Can I switch between synthetic and conventional oil?

Yes, it’s possible to switch between them, although it’s best to follow your vehicle’s manufacturer recommendations. If your car is older, consult a mechanic before making a switch.

Is synthetic oil worth the extra cost?

In most cases, yes—especially if you want longer intervals between changes and better protection. For frequent drivers or those in extreme climates, the investment often pays off.

How often should I change synthetic oil?

Many full synthetic oils are rated for up to 10,000 miles between changes, but always check your vehicle’s maintenance guide for specifics.

How to REALLY remove water from your fuel tanks

By Sarah Simonovich on Apr 27 2016

Sometimes, frustration can get the better of us.

Your lawnmower won't start, your quad is running sluggishly, and your fishing boat has stranded you and a lonely ham sandwich in the middle of the lake.

Relax.

Chances are, it's not because of bad luck or poor equipment; in all likelihood, the culprit is bad fuel.

Yet—bad fuel should never give way to a bad day.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and you're just itching to bring out the seasonal toys, be it the convertible, motorcycle, or motorboat; and while there is no better way to spend a warm afternoon outdoors, no one wants to waste half the weekend trying to get their engine to function properly. Contamination does not prefer a specific type of vehicle, machine, or contraption. If your engine has been stored away for some time or has otherwise been exposed to moisture in any capacity, your fuel is likely at risk.

Don't break out the tools yet. There may be an easier solution.

Word of advice: though it may seem tempting to stock up on gasoline while it's cheap and store it for later use, please don't. Ethanol-blended fuels and other biofuels are highly susceptible to degradation over time (due to water, sludge, and other contaminants), no matter how air-tight your container.

In 2005, the United States Congress mandated that 10% of the nation's fuel supply had to be blended with ethanol (ethyl alcohol derived from corn). For many, this change was marked solely by a sticker on a gas pump; however, for those more intimately aware of the inner-workings of their vehicles, the effects of these biofuel additives on engine performance may prove far more bothersome.

In addition to negatively affecting fuel economy, the addition of biofuels in diesel and gasoline significantly lowers their shelf-life. While diesel fuel may be safely stored for up to 90 days, gasoline may only be stowed for 30 days or less.

In short, your fuel will begin to degrade and eventually become unusable. So, while it may seem effectual to reuse old gasoline, re-purposing untreated fuel is likely against your better judgment. However, there may still be hope for spoiled fuel: but first we seek to better understand the reasons for this rapid deterioration.

**What constitutes bad fuel?**

Ethanol fuel is highly subject to a phenomenon known as phase separation, which occurs when water comes into contact with ethanol fuel.

Ethanol is a hygroscopic substance, which means that it is capable of attracting water as well as absorbing and retaining it. When the water in your fuel reaches a certain saturation point, the ethanol and water will phase separate, meaning the ethanol will separate from the fuel solution and form layers in the tank: an upper layer of gasoline, a milky layer of ethanol/water, and sometimes a third layer of just water.

Imagine the considerably less satisfying and translucent variety of Italian salad dressing. At the top, you'll find oil; in the middle, vinegar/water; and at the very bottom, all the spices. That's phase separation! Note: even if you shake it up, the internal components will readily begin to separate again.

This fuel has undergone Phase Separation. NOT good for your engine.

This phenomenon occurs wherever fuel is stored,including both above ground and underground storage tanks, vehicle tanks, boat tanks, equipment tanks, and even gas cans. Regrettably, degraded fuel will wreak more havoc on your equipment than you'd likely care to admit.

For example, if phase separation occurs in your fuel tank, you will immediately begin to notice problems with your engine. Not only can water contamination delay or completely prevent your engine from turning over, water-ridden fuel drastically affects octane rating and can actually contribute to engine damage.

Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of the whole debacle is that you can't really prevent water from entering your fuel system. Water can get into your fuel even when you least expect it; daily and seasonal temperature changes can lead to condensation, which over time can result in phase separated fuel.

This is the same fuel as above, treated with an emulsifying additive, K-100. This allows the water to be burned off, rather than cause any damage to internal components.

Remember: ethanol actually draws water in over time, making the phrase *clean, old fuel* little more than a misnomer. Seemingly, the only option would be to somehow *reverse* phase separation or otherwise correct it: which sounds much more like a task reserved for scientific researchers.

Thankfully, we know a couple.

At PSC, we make certain our products actually work before we ever even consider selling them to our customers. If they don't work, they get sent back with a kind thank you note.

Of all of those products, fuel additives are among the most rigorously tested, if not only because of the many claims each new bottle bears upon its label.

Common water-separating additives fail to eliminate moisture from fuel reserves, simply enhancing the polarizing physical makeups of fuel and water. While these additives work to separate the two substances, they do nothing to get the water out of the tank, which in essence is the source of the problem.

Unlike other fuel treatments, the 50-some-year-old fuel additive, K-100, actually allows the water to emulsify; when added to fuel, K100 bonds itself to the water molecules and encapsulates them: turning the non-combustible fluid into a burnable organic compound. As your engine runs, the water burns along with the fuel, releasing steam which in turn actually helps clean your engine.

Water is denser than fuel, so in its separated state, it will remain on the bottom of your fuel tank. The continual presence of water can block fuel lines and filters, damage fuel injector tips, lead to corrosion and acid formation, as well as support microbe growth in diesel fuel, making the case for K-100 all the more appealing.

K-100 is an all-encompassing, universal gasoline and diesel additive that cleans, eliminates water, lubricates, reduces emissions, and stabilizes old fuel as well as boosts octane rating. K100 Fuel Treatments are for use with all gasoline and diesel-powered equipment and are formulated for use with all fuels, including E-10, ULSD, Off-Road, Bio-Diesel, and Home Heating Fuels.