Choosing The Best Oil For Your Motorcycle
Motorcycle oil serves several purposes. For example, oil acts as a lubricant for a motorcycle’s engine. Similarly, it cools the components of a motorcycle’s engine that are not in direct contact with the water jacket of the engine. However, motorcycle oil differs from car engine oil. A motorcycle has a wet clutch, which means that the motor oil runs through the clutch. Yet, unlike car engine oil, the motorcycle oil should not contain undue amounts of molybdenum, because it can cause the clutch to begin slipping. Furthermore, motorcycle oil that contains “energy saving” properties should be avoided. The modifier additives that these types of oils contain can cause the clutch of the motorcycle to decompose over time. This category includes 0w-20, 5w-30, and 10w-30 oils.
Furthermore, most motorcycle experts recommend that 10w-40 oils should be avoided as well, especially if you have completed a 520 conversion recently. This is because this type of oil contains a high level of VII’s that can have a degrading effect on a motorcycle’s transmission. Because these common types of oils are not recommended for use with motorcycles, it can leave an individual wondering what type of oil they should choose. Most mechanics recommend that a motorcycle owner use synthetic oils. There are several advantages for using synthetic oils.
First and foremost, synthetic oils contain a higher viscosity index than that of mineral based oils. Synthetic oils are also offer better resistance to thinning at hot temperatures and thickening during cooler weather. Furthermore, synthetic oils has a higher film strength, which means that it takes a longer period of time for the oil in a motorcycle’s oil to drain off of its bearings and into the motorcycle’s sump. Finally, synthetic oils contain polar molecules that retain solvent properties that assist in dissolving the combustion byproducts of a motorcycle’s engine.