One question we get a lot around here is, “Should I use AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil or DOMINATOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil in my sled?” Here’s what to ask yourself when choosing between AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR vs. DOMINATOR synthetic snowmobile oil.
What Kind of Sled are you Riding?
First, we need to know about your snowmobile.
Newer high-performance sleds, like the Ski-Doo* E-TEC* or Arctic Cat* C-TEC2,* are designed differently than their predecessors. The government dislikes excessive exhaust emissions, so it’s introduced regulations to curb emissions from two-stroke motors.
Sled manufacturers have responded by designing engines that use less oil than engines built a few years ago. On many newer sleds, the on-board computer can adjust the fuel/oil ratio on the fly, depending on riding conditions, allowing sled makers to tune their engines for reduced emissions.
In one promotional video, Arctic Cat says its C-TEC2 engine can operate on ratios as high as 65:1, depending on conditions.
INTERCEPTOR is our best all-around snowmobile oil. It does everything a snowmobile oil needs to do, and does it well.
Less Oil = More Heat (and Potential for Wear)
While burning less oil helps curb emissions, it also creates excess engine heat.
If you know anything about engines, you know that high heat is detrimental. It robs the engine of efficiency – meaning you can’t ride as hard – and can cause piston expansion, which leads to wear.
This means owners of high-performance sleds are asking less oil to do more work. The oil had better be up to the challenge lest you grenade your $18,000 sled.
Have you Modified the Engine?
Most riders find their stock sleds’ power and performance adequate to fire their adrenal glands. But some riders want more. Carburetor, clutch, piping and other modifications can boost power to deliver an extra dose of excitement.
However, it also increases engine heat and stress. Again, the oil bears the brunt of your need for more power and speed.
What are You Doing With the Sled?
We’ve all pinned the throttle across a lake or down a straightaway on the trail. But sanctioned racing is far different. If you ride a racing or competition sled, once again you’re placing more stress on the engine and you’re asking the oil to handle conditions most riders never throw at their snowmobiles.
Bottom Line When Choosing Between AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR vs. DOMINATOR…
If you’re a hardcore rider and you own a high-performance sled, use AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Oil.
INTERCEPTOR is our best all-around snowmobile oil. It does everything a snowmobile oil needs to do, and does it well. Check out the video to see how it held up in a rental sled used in the mountains for a full season.
As a bonus, it’s often less expensive than snowmobile-manufacturer-branded oils.
• Outstanding engine protection
• Best engine and exhaust valve cleanliness
• Best cold-flow
Watch how well INTERCEPTOR’s cold-flow ability compares to the competition at -40°F.
Video transcript: INTERCEPTOR Cold Flow Test
As snowmobile season approaches, the question always comes up: Does the oil work well in the cold? And we’ve been hearing from the manufacturers of all the major snowmobiles that the oil needs to perform well in the cold. Now, even though INTERCEPTOR has always done well, we felt that we needed to prove it. So we took INTERCEPTOR to the AMSOIL lab.
We put it in a freezer. We took the temperature down to minus 40F, and we put INTERCEPTOR in a pour test against each one of the major competitors. Our first candidate was the Ski-Doo* XPS synthetic product. As you can see here, when we pour it, the AMSOIL starts to come out a little bit before the Ski-Doo product.
Next up was the Arctic Cat* C-TEC2 product. Now, Arctic Cat has been talking a lot about cold temperature performance. Their engine design dictates that the oil move quickly when you start the snowmobile. So, as you can see here, the AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR pours very well when put up against the Arctic Cat C-TEC2 product.
Last up was the Polaris* oil. This is the Polaris VES 2. This is Polaris’ synthetic recommendation. Again, it was in the freezer at minus 40F, the same amount of time that the AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR was in there.
You can see we start to pour, and the AMSOIL outperforms the Polaris oil by quite a lot here. What that means is, when you go to start your snowmobile in some very, very cold temperatures, that the AMSOIL product will get to the critical parts of the engine faster. So, as you can see, AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR holds up pretty well against the OEM’s products. What does that mean?
It means that you should have the utmost confidence when you pour INTERCEPTOR into your snowmobile. It also means less wear, better performance and more fun on the trail for you.
DOMINATOR is formulated with heavier base oils to protect bearings, pistons and other components from the rigors of high-performance racing and riding.
If you own a racing or modified sled, use AMSOIL DOMINATOR Synthetic 2-Stroke Racing Oil.
DOMINATOR is formulated with heavier base oils to protect bearings, pistons and other components from the rigors of high-performance racing and riding.
Watch how it protected this racing engine despite an engine-coolant failure.
Its emphasis on wear protection means it doesn’t guard against power-valve sticking as well as INTERCEPTOR.
• Purpose-built for racers
• Extra protection for modified sleds
• Maximizes power
I’ll throw another option at you: AMSOIL Synthetic 2-Stroke Injector Oil.
It’s perfect for casual riders and those seeking the convenience of one oil for year-round use in their snowmobiles and two-stroke outboard motors.
Wherever you land on the AMSOIL INTERCEPTOR vs. DOMINATOR question, rest assured you’re using a premium oil that’ll maximize your sled’s performance and life.
This article is part of our Snowmobile Oil and Maintenance guide. See every article in the guide.
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AMSOIL was founded by enthusiasts, and the Company of Enthusiasts series profiles the riders, racers and builders who run the products covered here.
Hi
I just bought a ski doo GSX with the 600 e-tec engine.. It has 2500 miles on it and has always used the ski doo XPS full Syn oil
I have always used Amsoil interceptor in my SDI and e-tec ski doos
Any concerns with switching from the ski doo oil to the amsoil product?
Hi Corey,
None whatsoever. INTERCEPTOR works great in E-TEC engines. Check out this field study if you’re interested.
Thanks,
John