About Engine Oils

The oil used in your car has two primary ingredients: base oil and additives. The base oil allows the motor oil to perform its vital function - lubricating the engine's moving parts to protect them against wear and tear caused by friction. The additives provide additional engine protection by helping to prevent the oil from deteriorating under the engine's extreme temperature conditions.

Motor oil needs to perform a variety of functions under a wide range of engine operating conditions. Therefore, several additives are incorporated into the formulation:

1. Detergent/dispersant additives - used to help keep the engine clean by minimizing sludge buildup.
2. Rust and corrosion inhibitors & alkaline additives - added to protect the engine from water and acids formed as combustion by-products.
3. Antioxidants - added to inhibit the oxidation process, which can result in oil thickening and sludge formation.
4. Anti-wear additives - Oils have a minimal amount of zinc dialkyl  dithio phosphate (ZDDP) as an anti-wear additive to protect contacting metal surfaces with zinc and other compounds in case of metal to metal contact.
5. Viscosity index improver - help improve the flow characteristics of motor oil and make it work effectively over a wide range of temperatures

Besides there are other additives available commercially which can be added to the oil by the user for purported additional benefit. Some of these additives include:

• Some molybdenum disulfide containing additives to lubricating oils are claimed to reduce friction, bond to metal, or have anti-wear properties
• Extreme pressure additives - They decrease wear of the parts of the gears exposed to very high pressures. EP additives typically contain organic sulfur, phosphorus or chlorine compounds, including sulfur-phosphorus and sulfur-phosphorus-boron compounds

How does an engine oil work in a bike

The vast majority of modern motorcycles use the same oil to lubricate the engine, transmission, and the clutch. Motor oil lubricates moving parts by covering these parts with a slick film. Oil's ability of resistance to flow is called viscosity. When motor oil is cooled, the viscosity of the oil is thick and is capable of producing a friction-resistant coating on surfaces. As internal engine temperature rises, the viscosity thins out, allowing the oil to flow better, but reduces the tendency to adhere to the parts.

The viscosity index measures the performance of an oil's viscosity changes as engine temperatures change. A higher viscosity index indicates that the rating of the oil's viscosity, changing less in high-temperature situations than a lower viscosity indexed oil.

Can oil meant for car be used in a bike?

It is always recommended to use oils specially designed for bikes, since motorcycles are more demanding on oil than cars are. In scientific testing, it has been determined that motorcycles will break down oil more quickly than cars. Today's four stroke motorcycle engine environment is far more severe than that of the automobile.  Motorcycle engines run hotter and faster and may have reduced oil capacities to handle engine lubricity and cooling.  These factors favor the use of specifically tailored oils. Friction modifiers, used in Passenger Car Motor Oils to enhance automotive fuel economy can lead to clutch slippage in those motorcycles that use the same oil for engine and transmission lubrication while lower viscosity grades can lead to increased gear pitting.

Motorcycle specific oils have 5 times the anti-wear, anti-scuff and extreme pressure additives as compared to motorcar oil. Besides, they do not have friction modifiers that can wreak havoc on clutch performance.

Oil Viscosity

Oil thins when heated and thickens when cooled. Choosing the proper motor oil viscosity grade for the ambient temperature of your geographic location is therefore vitally important. In monograde oil the motor oil viscosity is defined at only one temperature, either high or low. A multigrade must keep a viscosity that will protect the engine effectively at both high and low temperatures. This makes multigrades an easy and popular year-round choice for drivers who experience hot summers and harsh winters. Multigrades are easily recognized by the dual viscosity rating (i.e. 10W-30 where the 10W is the low temperature or winter designation and the 30 is the high temperature designation).

Oil Changes

Oil changes are of the easiest and most effective ways to prolong the life of your bike, and should be performed as suggested by the manufacturer.

Importance of Oil Change

Oil is vital to the operation of your motorcycle and operates in three ways: reducing internal friction, cooling the components of the motor, and flushing the motor of debris. Oil lubricates the moving parts in the motor, preventing metal parts from coming into direct contact with each other.  

The oil system is designed to catch as much of the contaminants that build up within the motor, straining out any foreign objects as it passes through the oil filter. Changing your oil and filter refreshes this system, removing any build-up and providing fresh lubrication.

Factors that affect oil

The oil in your bike's motor can be affected by several factors: oxidation, burn-off, deposit build-up, and water-infiltration. Oxidation can occur at all temperatures, as oxygen works to break down the chemicals that comprise most motor oils. Oxidation is promoted even further as temperatures rise, evaporating the smaller molecules and leaving behind the heavier particles. These particles leave behind heavy deposits on the engine components and mix with the remaining oil, creating engine sludge, which loses its ability to flow and cool the motor.

The introduction of water, through excessive heat causing condensation or infiltration from the motor's exterior, further inhibits the viscosity of the oil, which can create friction and damage engine components.

Riding conditions that require frequent oil changes

• Longer rides at high revs.
• Dusty or humid conditions.
• Stop-start riding in built-up areas. This puts a lot more strain on the oil than motorway journeys.
• Using poor quality fuel, which can lead to oil contamination and sludge.
  

Disposal of engine oil

When replacing the oil in your engine, you must also properly dispose of resulting waste. Exposure to used motor oil poses a danger to your health and is a hazard to the environment. Plus, it is often illegal to dump used motor oil into garbage cans, down kitchen sinks and drains and into sewers and rivers or even pour it on the ground. A single gallon of used oil can contaminate a million gallons of fresh water. Most motor oil recycling facilities and local refuse centers accept used oil from consumers. However, if you find difficulty locating one in your area, ask your local motor oil retailer about places they recommend.