From Action News...
Although differential designs have remained relatively unchanged over the past 30 years, their operating environments have changed drastically. Modern differentials are subjected to as much as 93 percent more horsepower, towing limits up to 18,000 lbs, extreme operating temperatures and decreased fluid volume. Some manufacturers recommend changing the factory-fill gear lube within the first 500 to 3,000 miles based on SAE test stand and field tests. AMSOIL recommends the factory-fill differential gear lube be changed no later than the first 5,000 miles, even when vehicle manufacturers do not specify to change the factory-fill gear lube to remove wear particles. When using AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes, AMSOIL recommends drain intervals of 50,000 miles in severe service or 100,000 miles in normal service, or longer if stated by the OEM. AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes not only offer second- to-none protection and performance in cars and light trucks, including turbo diesel pickup trucks, they are much less expensive than OEM synthetic gear lubes. Changing break-in wear particles out after the first 5,000 miles of service and using AMSOIL synthetic gear lubes at the correct recommended gear lube drain interval ensures long, trouble-free differential life.

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is changing the way it calculates the miles per gallon (mpg) estimates posted on new vehicle window stickers, and the new standards will be implemented in time for model year 2008 vehicles. By including factors such as high speeds, aggressive accelerations and cold temperature driving in its tests, the EPA expects the posted fuel economy estimates will be more consistent with what the customer experiences.

More and more, manufactures are looking to lubricants to help increase the MPG ratings of their products. Oil weights like 0W-20 give slight improvements in fuel efficiency, but may not be the best for engine protection. Follow your manufacturer's recommendations, but don't be afraid to go slightly heavier on the oil weight. It won't hurt your engine and it may provide better protection through improved high temperature film strength. Any slight loss of fuel efficiency will be more than made up for in the savings realized from longer oil change intervals and reduced maintenance over the long run.

I was supposed to tell you about my '99 Dodge Durango this month, but instead I'm going to show you the new official Florida Synthetics vehicle. It's a 2003 Mazda Protege5. We just bought it last weekend and I have no idea what fluids are in it. It's got 33,000 miles on it, so it's well past time to get it on synthetic lubricants. I'll document here for my readers as I turn this car into a rolling Amsoil demonstration vehicle. First and foremost will be the engine oil, which will be Amsoil's finest Series 2000 0W-30. This is actually the first front-wheel-drive car I've ever owned!