Don’t
Youdon’tnecessarily need a motorcycle specific oil,you can choose a good auto-oil as long as it does not say energy conserving on the label. What is the best oil to use in a motorcycle? If you want the best,you go with AMSOIL Synthetic 10W-30 Motorcycle Oil.

Should you use motorcycle-specific oil?

The bottom line is, yes. You should use motorcycle-specific oil. Motorcycle engines have a completely different architecture than an automotive engine. Marcella spelled this out in detail: “The unique aspect of motorcycle architecture is that there is usually a common lubricant sump for the engine, wet clutch and transmission.

What’s the difference between motorcycle oil and car oil?

French oil company Motul says a car engine oil is mainly to lubricate moving parts in the engine, while oils in your motorcycle not only lubricate the engine but also cool the clutch and lubricate and protect the gearbox.

Why should I change my motorcycle oil?

Add to that the fact that motorcycle engines make more power per liter, spin faster, and run hotter than car engines and it’s pretty clear that picking motorcycle-specific oil is important. Why Should You Change Your Motorcycle Oil? Think of an oil change as a diagnostic for the status of your motorcycle’s engine. Spenser Robert

What type of engine oil is best for your bike?

Essentially the most basic type of engine oil, it is highly recommended for smaller capacity engines which do not impose a lot of mechanical pressure while running. Most manufacturers will recommend new bike owners to use mineral oils as they offer good engine protection for the first few kilometres of running the engine in.

Can You Use Car Oil In A Motorcycle?

Traditionally motorcycles used oil designed for automobiles , but as fuel efficiency demands for cars increased, friction modifiers have been added to the oil package. Certain kinds of friction modifiers, however, are great for cars and light trucks but can cause the clutch to slip in motorcycles. Recognizing that certain oils were causing issues for motorcyclists, the JASO stepped up and introduced two standards for motorcycle oils based on the SAE’s (Society of Automotive Engineers) Clutch Friction Test: MA for bikes with wet clutches and MB for bikes with automatic transmissions. If your bike has a wet clutch you’ll want to make sure you see that motorcycle-specific MA classification. Conversely, you want to steer clear of MB oils and any oil that’s labeled as “energy conserving” since both blends will contain problematic friction modifiers.

Why Should You Change Your Motorcycle Oil?

Think of an oil change as a diagnostic for the status of your motorcycle’s engine. Spenser Robert

What Are Pros And Cons Of Synthetic Oil?

Just as the cons of mineral oil revolve around its impurities, the benefits of synthetic oil revolve around its purity. Synthetic base oil consists of uniform molecules that are specifically tailored to serve as a performance lubricant. (Fun fact: Synthetic oils were developed as early as the 1870s but didn’t become commercially viable until the late 1940s. We have aircraft turbine engines to thank for the popularization of synthetic oil.)

What Oil Is Best For Break-In?

Everyone knows that those first few hundred miles are a critical time for new engines, but besides the break-in procedure debate (by the book versus ride it like you stole it) there’s also some controversy over whether or not you can or should break in an engine using synthetic oil.

What Is An Oil Analysis And What Can It Tell Me?

This process entails sending a sample of used engine oil to a lab for testing. The result is a report card detailing your oil’s— and to some degree your engine’s— health. Blackstone Labs offers a standard oil analysis and will even send you a sample kit for free. The test establishes levels for wear metals, measures actual viscosity, and checks for contaminants such as gasoline or coolant, among other things. Oil analysis is common among trucking and heavy-equipment companies where fleet managers use the info to track internal engine wear and fine-tune service intervals to optimize profit.

Why are some group 3 oils synthetic?

Interestingly, some Group III oils can be classified as synthetics due to the fact that the API allows oils to be categorized based on performance rather than composition.

What is viscosity in motorcycle oil?

Motorcycle Engine Oil Viscocity And What The Numbers Mean. The first thing most folks think about when they consider oil is its viscosity. Viscosity refers to the oil’s thickness—the higher the rating, say 50 weight, the heavier or more viscous the oil is. Viscosity is a critical factor in how well the oil flows and how much protection it offers. …

Do I need to use “motorcycle-specific” oil?

The bottom line is, yes . You should use motorcycle-specific oil. Motorcycle engines have a completely different architecture than an automotive engine. Marcella spelled this out in detail: “The unique aspect of motorcycle architecture is that there is usually a common lubricant sump for the engine, wet clutch and transmission. In a normal automotive setup, there are specific fluids for each piece of hardware, housed in separate sumps where they will (hopefully) never comingle. These fluids include the engine oil, which only has to be concerned with the engine, an ATF or manual transmission fluid (or perhaps no fluid if a dry manual tranny) for the transmission and then gear oil for the rear end.

What oil should I use for a Maxima?

Specifically, for the Maxima line, Marcella provided this example: “If no composition specifics are given in the manual, then the user can default to their riding style and expectations as to which oil to use. If the manual only specifies a 10W-40 meeting JASO MA, for example, the user could choose mineral Premium 10W-40, semi-synthetic Syn Blend 10W-40, full-syn Pro Plus 10W-40 or the full-syn, pure race oil Extra 10W-40. Premium is probably sufficient for most riding under this scenario, but if the user wants a little additional oil durability, Syn Blend would be a good choice. If they run the bike hard, frequent the track, and want the longevity of a synthetic, Pro Plus would be more ideal. If they strictly race the bike and rebuild the engine frequently, Extra would be the best choice to get that slight competitive edge.”

What type of oil should I use for a bike?

The owner’s manual will sometimes suggest their house or partner brand, but they will not require a specific brand (they are not allowed, by law, to specify a brand) but usually list a specific viscosity grade, or a selection of viscosity grades based on ambient temperatures, a minimum level of quality (API SL/JASO MA, for example) and sometimes a designation of base oil type (mineral, semi-synthetic or full-synthetic). Especially while your bike is under warranty, they both suggest sticking strictly to oils that meet those guidelines. If your bike is past the warranty period, it is still good to stick with those manufacturer recommendations since they designed the motor and know the specific needs. If the manufacturer specifically recommends petroleum-based oil, use that as some internal seals require that to “swell” in size and work properly.

What is rotella oil?

This is a product that was designed for diesel truck and automotive engines, which create a lot of soot and contaminants in the oil.

How much does it cost to change oil in a group 2 car?

And in the extreme case, a Group 2 (mineral) based oil cost only $5 per liter plus the filter of $8, but the recommended service interval drops to just one hour, so it will cost just $13 per oil change but with 40 changes over 40 hours, your total cost is $520, not to mention the time and disposal of a lot more oil.

Is PCMO oil the same as motorcycle oil?

Riley echoed this with a few other important points. “Passenger-car motor oil (PCMO) and motorcycle oil are similar from a base-oil standpoint but very different when it comes to additives. PCMO is not formulated for use in vehicles with a ‘wet’ clutch, found in nearly every motorcycle engine. Motorcycle oils utilize ‘friction additives’ to enable the motorcycle’s metal and fiber clutch discs to ‘grip’ each other, allowing for the controlled transfer of power from crank to transmission. Look for oils with true JASO certifications. Without ‘friction additives’ a motorcycle’s wet clutch will not ‘lock up’ and will continuously slip under load.”

Which oil holds up better?

After consulting your owner’s manual for the recommended oil type, you still have several options among brands. Generally, the higher-cost synthetic oils will hold up better in extreme conditions.

What is shear stability?

Shear stability is the measure of the amount of viscosity that an oil may lose during operation Since a motorcycle engine oil serves two functions – to lubricate the engine and gearbox – it needs to be able to maintain its intended viscosity for the entire service life.

Why is Motul oil used in motorcycles?

A motorcycle engine oil requires balanced friction characteristics as it needs to lubricate the wet clutch, which in turn transfers engine power to the drivetrain.

What happens if the oil level is too low on a motorcycle?

If the friction level is too low, the clutch will not be able to engage and will cause slippage.

Why do motorcycles use the same oil?

Because a motorcycle uses the same oil for both engine and gearbox the oil needs to offer protection for engine components and the gears. This requires motorcycle oil to be uniquely formulated with dedicated technology.

What is semi synthetic oil?

As the name goes, the semi-synthetic oil is a mixture between mineral oils and synthetic oils. Manufacturers have taken the best of both worlds; the high level of protection from mineral oils and high performance aspects from synthetic oils.

What is the best oil for a motorcycle?

The fully synthetic oils are considered to be the best of the best. Constructed out of pure polymers based of factory made oils, it is the exact opposite of mineral oil (you can say it is artificial and not made using any natural products). The best example of when to use this type of oil is for high performance motorcycles that are constantly put under a lot of stress. Superbikes and race machines are prime examples of machinery that require the help of fully synthetic oils.

Why are synthetic oils better than mineral oils?

The main benefit of fully synthetics oils is that they won’t degrade in terms of quality as they have constructed to have a very long life cycle. They won’t break down as fast as mineral oils or semi-synthetic oils. They also give the best lubricating performance which won’t break under pressure (providing that the right grade of oil is used). Some manufacturers would also state that they’re particular fully synthetic oil will increase performance but that is still a very subjective topic.

What are the different types of engine oil?

When it comes down to the materials of engine oils, there are only THREE basic types; Mineral Oils (MO), Semi-Synthetic Oils (SS) and Fully Synthetic Oils (FS). Below are the basic explanations for each individual …

What is the temperature of 10W40 oil?

A lot of people will recommend using 10W30 or 10W40 in Malaysia as the average temperatures in the country is usually around 28-30°C. So there you have it, folks. When it comes down to engine oils, different manufacturers have different formulations using multiple additives that come with a variety of claims.

What does the letter W mean in oil grades?

The letter ‘W’ stands for ‘Winter’ and the number that is stated BEFORE the letter represents the lowest performing temperature for the particular oil (NOTE: The temperature refers to OUTSIDE temperatures, not the engine). Check out the chart below to have a brief look at engine oils using the SAE grading system.

What does 40 mean in oil?

So, the 40 means that the oil will hold its shape and viscosity within the 40°C range.

Can you use regular motor oil in a motorcycle?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions and the simple answer is yes, as long as it does not say energy conserving on the label. Because cars need the extra mileage there are additives in the oil that is there to reduce friction.

Can I use 5w30 in my motorcycle?

5w30 Motor Oil It is designed to work at ambient temperature starting from -22 degrees Farhenheit. This makes it a perfect choice for your motorbike if you live in colder regions. You may use it in warm places as well but ensure that the temperature in such areas does not exceed 95 degrees Fahrenheit.

Do motorcycles need special oil?

Motorcycles, on the other hand, use the same oil for both the engine and the gearbox. Compared to car engines, a motorcycle engine oil requires balanced friction characteristics as it needs to lubricate the wet clutch, which in turn transfers engine power to the drivetrain.

Is 4 stroke oil the same as motor oil?

2 cycle or stroke oil is formulated to be mixed with the gasoline as the 2 stroke engine rarely has an oil reservoir and the oil in the gas lubricates the internal engine parts. 4 cycle oil is just normal regular oil that you use in your car as it is purely a lubricant in your 4 stroke car engine.

What happens if you put the wrong oil in your motorcycle?

If anything, a slipping clutch in car oil will wear slower than a slipping clutch in motorcycle oil.

Can I use 10W 40 instead of 5w30?

The difference is in the viscosity of each at different temperatures. The 5w30 oil will flow better at low temperatures than the 10w40 oil . This means that the 5w30 oil will protect the engine better at low temperatures, usually when the engine is just starting or during weather conditions such as winter.

What oil is thicker 10w40 or 20w50?

A 10w-40 is better at around 6 times thicker and a 0w-40 is much better at about 4 times thicker.

What is synthetic oil?

Synthetic oil is a modified oil that contains pure crude as an essential additive. Over the years, synthetic oils have improved with the advancement of technology. Synthetic oils are popular due to lower viscosity, which makes movement smoother for motorcycle engine parts and reduces internal friction. The problem with synthetic oils is that they are quite expensive, which can be a small price to pay for protection and long life.

What is mineral oil?

Mineral oils are composed of crude oil with different additives that neutralize acids. Moreover, some companies include frictional modifiers in their products to improve lubrication so that you don’t run out of the product. Mineral oils are very useful if you are using a new bike. They offer great protection for new engines for the first few miles. Also, in case you have a small-capacity engine, it is advisable to use this type of oil.

How long does it take to change motorcycle oil?

In case you are using natural oil, make sure it is replaced after 2,000 miles. If you are using fully synthetic oil, you can change the oil after 5,000 miles.

How does lubrication work on motorcycles?

Engine oil carries the heat away from lubricated parts. When the engine is switched off, oil returns to the oil pan. The best motorcycle engine oils will help cool your oil when it is in the oil pan.

Why is motorcycle oil good?

Improve efficiency and performance. Since motorcycle oil helps keep your engine clean, your bike’s motor extracts the best fuel efficiency.

How does oil help an engine?

When your engine is clean and running smoothly, it maximizes the mechanical output of your engine. Elongate engine life. A well-maintained engine will last longer than an abused engine. Regularly using good engine oil will help maximize the life of your engine.

What is the purpose of motorcycle oil?

Lubricate your engine. The main function of engine oil is to ensure enough lubrication is provided to all engine parts to minimize friction and wear. Motorcycle engine oil works by lubricating two moving parts, covering them with a thick slick film.