The motorcycle engine is made from several parts like carbon brushes, axles, and many more. These mechanical parts are in constant motion to provide the output to the transmission system, which then causes motion in the motorcycle. Due to constant friction, the engine parts generate heat which causes faster wear and tear, thereby reducing the efficiency. To prevent friction and wear and tear, lubricating motorcycle oil is used.
However, there are several motorcycle oils present in the market. That’s why choosing the best lubricating oil is so difficult. As the engine oil is the lifeline of the two-wheeler vehicle, we have created a detailed buying guide to help you get your hands on the best lubricant for your bike.
What Are The Different Types Of Motorcycle Oil Available In The Market?
There are mainly three types of motorcycle oil available in the market. These oils not only vary in composition but also in features. To give you a better clarification, here we have discussed those three motorcycle engine oil types.
Synthetic Oils
Manufactured in factories with crude oil as the major additive, synthetic oils are quite costly. However, there are several variations in this type of oil, especially in terms of viscosity. Usually, these lubricants are less dense and hence offer almost no resistance to the fluid flow motion. As a result, the engine parts are lubricated properly, thereby reducing the friction.
Mineral Oils
Mineral oils are made from crude oil, while several mineral additives are added to the product. This helps increase the alkalinity of the motorcycle engine oil, which neutralizes any acids present in between the engine parts. The mineral oils have high viscosity, and hence, they are better for the new bikes where the engine parts are not rusted and need less lubrication.
Semi-Synthetic Oils
For engines having a displacement capacity of 125 ccs to 180 ccs, semi-synthetic oils are the best choice. They are formed by combining the mineral oils and the synthetic oils to establish a proper viscosity level which can keep the engine safe and lubricated in high-performance motorcycles.
What Factors Should You Consider Before Choosing A Motorcycle Oil?
Compliance Marks
Before buying the motorcycle oil, it is your responsibility to check whether the product is meeting the general compliance standards or not. In addition, there will be markings present on the body of the product like SAE or JASO, which are globally recognized compliances for bike lubricants. Therefore, you should shortlist only those products which are labeled with either of these two compliances.
Bike Riding Style
Different bikers have different riding styles. For racers and sport bikers, the riding style is aggressive and hard. Hence, the engine needs to produce high output to provide more speed and efficiency. Due to this, the engine parts suffer more wear and tear, which is why you will need synthetic motor oil. This lubricant can resist molecular breakdowns even if the engine is heated to an extreme temperature. On the contrary, bikers who use motorcycles for daily commutes drive slowly and smoothly. Hence, less effort is applied to the engine, which means you can buy the mineral oil without any worry.
Endurance Against Temperature
You need to be very careful while choosing the motorcycle oil since its viscosity depends on the engine temperature. At high temperatures, the oil molecules can break down. Therefore, you need to ensure that the product can endure high temperatures and resist breakdown. Similarly, for very cold places, the oil must have enough viscosity to avoid freezing between the engine parts.
Oil Viscosity
Oil viscosity is used to define the resistance of the fluid against flow motion. When choosing a motorcycle oil, you need to ensure that the viscosity is ideal for your bike’s engine. For example, if you are driving at a lower temperature or need more engine output, the viscosity rating should be below. Hence, the oil will be thinner and can easily lubricate the engine parts. On the contrary, if you are riding at a high temperature or if your engine doesn't need too much lubrication, a higher viscous oil will be better. Due to high viscosity, the oil’s flow rate will be less.
Additives In The Oil
You also need to check what kind of additives are present in the motorcycle oil you are planning to purchase. The benefits of having additives are many. For instance, they help in clearing the debris between the engine parts and cooling down the engine temperature to improve the longevity of both the moving and fixed engine parts.
How To Read The Oil Grade Numbering?
No matter which product you are buying, there will be a number written on the label like 10W50 or 15W80 and so on. So before you buy a product, it is very important to understand what this number implies and why it is important to consider.
Let us consider a standard oil grade as aWb. The letter ‘W’ means Winter. Now, the number represented by the letter ‘a’ precedes the W, and it means the lowest temperature range till which the oil will be able to maintain its viscosity. Thus, the lower the value of 'a', the better the lubrication and the oil's performance. Similarly, 'b’ represents the highest temperature to which the oil will hold its viscosity without breaking down.
What Are The Benefits Of Using Motorcycle Oil?
- The motorcycle oil helps in lubricating the engine parts for smooth motion between them.
- Several additives present in the oil helps in cooling down the engine temperature. In addition, these additive components also clean the debris present in between the engine parts.
- With the help of bike oil, the friction force will be decreased, reducing wear and tear.
- Lastly, using the oil will help in increasing the engine’s efficiency and productivity.
Motorcycle Oil FAQ
Q. Can I use car oil instead of motorcycle oil for my bike?
A. No, the car oil can't be used in the bikes because they have different viscosity, which will cause more harm to the engine than good. Also, the car oil has a different temperature range than the motorcycle oil, which is unsuitable for the bike engine.
Q. Which is the costliest type of motorcycle oil?
A. The synthetic oils are the costliest because they are made from synthetic materials, and the crude is used as the additive component.
Q. Why do I need to change my motorcycle oil frequently?
A. If you are not changing the motorcycle oil, it will soon lose its viscosity and won't lubricate the engine surfaces properly. As a result, the engine's life will be at stake. That's the reason why you need an oil change for your bike frequently.