Knowledge Of Motorcycle Lubricating Oil

EFI motorcycles generally use four-stroke engines. The cylinder cover is equipped with a special valve mechanism, and the gearbox is connected to the crankcase. Therefore, the lubrication system uses a combination of pressure and splash lubrication.

Add a specified amount of lubricating oil to the crankcase. After the engine is running, the oil pump sucks the lubricating oil and pressurizes it through the oil tubes to the surfaces of high-speed and heavy-load parts such as valve trains, crankshafts, and bearings.

For parts that are difficult to lubricate, the lubricating oil splashed by the rotation of crankshafts, gears and other parts to lubricate that parts, such as cylinder walls, transmission gears, etc.

Since most of the motorcycle lubricating oil can flow back to the crankcase and be reused after filtering, the generation of carbon deposits and the consumption of lubricating oil can be greatly reduced

It can be said that the lubrication system of a four-stroke motorbike engine is a complete system, and the quality of the lubricating oil has a great impact on the operation of the lubrication system and even the engine’s operating performance.

Due to different motorcycle engines has different working states and conditions, the lubricating oils used for the engines are also different, mainly due to differences in trace additives. Therefore, engine lubricating oils for diesel engines, gasoline engines, automobiles, and motorcycles are different and cannot be mixed.

At present, the motorcycle oil market has become a professional landscape. How to choose lubricants? Mainly depends on the viscosity grade and lubrication level.

1.Viscosity grade

The 4T lubricating oil, the viscosity grade is similar to SAE10W/40. The selection of lubricating oil is closely related to the ambient temperature. SAE5W/30 grade oil can be used throughout the year in the northern region; SAE15W/40 grade oil can be used throughout the year in the southern region. Of course, in extremely cold and extremely hot areas, you should choose according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and not based on experience.

2.Lubrication level

According to the classification standards of the American Petroleum Institute (API), 4T lubricants are divided into SD, SE, SF, SG etc. from low to high. Motorcycle Lubricating oil should not be lower than SE grade. SF grade is recommended, and if conditions permit, use SG grade (friction-reducing and energy-saving type, containing special friction-reducing and energy-saving agents to form a eutectic compound on the friction surface)

Motorcycle lubricating oils which viscosity grade and lubrication grade meet the requirements (the requirements of the factory instruction manual should prevail) can be selected. It is best to choose 4T lubricants specially produced by major brand manufacturers for motorcycles.

First, pay attention to the changes in oil color and purity during the 500km journey after replacing the lubricating oil. For high-quality oil, there is almost no obvious change in its color and purity, while for inferior oil that change is obvious.

Second, observe the changes in oil quality and viscosity while drive between 1,000 to 2,000km after changing the oil, For high-quality oil, its color is heavy but not black, and it feels slippery but not astringent when rubbed on your fingers; while for inferior oil, the effect is opposite . Therefore, high-quality oil can be replaced after driving to 2000km; poor-quality oil can be replaced every 1000km; inferior oil must be replaced once it is confirmed.

Third, pay attention to the engine startup stability, idling stability, acceleration sensitivity, fuel consumption, cylinder temperature and exhaust emissions while driving. Pay attention to whether the above conditions are improved or worsened after using new lubricating oil to determine the quality of the lubricating oil used.