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AMSOIL Product Technical Handbook
Use this technical handbook to compare public AMSOIL product families, typical properties, standards, application notes, compatibility notes and service guidance. Verify the exact match on current AMSOIL lookup and product pages before buying.
You’ll complete your purchase on AMSOIL.com.
Selection steps and family index
Four-step selection
Choose the right products in four steps
Work from the application to the system, confirm the controlling technical requirement, then use the current parent category and service guidance.
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Application
Identify the exact vehicle, equipment, engine or component before selecting a lubricant family.
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System and fluid type
Separate engine oil, transmission fluid, gear oil, hydraulic oil and supporting products by the system they serve.
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Specification, viscosity or part number
Confirm the required approval, grade, capacity or filter number; similar labels do not establish interchangeability.
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Current category and service plan
Open the parent category, review current product details and set the service plan for the real operating conditions.
Grouped technical index
Jump to the applicable product family
Choose the group that matches the system or equipment, then use the family record to confirm what controls selection.
Technical glossary and reading guide
Technical reading guide
How to read the data
Technical data only helps when the test method and application match the product decision. Use these terms to compare products inside the correct family, then verify the exact product and application on current AMSOIL pages.
| Term | How to use it |
|---|---|
| Viscosity | Resistance to flow at a stated temperature; selection starts with the application requirement, not preference. |
| Viscosity index | A higher value generally means viscosity changes less across temperature, but it is only one selection factor. |
| Pour point | A low-temperature flow indicator; it does not replace the required winter viscosity grade or lookup result. |
| Flash and fire point | High-temperature volatility indicators used for comparison, not as operating-temperature limits. |
| NOACK volatility | Measures evaporation loss under high heat; lower values can support oil-consumption and deposit-control decisions. |
| TBN | Reserve alkalinity for neutralizing acids; compare only within the right product family and service context. |
Show more technical terms
| Term | How to use it |
|---|---|
| HTHS | High-temperature/high-shear viscosity; useful where bearing-film strength at operating temperature matters. |
| Brookfield or CCS | Cold-temperature viscosity tests; useful for cold-start and low-temperature pumping context. |
| Four-ball wear | A bench wear-screening method; compare only when test conditions and product family are relevant. |
| Foam and demulsibility | Foam control and water-separation behavior, important in hydraulic, compressor and gear systems. |
| ASTM methods | Standardized test procedures; the method matters because the same number means little without test context. |
| Compatibility | Mixing, seal, material and fluid-type notes; verify before substituting fluids across systems. |
| SDS and warranty | Use current AMSOIL product pages for safety documents and warranty language before final use. |
Technical product group Engine oils Compare the engine, duty cycle and required oil specification before narrowing the oil family. 7 families
Gasoline motor oil
- Use when
- Compare premium, extended-life, manufacturer-interval and synthetic-blend gasoline-oil families after the vehicle lookup identifies the application.
- Choose by
- Choose the family first, then viscosity and specification; high-mileage, hybrid and European applications have separate decision records below.
- Confirm
- Confirm the lookup result, required viscosity, specification, capacity, filter and current service guidance.
Diesel oil
- Use when
- Compare pickup, fleet, commercial, farm, construction and competition-diesel oil families.
- Choose by
- Choose by engine and emissions system first, then viscosity, service category, operating severity and drain strategy.
- Confirm
- Confirm emissions equipment, service category, viscosity, duty cycle and any oil-analysis plan.
European oil
- Use when
- Use for European gasoline, diesel or hybrid vehicles whose approval and SAPS chemistry control oil selection.
- Choose by
- Choose by manufacturer approval and specification before viscosity; similarly named grades are not automatically interchangeable.
- Confirm
- Confirm the exact manufacturer approval and emissions-system chemistry on the current product page.
High-mileage oil
- Use when
- Use for supported gasoline vehicles over 75,000 miles when deposits, oil consumption or aging seals influence the decision.
- Choose by
- Choose by the exact vehicle and viscosity, then consider cleaning, seal-conditioning and service-interval needs.
- Confirm
- Confirm vehicle eligibility, viscosity, specification, filter and current interval guidance.
Hybrid oil
- Use when
- Use for supported hybrid engines affected by frequent restarts, intermittent operation, condensation and fuel dilution.
- Choose by
- Choose by the lookup result and required viscosity; do not transfer interval guidance from one hybrid viscosity to another.
- Confirm
- Confirm the required viscosity and current interval because guidance differs across the hybrid-oil line.
High-zinc and classic oil
- Use when
- High-zinc and classic-vehicle oil options where flat-tappet, storage and legacy-engine needs control selection.
- Choose by
- Use only when the engine build and product page support the zinc/classic-vehicle option.
- Confirm
- Confirm the engine build, flat-tappet or storage need, viscosity and current product guidance.
Racing and break-in oil
- Use when
- Use racing oil for supported competition engines and break-in oil only for supported new or rebuilt engines.
- Choose by
- Separate competition service from initial engine break-in; neither is a universal substitute for routine street-engine oil.
- Confirm
- Confirm the engine builder's directions and change from break-in oil to the correct service oil at the specified point.
Technical product group Driveline and control systems Keep transmission, gear, hydraulic, compressor, brake, steering and suspension fluids tied to the exact system requirement. 5 families
Transmission fluid
- Use when
- Compare conventional automatic, fuel-efficient automatic, ultra-low-viscosity automatic, CVT, DCT, manual and hydrostatic transmission-fluid families.
- Choose by
- Identify the transmission design first; ATF, CVT, DCT, manual and hydrostatic fluids are distinct choices and are not interchangeable by viscosity alone.
- Confirm
- Confirm the transmission type, specification and current application list before use.
Gear oil
- Use when
- Use for supported differentials, axles, transfer cases, marine lower units and powersports chaincases or gearcases.
- Choose by
- Choose the component-specific family first; automotive differential, marine lower-unit and chaincase products are not interchangeable by SAE grade alone.
- Confirm
- Confirm viscosity, gear type, limited-slip needs and the exact component requirement.
Hydraulic oil
- Use when
- Use for anti-wear hydraulic systems, biodegradable-fluid needs or combined tractor hydraulic/transmission systems.
- Choose by
- Choose by equipment specification and viscosity system; a tractor hydraulic/transmission fluid serves different requirements than a general anti-wear hydraulic oil.
- Confirm
- Confirm the equipment specification, ISO or SAE grade, temperature range and wet-brake or transmission requirements.
Compressor oil
- Use when
- Compressor oil options for compressor type, ISO grade, operating temperature and equipment environment.
- Choose by
- Confirm compressor type, ISO viscosity grade and compatibility before choosing PC, DC or specialty options.
- Confirm
- Confirm compressor type, ISO grade, seal compatibility and manufacturer guidance.
Steering, brake and suspension fluid
- Use when
- Use the applicable brake, power-steering or suspension-fluid family. Shock Therapy applies to supported dirt-bike and motorcycle forks and shocks, including Harley forks calling for Type E/B fluid.
- Choose by
- For supported suspension applications, Light #5 provides less damping and quicker rebound; Medium #10 provides more damping and slower rebound. Do not substitute among brake, steering and suspension fluids.
- Confirm
- Confirm the manufacturer or service-manual requirement, fluid type and suspension design before use.
Technical product group Equipment applications Use the equipment guide first when one machine combines engine, transmission, gearcase, cooling and maintenance systems. 14 families
Motorcycle and powersports applications7 families
Street, dirt, V-Twin, scooter, ATV/UTV and snowmobile product families.
Street and adventure motorcycle
- Use when
- Use for supported street, metric and adventure motorcycles after identifying the exact bike.
- Choose by
- Choose by model, engine/transmission layout, viscosity, wet-clutch requirement and current application guidance.
- Confirm
- Confirm the street or adventure motorcycle, year, model, wet-clutch need and whether the engine and transmission share oil.
Dirt bike
- Use when
- Use for supported dirt-bike engine, transmission and maintenance needs.
- Choose by
- Choose by model, engine cycle, viscosity, shared-or-separate transmission and wet-clutch requirements.
- Confirm
- Confirm the dirt bike, engine cycle, clutch, transmission and current product directions.
V-Twin motorcycle
- Use when
- Use for supported V-Twin motorcycles that may have separate engine, primary and transmission service points.
- Choose by
- Choose each sump separately when the motorcycle design calls for separate fluids.
- Confirm
- Confirm the exact model, year, engine, primary and transmission requirements.
Scooter
- Use when
- Use the Scooter category for current scooter-oriented products and maintenance choices.
- Choose by
- Choose by exact scooter application and current product directions; do not infer fit from the category alone.
- Confirm
- Confirm the scooter, engine cycle, viscosity and transmission requirements.
Formula 4-Stroke Scooter Oil
- Use when
- Use the exact Formula 4-Stroke Scooter Oil when the supported scooter application calls for it.
- Choose by
- Open the exact product page because the broader Scooter category does not currently list this oil.
- Confirm
- Confirm the scooter and current Formula 4-Stroke Scooter Oil product directions before use.
Powersports
- Use when
- ATV, UTV and related powersports engine oils, drivetrain fluids, coolants and support products.
- Choose by
- Choose by machine, drivetrain, transmission type, temperature range and lookup result.
- Confirm
- Confirm the machine, engine, transmission, differential and wet-clutch requirements through the applicable guide.
Snowmobile
- Use when
- Snowmobile 2-stroke, 4-stroke, chaincase, suspension, coolant and seasonal-support options.
- Choose by
- Use the snowmobile lookup guide before choosing oil, chaincase fluid, coolant or support products.
- Confirm
- Confirm the sled model and each engine, chaincase, suspension and cooling-system requirement separately.
Marine and work-equipment applications7 families
Marine, small-engine, agriculture, heavy-duty, motorhome, turbodiesel and bar-and-chain product families.
Marine
- Use when
- Outboard, inboard, sterndrive, PWC, marine gearcase and 2-stroke marine product options.
- Choose by
- Confirm outboard/PWC details, injection or premix requirement, lower-unit fluid and storage plan.
- Confirm
- Confirm engine type, injection or premix requirement, lower-unit specification and storage plan.
Small engine
- Use when
- Small-engine and power-equipment oils, hydrostatic fluid, 2-stroke oil and storage products.
- Choose by
- Choose by equipment model, engine type, operating temperature and storage/fuel plan.
- Confirm
- Confirm the equipment model, engine cycle, operating temperature, hydrostatic system and storage plan.
Agriculture
- Use when
- Use for tractors, farm machinery and related agricultural equipment.
- Choose by
- Choose by exact machine and system; engine oil, tractor fluid, hydraulic oil, gear oil and grease are separate decisions.
- Confirm
- Confirm each agricultural engine, hydraulic system, transmission, axle, grease point and cooling system independently.
Heavy-duty diesel equipment
- Use when
- Use for supported construction, off-road and other heavy-duty diesel equipment.
- Choose by
- Choose by exact equipment and component requirement, then account for duty cycle, season and contamination exposure.
- Confirm
- Confirm the engine, hydraulic system, drivetrain, grease points, cooling system and duty cycle independently.
Motorhome
- Use when
- Use for motorhomes that combine components and service systems from multiple manufacturers.
- Choose by
- Choose by chassis and component identity rather than the finished coach name alone.
- Confirm
- Confirm the chassis, engine, transmission, axle, cooling system and auxiliary equipment separately.
Turbodiesel truck
- Use when
- Use for supported turbodiesel pickups and their engine, fuel, filtration and drivetrain service needs.
- Choose by
- Choose by the exact truck and engine first, then viscosity, emissions equipment, duty cycle and supporting systems.
- Confirm
- Confirm the truck, engine, emissions system, viscosity, filters, drivetrain and current service guidance.
Bar and chain oil
- Use when
- Chainsaw bar-and-chain lubrication and related chain applications supported by the product page.
- Choose by
- Confirm equipment guidance and product directions before choosing the bar-and-chain oil option.
- Confirm
- Confirm equipment guidance, ambient conditions and product directions before use.
Technical product group Maintenance and condition monitoring Match filters and supporting products to the component, operating environment and maintenance objective. 10 families
Service fluids and filtration5 families
Filters, bypass filtration, fuel additives, coolant and grease.
Filters
- Use when
- Use for oil, air, fuel, cabin, hydraulic, transmission and powersports filter selection.
- Choose by
- Choose by verified part number and application; dimensions or appearance alone do not establish fit.
- Confirm
- Confirm the exact part number with the applicable lookup or cross-reference, then recheck the application.
Bypass filtration
- Use when
- Bypass filtration systems, replacement parts and bypass filter elements.
- Choose by
- Match the system, mount, engine family, filter element and service plan before buying parts.
- Confirm
- Confirm the system, mount, engine family, replacement element and installation instructions.
Fuel additives
- Use when
- Use for injector cleaning, lubricity, cetane support, cold-flow planning, gelled-fuel recovery, gasoline cleanup or storage.
- Choose by
- Choose by fuel type and objective; routine maintenance, seasonal prevention, storage and emergency recovery are different jobs.
- Confirm
- Confirm fuel type, treatment rate, current directions and whether the need is preventive or corrective.
Coolant
- Use when
- Antifreeze and coolant options where chemistry, compatibility and service environment control selection.
- Choose by
- Confirm coolant chemistry, system condition and compatibility before mixing or changing coolant types.
- Confirm
- Confirm coolant chemistry, system condition, dilution and compatibility before mixing or changing coolant types.
Grease
- Use when
- Use for bearings, chassis points, pins, bushings and equipment exposed to load, speed, heat or water.
- Choose by
- Choose by NLGI grade, thickener system, speed, temperature, load and water exposure rather than color or general-purpose labeling alone.
- Confirm
- Confirm NLGI grade, thickener compatibility, relubrication practice and the equipment requirement.
Specialist filter lookup tools
Use these tools for filter identification and cross-reference work after the applicable equipment guide establishes the application.
Vintage Vehicle Filter Lookup
Use this specialist tool for supported vintage-vehicle filter applications.
Heavy-Duty Filter Lookup
Use this filter-only tool after the modern on-road or off-road guide has established the equipment application.
Small-Engine Filter Lookup
Use this specialist tool to identify filters for supported small engines; it is not a general product guide.
Master Filter Cross-Reference
Use a known filter number to find a possible AMSOIL cross-reference, then verify the exact application.
Care products and condition monitoring5 families
Cleaners and protectants, car care, firearms, oil analysis and commercial oil analysis.
Cleaners and protectants
- Use when
- Maintenance cleaners, protectants, degreasers and pre-service cleanup products.
- Choose by
- Choose by surface, residue, system and product directions.
- Confirm
- Confirm surface compatibility, residue requirements, ventilation and product directions.
Car care
- Use when
- Exterior, interior and finish-care products for cleaning, washing, waxing and protection.
- Choose by
- Choose by finish, surface, soil type and product directions.
- Confirm
- Confirm the finish or surface, soil type and product directions before application.
Firearms products
- Use when
- Firearm-specific cleaner, lubricant and protectant products.
- Choose by
- Use according to product directions and firearm maintenance requirements.
- Confirm
- Confirm the firearm manufacturer's maintenance requirements and current product directions.
Oil analysis
- Use when
- Use for condition monitoring, contamination checks and evidence-informed service decisions.
- Choose by
- Choose the kit and sampling interval by component, equipment value, duty cycle and the maintenance question being asked.
- Confirm
- Use consistent sampling practice and trend results; analysis informs maintenance but does not select initial product fit.
Commercial oil analysis
- Use when
- Use for fleets and equipment programs that need repeatable sampling, organized reporting and trend review.
- Choose by
- Choose by fleet size, equipment criticality, duty cycle and the maintenance decisions the program must support.
- Confirm
- Define component IDs, sampling intervals and response rules before relying on program trends.
Common questions
FAQ
Common questions
Does this page replace the AMSOIL lookup guide?
No. Use Find Your Fit whenever viscosity, capacity, filter part number, fluid type or application guidance depends on the exact vehicle or equipment.
Can the product-family sections be used as universal recommendations?
No. They are technical reference data and decision support. Use the current product page and lookup guide before buying.
Does the handbook publish extracted property tables?
No. The public page uses curated selection guidance. Check the current AMSOIL product page and data sheet when an exact technical value is needed.
Where should Data Bulletin, SDS and warranty details be checked?
Use the current AMSOIL product page, FAQ and warranty pages for current technical documents and warranty wording.
Optional account programs
Buying for repeat personal or business use?
Review official AMSOIL program information after you have found the products you need.