Important things to consider in your choice of motor oil for your bike

There are some riders who don’t know much about how to take care of their ride yet drive their bikes every day. That’s understandable because for many of them it’s the first vehicle they have ever owned and so they end up relying on repair shops for periodic maintenance and fixes. The big question is how do they know they are getting the best choice of motor oil, products and services without spending unnecessarily?

One such dilemma is choosing the engine oil for his motorcycle. Given that the oil is the bike’s lifeblood, what should it do? The best choice of motor oils should provide adequate protection from the stress of high-revs and extreme temperature that typical bike engines are designed for. Unlike cars that used about 4 liters of engine oil, a vast majority of bikes only have 800 ml or 1 liter of oil to lubricate parts, clean combustion by-products and help cool engines that rely on ambient air to dissipate heat. It should also provide good friction reduction yet control slippage in wet clutch systems of most bikes on the road today

The first step is to refer to the bike’s manual – in there they will find the specified viscosity and performance ratings that the manufacturers recommend.  Armed with that information, what else do they have to consider once they are in the shop? While mineral based oils are generally suitable for basic protection, synthetic based oils have better lubricity and temperature stability which ensures a more efficient and longer lasting engine. In some cases, synthetic oils also increase power, save fuel and lasts longer.

The American Petron Institute (API), International Lubricant Standardization, and Approval Committee (ILSAC), and Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (JASO) are organizations that set the standards for oil manufacturers to meet the various engine requirements and needs. Most bikes in the country are Japanese in origin and should take JASO as the most important rating to consider.  Simply put an MA rating is good for most bikes but MA2 is best for wet clutch systems because it assures the rider that efficient gear operation is built into the formulation.

The bottom line? Oils are not created equal and formulations matter.  Second, people will never go wrong by following the manufacturer’s oil recommendations.

What oil are you using? Would you consider switching oil brands? Let us know. Please post your comments below.

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