use inhibits sludge and varnish
formation.
Extended drain service: The high TBN, generous antirust content, high-quality detergents
and dispersants and
outstanding oxidation resistance of AMSOIL synthetic motor oils allows them to
be used for extended drain intervals, even in short-trip driving, and still
provide better engine protection than conventional oils do. But always remember
to observe time and mileage when calculating drain intervals with XL-7500
products. It’s time for a change when you accumulate 7,500 miles or have been
driving with the oil installed for 6 months, whichever comes first.
T's Advanced Synthetics
Greg and Marcy Thurman
Your Nationwide
AMSOIL
Authorized Independent
Dealer
Nationwide US Warehouses,
Canada and Palm Harbor, FL
727-798-8552
E-Mail:
greg@tsadvancedsynthetics.com
If you
experience problems or have questions or comments about
our website please email us at
greg@tsadvancedsynthetics.com
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