Oil: the most important questions on the subject

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Oil: the most important questions on the subject

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Oil: the most important questions on the subject

Oil: the most important questions on the subject
Oil: the most important questions on the subject

Are there any differences between motorcycle oils and car oils? Yes, because the requirements are very different.

02/25/2003

Are there any differences between motorcycle oils and car oils??
Yes, because the requirements are very different. Motorcycle engines usually achieve extremely high outputs per liter and therefore require far higher speeds than car engines. Air-cooled engines in particular put more stress on the oil than almost exclusively water-cooled car engines. In addition, on almost all motorcycles, the oil must also supply the transmission and clutch. The brand manufacturers take these differences into account when selecting the additives.

From which price range are oils suitable for motorcycles available?
Ordinary mineral oils are available from around eight marks per liter, synthetic oils from around 14 marks.

What is viscosity?
Viscosity is the property of a liquid to offer resistance to its deformation. Oil has a high viscosity when it is viscous (when cold), and low when it is thin (when hot). The problem: engine oils have to be thin enough during a cold start to get to all important points in the engine quickly and, when the engine is overheated, still thick enough so that the lubricating film does not tear.

What does the API information on the oil bottle mean??
The American Petroleum Institute (short “API”) divides the oil into quality classes. The first letter for gasoline engines is an S, the second should be an E, F or G – the higher the better. However, the API is an auto standard, and even cheap oils often already meet API SE or SF.

Are synthetic oils better than mineral oils?
Not basically. A great mineral oil can do more than a mediocre synthetic oil. High-quality synthetic oils are clearly superior to mineral oils, they are more thermally resilient, age less and ensure cleaner engines.

Which oil is good for which driver?
With high quality mineral oils are all “Normal driver” well served, the engines of which come up to temperature, but are not constantly moved to the limit. The best example: the typical tourer. “Marginalized groups” such as infrequent drivers with frequent cold starts and short journeys as well as sports drivers are better served with high-quality synthetic oils.

Can mineral oils be mixed with synthetic oils??
Yes, all engine oils can be mixed with one another, regardless of whether they are mineral or synthetic oils.

Should a new motorcycle run on synthetic oil from the start?
No, mineral oil should be used for the first 2000 kilometers, because this one “Run-in time” all moving parts have to adapt to each other, and this desired wear works better with mineral oil.

What should be considered when converting an engine from mineral to synthetic oil?
The oil consumption can be slightly higher at the beginning. The synthetic oil can dissolve substances and should therefore only run two-thirds of the prescribed change interval after the initial filling.

Do the new 0W oils make sense for motorcycles??
No, because they are full “Friction Modifiers”, These are additives that reduce friction in the car engine, but can cause the clutch to slip on the motorcycle, especially with older engine designs. Exception: a special motorcycle oil such as Bel-Ray 0W 40. But even that only makes sense at very low temperatures.

Ages oil during the winter break?
Yes and no, of course every oil that comes into contact with oxygen ages, but a fresh oil does not have any problems for a period of up to a year. The oil change can therefore be carried out before the winter break.

The oil filter must also be replaced with every oil change?
Absolutely, because a residue of used oil always remains in the filter, which would immediately reduce the quality of the fresh oil if it was not changed.

What else should you watch out for when changing the oil??
Always use a new sealing ring for the drain plug, do not hit the filter too hard (hand-tight), let it run briefly after filling and check again and refill if necessary (filter is full, oil level drops).

Do modern engines still have to be warmed up??
Yes, motor oil “is working” only from around 50 degrees Celsius, and the running play of the mechanics only has the correct value at operating temperature. Five kilometers”Half throttle” at least it should be.

Coupling problems can have something to do with the type of oil used?
Yes, but especially with synthetic oils, choosing another synthetic oil is usually of little use. But that often helps “Back up” on mineral oil.

Are cheap oils completely taboo, or are they good for short change intervals?
Whoever has to save on the very last mark should, in God’s name, drive with department store or hardware store oil. After 2000 kilometers at the latest, however, a change is recommended. In any case, the oil quality must at least meet the minimum requirements of the vehicle manufacturer (API class and viscosity).

Does the color of the oil say something about the quality?
No, just the opposite. If an oil turns dark quickly, it just means that it is holding foreign matter in suspension – and that is exactly what it is supposed to do.

What to do with the used oil?
Not in the sink or the landscape, of course. Just one gram of oil per liter of water is fatal for fish. Anyone who sells oil is legally obliged to take back the same amount of used oil free of charge. So: keep the receipt.

The outside temperature at which an oil can be used depends on the viscosity: a 15 W 50 oil, for example, in the range from minus 20 to plus 30 degrees.

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