How to Select Engine Oil for your Bike
If you own a bike and you are unclear about what engine oil should you use for your bike, then this is where you start understanding this complete article – How to Select Engine Oil for your Bike.
There’s evermore a fuss about what engine oil should you use, synthetic or semi synthetic or mineral oil. If this is not overwhelming for you, then there are oils with different viscosities too viz. 10W-30, 20W-40, 15W-50, 20W-50 and so on.
I hope it is obvious that engine oils are rather complicated and not something that you should rely solely on your mechanic’s gut feeling.
The engine is the essential element of your motorcycle. Even if every other component is used from a top-notch manufacturing company, a non maintained engine will wreck your quality riding.
The engine is a set of parts bound together to convert the energy from a fuel into mechanical force. That moreover helps you rev your motorcycle to the limits described by the bike manufacturer.
Types of Engine Oil for your bike
When it comes to choosing right engine oil, there are several things that you need to consider like the model of your bike, driving conditions(high terrain roads, weather, traffic, etc.), and lastly the prime objective of your bike (Commuting, Racing, cruising, etc.).
Thus, Engine Oils change as per the purpose of the bike, its use and driving location. Before we derive any summing-up, let me share with you different types of motorcycle engine oils.
Mineral Engine Oil for bikes
Mineral engine oil is the most affordable of all the bike oils; it offers very limited in terms of additives. Motorbike mineral engine oil does not provide superior performance for a longer time. Hence, mineral oil is perfect for bike owners who are careful about regular oil changes.
These oils are manufactured locally and used by small service stations in bulk. Also, this oil is not suitable for driving situations with different quantities and altering temperature. Using this oil for high territory roads may cause engine seizure.
Mineral oils are assumed more fitting for older bikes because they are heavier or thicker and don’t leak. Owners who switch to synthetic oils in more traditional bikes often find they leak more further.
Be assured that older bikes designated the type of engine oil available when built. Those types of engine oils may not be available anymore. However, current generation oils will be far better than what was for older applications.
Unlike traditional mineral engine oil, upgraded oils may show a different picture in terms of performance. Engine oil manufacturers in India have developed advanced and better performing mineral engine oils.
Today’s Mineral engine oils for bikes help in giving you a smooth ride, better performance in terms of driving experience and helps to maintain engine for a long time keeping the cost affordable at the same time.
Premium Mineral Engine Oil for bikes
Engine Oils like Premium Mineral is a pure variant of mineral oil. No doubt premium mineral engine oil is purified, packed and sold all over india by various brands including supergen engine oils. Premium mineral oil offers better performance and longevity to the motorbike engine than its Mineral counterpart.
These oils are available in standard, 1L or 2.5L packages for direct customers in the market. Premium mineral oil is excellent for bike owners who don’t often accelerate and ride their bikes in economy scale. These oils cost around ₹300-400, depending on brands and viscosity. Premium mineral engine oil for bikes can be procured from a local spare part shop or online.
Semi Synthetic Engine Oil for bikes
Semi synthetic engine oil is made of Premium Mineral Oil (usually applied to as base oil) and additives. Additives are chemical compounds that advance Base Oil‘s performance for a particular purpose. Therefore, Semi synthetic engine oil is an engineered variant of Premium Mineral Oil to achieve a specific goal.
Semi synthetic engine oils for bikes have superior and more widespread performance compared to Premium Mineral Oil. It is exemplary for bikes over 200cc and owners inclined to use their bike for racing.
Nonetheless, Semi synthetic oil is not fitting for driving situations with very high or low temperature. While selecting a Semi synthetic Oil also note, some of these oils may cause rubber seals degeneration and cause oil leaks
Premium Synthetic Engine Oil for bikes
Engine oils like Premium synthetic engine oil for bikes is produced in labs and is chemically superintended to provide better engineering properties at high and low temperatures for two wheelers. Properties that are not just limited to the running temperature held by Premium Synthetic Oils.
Some of the Premium synthetic engine oils have qualities that hinder rust, improve lubricity to deliver better mileage, neutralise oil impurities, and name a few. premium synthetic engine oils are suitable for bike owners looking to achieve superior performance. These oils are ideal for performance engines.
However, Premium synthetic engine oil can be used for smaller machines, but it’s not worth the cost for smaller engines below 250cc. As you might have figured by now that Premium synthetic oils are costly, a standard 1L bottle may cost close to ₹750-₹800 rupees.
What is Engine Oil Viscosity?
The dictionary definition of viscosity is
the state of being thick, sticky, and semi fluid inconsistency, due to internal friction.
The material that flows easily has a lower viscosity than the material that does not flow smoothly. For example, water has a lower density than petrol.
The oil viscosity changes with changing temperature. Oils beget a higher viscosity (sticky) at lower temperatures and a lower viscosity at its operating temperature. Hence, oils are rated based on the viscosities at various temperatures. For example, a 10W-30 oil means that oil can be pumped inside the engine at two different temperatures. 10W means the viscosity grade at a lower temperature.
The lower the viscosity grade, the lower the temperature at which the oil can pass. Hence, a 5W-30 can give at even lower temperatures, and so on. 30 in 10W-30 signifies the viscosity grade at 100°C. Therefore, the higher the viscosity grade, the higher the temperature at which oil can relinquish.
Hence, more the difference between higher and lower viscosity grade better the oil at performing at broader temperature ranges. Refer to the below chart to understand the best engine oil grade for your bike. The larger the difference between lower and higher operating temperatures, the more expensive the engine oil.
Engine oils with different viscosity grades and their operating temperature range.
Conclusion
Four factors for selecting an Ideal engine oil for your bike
- Purpose of your Motor Bike – Be it Driving, Racing or Cruising, engine oil is selected based on its oil type. Also, Keep in mind the amount of engine oil.
- Driving Conditions – On a high terrain road where the temperature is much lower, it is excellent to select engine oil based on Viscosity grade.
- Bike Model – For Bike with a smaller engine (less than 200cc) it is perfect to use premium mineral oil. Still, if you are compliant to spend extra for better performance, its recommended that you go with Semi synthetic Oil. The type of engine oil, may it be Semi synthetic or Premium Synthetic Oil based depends upon your use of bike.
- Operating Temperature – While choosing the engine oil running temperatures should be kept in mind based on your city’s highest and lowest weather.
