Small Engines Need Big Protection

Clean Protected Power Helps Professionals Keep Their Equipment Running All Season.

Len Groom | TECHNICAL PRODUCT MANAGER, POWERSPORTS

Here in the Northland, spring has officially arrived, while folks to our south have enjoyed warmer weather for weeks. Spring means the sound of lawn mowers running across many neighborhoods. And to many businesses, that sound means they’re making money.

Professional landscapers rely on their lawn mowers more than any other piece of equipment in their fleets. Zero-turn and stand-on mowers allow crews to quickly produce professional-looking lawns and grounds through a combination of precision, power and speed. Next to his truck, a zero-
turn mower is usually a landscaper’s most expensive investment, with new models pushing $10,000.

You can imagine how a business owner wants to keep his mowers running strong. Unfortunately, operating conditions can frustrate that goal. Landscapers rarely work in ideal environments. Equipment runs all day in hot, damp and dirty conditions. This can lead to deposits and wear that
invite several problems.

Decreased engine power

Engine compression equals engine power, and engine power equals speed and efficiency – two goals busy landscapers strive for on every job site.

Heavy deposits due to heat breaking down the motor oil can cause the piston rings or valves to stick. Stuck rings prevent the combustion chamber from sealing properly, which reduces compression. Valve sticking disrupts engine operation and leads to compression loss, further reducing power. Crews are left with mowers that run poorly and lack the like-new efficiency needed to complete jobs on time and up to standards.

Lost profitability

Eventually, deposits will lead to engine failure. Look at the bottom image of the valve-guide area in a Honda* 5-hp engine tested in our mechanical lab. A competitor’s oil resulted in heavy deposits that caused the valve to stick. In fact, the technician who tore down the engine couldn’t remove the valve due to excessive deposits. Had this engine been in the field, it would have just been a matter of time before it failed, leading to a costly repair or replacement. AMSOIL 10W-30 Synthetic Small-Engine Oil (ASE), in contrast, minimized deposits and kept the engine running strong, which helps professionals maintain profitability.

In our experience, most small-engine oils are just re-labeled automotive oils, which are formulated with fuel economy in mind, not engine durability. That doesn’t cut it when a business owner’s reputation and profitability are at stake. While easy to assume small equals simple when it comes to engines, the opposite is often true. Compared to liquid-cooled automotive engines, air-cooled small engines run hotter; operate under constant load; generate more contaminants (with many not using a filter); and are exposed to mud, dirt and rain. Plus, they’re often overlooked when it comes to maintenance.

We kept all that in mind when we formulated Synthetic Small-Engine Oil. It’s not merely a re-labeled automotive oil – it’s designed specifically for commercial-grade small engines. We added a heavy dose of zinc anti-wear additives and potent detergency additives to fight wear and help prevent power-robbing deposits. We like to say it provides clean, protected power, which helps professionals keep their expensive equipment running strong for years.

This article is from the April 2019 issue of the AMSOIL Magazine, Dealer Edition.

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