Motorbike engine oil is fundamental since it greases up and cools down the motor parts and keeps the engine from halting because of excessive heat. When it comes to motorbike maintenance service, the best thing you can do for your motorbike is to change the engine oil at regular intervals.
Role of engine oil in a bike engine
As a motorbike owner, you all know that it’s the engine oil that is reliable for the smooth working of the motor engine by acting as a lubricant for its parts. It protects the engine against the two biggest enemies of any motorbike engine: friction and heat. Since the engine oil plays a significant role in protecting the vehicle, it should be replaced regularly.
To ensure the longevity of the motorbike, changing the oil is most important for its maintenance. It may simply appear to be a basic process, but a couple of factors need to be considered when it comes to finding out how frequently the bike’s engine oil should be changed. The oil change interval relies upon the type of engine oil used, how often the motorbike is used, and the cleanliness of the oil filter.
Which is the right time for bike oil change?
To find the answer to this question, you should always refer to the owner’s manual, which comes with the motorbike, to know about the correct intervals for an oil change.
In case you don’t have the owner’s manual, then to know about the right time for an oil change, you can refer to these factors, like how often you drive your motorbike. In case you only take your motorbike out for short drives or some grocery shopping, then a single oil change every few months can last a long time for your bike. However, if you drive your motorbike every day or take it for long drives, then you have to change your motorbike oil more frequently. The type of engine oil that you are using for your bike’s engine matters too.
The best practice to keep your bike’s engine maintained is to change the engine oil after every 2,000 to 3,000 miles, or at least once every three months, regardless of the level of oil.
There are a few grades of bike engine oil to select from. New motorbikes require semi or completely synthetic oil, so again make sure to refer to your owner’s manual before buying motorbike oil. Once you know what type of engine oil your motorbike requires, it will be easier to determine how frequently to change it.
- Mineral-based engine oil should be changed after every 2,000 miles or less.
- Semi-synthetic engine oil should be changed after every 3,000-4,000 miles.
- Completely synthetic oil should be changed after every 6,000 to 7,000 miles.
5 signs your motorcycle needs an oil change
- Check if the oil has turned Black or gritty: Most motorbike models have a dipstick for checking the oil level, and other models have a window to simply see and check the level of the oil. Either way, you have to check the color of the engine oil. The shade of the new oil is light brown, which changes to black over time. Likewise, inspect the oil texture; if you feel coarseness or particles in the oil, it is contaminated and should be changed. There’s no good time period indicated for the oil to start to change to a darker tone, but if you check it consistently, you’ll be able to watch out for its condition.
- The engine makes more noise than usual: The motor oil offers a defensive layer between the metallic motor parts to keep away from friction. As the motor oil gets old, it loses its thickness, and the metal parts of the motorbike engine start rubbing against one another, creating noise. This shows that it is time for the engine oil to be changed.
- The warning sign is ON: The sensors fitted in the latest versions of the motorbikes show cautioning lights on the dashboard that indicate the low level of the motor oil. For this situation, check the engine oil level and contact your dealership and schedule an oil change to maintain the suggested level of the engine oil.
- Oil level is below mark: Once you’ve checked and maintained the required oil level, but it is still going down below the minimum mark. Then the problem may be that there is leakage in the engine or the oil is too old. When the oil begins to lose its chemical properties and the lubrication process of the engine becomes difficult, the engine starts using more oil than it should in order to make sure that all of the moving parts are lubricated. That is the reason, regardless of how much oil you put into the bike’s engine, the oil level will consistently go down faster than anticipated.
- Don’t remember the last maintenance date: Making sure that your engine has enough oil in it isn’t enough. You have to make sure that the engine oil is changed at regular intervals after every prescribed kilometers, as mentioned in the owner’s manual.
In case you can’t recall when your motorbike had its last oil change, then that’s a good indication that it’s the ideal time for the engine oil change. Maintain a document on your phone or PC to remember the date of the last oil change so that it’s easier to place your next visit to the mechanic.
If you do not have time to change your bike’s engine oil or risk your motorbike’s condition by delaying the engine oil change, you can visit the Apna Mechanic website for doorstep Oil Change and Bike repair service. Without much of a hassle, you can have your engine oil changed by an experienced mechanic at your convenience.
