Guides
Notes from the 907.
Practical maintenance for cold climates. Written so you can do the job, then buy the right bottle through our store.
Video · 2:19
Watch: Synthetic vs. conventional motor oil
John Gardner and an AMSOIL expert answer common questions about switching between synthetic and conventional oil, including whether you can switch back and whether synthetic causes leaks.
November 1, 2026 · 12 min
Differential & transfer-case gear lube: an Alaska truck owner’s guide
Gear lube for Alaska trucks: why towing, gravel, boat ramps and cold are hard on it, a driveway leak and fill-plug check, and when to hand it to a shop.
October 27, 2026 · 11 min
The pre-winter six-fluid check: a Mat-Su driveway walkaround
Check six fluids before the deep cold: oil, coolant, transmission, brake fluid, power steering and gear lube. A Mat-Su driveway walkaround from Wasilla.
October 27, 2026 · 11 min
Alaska freeze-up fluid guide: six checks before winter
Before freeze-up, check coolant freeze protection and brake fluid, and confirm oil, transmission, power steering and gear lube. An Alaska driveway guide.
October 18, 2026 · 7 min
Repack your trailer bearings before snowmachine season
Alaska trailer bearing checklist before snowmachine season: the 10-minute driveway check, what a repack involves, when to use a shop, and the right grease.
January 8, 2026 · 7 min
What viscosity actually starts at 20 below
0W is not a marketing flourish in the Mat-Su. A field guide to pour point, cold-cranking, and which AMSOIL grades belong in an Alaskan crankcase.
March 18, 2025 · 6 min
How to check power steering fluid (and when to change it)
Icy roads, heavy snow, and a pump that groans on the first cold turn. A 10-minute check that saves a $1,000 rack.
March 12, 2025 · 6 min
Fuel system maintenance is not optional on modern engines
GDI, turbos, and a winter of short trips leave carbon where port injection used to wash it off. Here is the cheap habit that keeps the check-engine light off.
March 3, 2026 · 6 min
Why synthetic beats conventional every time
Conventional oil is refined crude: wax, sulfur, and molecules that were never designed to lubricate. A synthetic is built for the job, which is why it starts at 40 below and can stay in for a year.