Motorcycle engines use oil for lubrication and cooling. The importance of lubrication is self-evident: it allows metal parts to slide over one another without becoming heated or wearing away. Special oils with several additives are required because of the high pressures and internal engine speeds. Oil is used for a variety of functions on your motorcycle, including engine oil, transmission fluid, fork oil, axle grease, and more.
Using the oil that your manufacturer suggests for your bike and riding conditions is the safest method to keep your motorcycle functioning well. The majority of manufacturers sell their own branded oil blends, making oil selection even easier. Bike-specific branded oils are, of course, more expensive than generic brands, and they may only be sold through authorized dealerships. That doesn’t rule out the possibility of using different oils to get the same results.
Engine oil is divided into three categories: petroleum, synthetic, and synthetic mixes.
- Petroleum oils: These are mostly refined petroleum that has been treated with chemical additives to improve performance, viscosity, and working life. The majority of bike mechanics recommend traditional petroleum oils.
- Synthetic oils: Scientists have devised chemical combinations that produce a liquid that performs the same functions as petroleum oil but with significantly longer lifespans and efficiency. Many mechanics advise using synthetic oils after the break-in period on new motorcycles and long-distance riding.
- Synthetic mixes: They combine the greatest qualities of synthetic and petroleum lubricants. They transport heat more efficiently than pure synthetics and maintain the proper viscosity when cool, making cold starts safer.7
There is a significant difference between two-stroke and four-stroke engines that impact how to choose the right type of motor oil for them.
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Two Stroke Engine Oil
In “Two-strokes,” two-stroke motor oil is combined with petrol. Before being burned, a mixture of motor oil and petrol is pumped into and through the motor. This means that it is utilized to lubricate the entire engine. It also comes in various qualities, ranging from standard grade to racing quality. There are two types of two-stroke Oils Premix or self-mixing (for automatic mixing systems).
Self Mixing Type:
Pour the engine oil into the oil tank for a self-mixing motorcycle, and the machine uses as much as it requires. It is important that you use oil explicitly made for self-mixing motorcycles. Otherwise, the oil could be too thick, preventing it from passing through the mixer and leaving your engine without oil, causing severe damage.
Premix Type:
There is no oil tank and pump on a two-stroke premix motorbike. Before hitting the road, you’ll need to mix the motor oil with the petrol.
Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for OIL: FUEL ratios to ensure the bike isn’t running too rich, which means too much oil in the fuel, or too lean, which is too little oil in the fuel.
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Four Stroke Engine Oil
Oil’s viscosity is measured in “Weight” ratings for four-stroke motor oil. The majority will have multigrade oil weight classifications, such as 10W40, 20W50, and so on. The multigrade oil weight rating simply says that the oil is designed to work at room temperature as well as at the operating temperature of your motorcycle. These multi-grade oils are designed to be thin and flow freely when cold, allowing them to circulate and protect faster. When the bike achieves operational temperature, they thicken and become more protective.
To keep your motorcycle running in top condition, you must select the recommended weight oil and brand according to your owner’s manual. Keep in mind that the needs for winter and summer may differ.
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- If you need to add oil in between oil changes done during regular service intervals, use the same brand and weight of oil. Mixing synthetics and traditional petroleum oils, as well as weights, is not a good idea.
- There’s a significant distinction between a motorcycle and car oils. It’s entirely chemical, and it primarily affects motorcycles with shared engines and transmission oil sumps. For better fuel economy, car oils contain chemicals that reduce friction. Motorcycle transmissions require more friction to function correctly, so use motorcycle oil wherever feasible.
- Add the oil that comes closest to your specifications as recommended in your owner’s manual. Ensure that the oil type, conventional, synthetic, or blend, and weight are compatible. If the weight can’t be matched, make sure the high figure isn’t higher than the spec oil. The most important thing is to run with the correct amount of oil – never overfill or underfill.
