Category: Small Engines

Help Revive a Lawn Mower (and other equipment) that Runs Rough

John BakerJohn Baker|
Summer lawn mower maintenance tips

Judging someone’s character can be boiled down to this key question: do they love going to the dump?



AMSOIL 2017 Year in Review (Part 1)

Jamie JarviJamie Jarvi|
Start Line Geneva 2017

Here at AMSOIL, 2017 delivered a whirlwind of activity from start to finish. From new and reformulated products that further solidified our status as the leader in synthetic lubricant technology, to the loss of our beloved founder Al Amatuzio, it’s been a year of highs and lows unlike any other in our history.



Never Overlook This When Maintaining Your Snowblower

John BakerJohn Baker|
Snowblower won't start? Try this.

Thanksgiving day. While my family was gathered in my dining room, imbibing spirits and making merry, I was in the shed disassembling the carburetor on my snowblower, reeking of petroleum as rivers of gasoline flowed under my jacket cuffs and saturated me to the elbows. Here’s what happened, and here’s how to avoid it.



7 Fixes for Common Small Engine Failures

Daisy QuakerDaisy Quaker|

Mike Hudec is our problem solver. Here at AMSOIL, we lovingly refer to him as simply “Hudec.” As Senior IT Project Manager, Hudec solves problems. He makes sure our IT Department is working on the right projects at the right time with the right resources.



Which of These 5 Approaches to Vehicle Maintenance Do You Use?

Mark NyholmMark Nyholm|
Fixing car

Maintenance is one of those things you either do or don’t do. There isn’t a good way to fall “in between” on the maintenance spectrum, nor do your vehicles, equipment or toys like to be in a state of disrepair. Life is short, so why waste time due to improper maintenance?



How to Fight Ethanol Problems in Small Engines

Andy ArendtAndy Arendt|
chain-saw

In 2005, Congress instituted a new renewable fuel standard. In response, refiners made a wholesale switch, removing methyl tertiary butyl ether (MTBE) and blending fuel with ethanol. Ethanol helps reduce petroleum use and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Derived from corn, ethanol supports U.S. agriculture and helps support energy independence.



Synthetic Oil Beats Conventional in AAA Test

John BakerJohn Baker|
Pouring oil

My mother took the Culligan Man to task not long ago. Not the flesh-and-blood Culligan Man, but the actor on TV. It happened when I was visiting my folks during lunch. I have lunch at my parent’s house here in Superior, Wis., every Wednesday.



Is Starting Fluid Bad for Gas Engines?

John BakerJohn Baker|
Small Gas Engine Repair

The simple answer: In small doses and used properly, it can be effective in hard-starting gasoline engines. But it can be bad for two-stroke or diesel engines. The real question to ask is, “Why does my engine need starting fluid in the first place?”



Simplifying Two-Stroke Oil Mix Ratios

Andy ArendtAndy Arendt|
chain-saw

Depending on two-stroke equipment age, brand and owner preferences, keeping track of two-stroke oil mix ratios can be complicated. Professional lawn and landscape companies in particular face challenges when it comes to ensuring employees are using the correct mix ratio.



Just the Facts: The ECHO String Trimmer Technical Study

Ed NewmanEd Newman|
string-trimmer-copy

As my friends and family will attest, I have a wide range of interests, but small-engine repair has never been a hobby of mine. Nevertheless, because I own a little property, I’ve had to own all the basic equipment necessary to maintain it, from chainsaws to lawnmowers and snowblowers to string trimmers.