FRVelion Recommendation: When should you change your Bike Engine oil?

Changing bike engine oil depends on the types of oil used by you during the last oil change.

If you are using “mineral-based bike oil” for your bike then you need to change your bike engine oil after 2,000 miles. But in case you do not use your bike regularly, then you can change the oil at least twice a year.
But if you are using the “semi-synthetic bike oil” then you have to change the bike engine oil after 5000 or 6000 miles.
For those who are using the “fully-synthetic bike oil” can change the bike engine oil after 7000 to 10,000 miles.

However, if you travel long distances daily or uses your bike every day then you need to change your bike engine oil very frequently whether you’re using fully-synthetic. Semi-synthetic or mineral-based motor oil.

FRVelion Tips to Consider While Changing Bike Oil

Here FRVelion sharing some tips which you need to follow while changing your bike oil: –

Prepare for the Process

Before changing the bike oil, gather all the things which you need for changing the bike oil. Things include the new oil filter, new engine oil, drain pan, measuring beaker, basic toolset, funnel, and cleaning need some spare rags.
Before proceeding to the next step, keep sure your bike is on the center stand.
Putting a bike on the center stand, it is easier for you to reach the bike engine and ensure the bike’s stability.

Used Oil Disposal

The next step comes to the disposal of the used oil by draining it onto a drain pan carefully.
Make sure to know where the is a valve from which the bike oil drained because different bike models have different valve locations.
With the help of the wrench to remove the drain bolt and allow the used bike oil to run out.
Now you need to tilt the bike at an angle of 45 degrees and hold the bike for some minutes.
Repeat the same process again and again until you are sure that the used oil has been drained completely.

Replace with the new oil filter

While removing the old oil filter be careful as during the process there may be ‘oil spillage’.
Before replacing the old oil filter, rub a small amount of new oil on the new oil filter. Doing this process, it slides into the engine very smoothly, and also it will be easily removed in the next oil filter change.

Now pour the new Engine Oil

Now you have to refer to the service manual that accompanied your motorbike then measure the bike oil needed in a beaker.
Open the valve and place a funnel for aiding the flow of the engine oil.
Now finally pour the fresh new oil into the engine and then start the without revving. You need to do this step as it will allow the new engine oil to circulate easily.

Car Engine Oil vs Bike Engine Oil

You all might have heard that not all oils are the same. This is very true when it comes to bike and car engine oils. For those who are riding bike newly, it might be tempting to them thinking changing bike engine oil is the same as changing car engine oil. Maybe you will think what is the difference after all oil is oil, but it is not like that using the wrong oil for your bike can seriously damage your bike. While pouring oil process may be the same but the formulation and the purpose of the oils are different.

Car Engine Oil

Car engine oils contain the lubricity additives and viscosity modifiers that generally help to increase the car’s engine efficiency.
Car engine oils also contain “detergent additives” whose ash content is relatively very high. If this is used in the bike engines then these will result in the formation of the deposits on the valve train as well as on the piston crowns.

Bike Engine Oil

Bike engines have smaller sump than the car engines so their oil volume is also smaller.
Bikes run at a higher RPM as compared with the car engines (sometimes double) and also have a higher operating temperature. High RPM use, smaller volume, and high temperature can put more strain on the engine oil, which is far more than the automotive applications.

Bike oils are formulated to manage the transmission, more precisely, the wet clutches found in most of the bikes. To protect the engines, the oil needs to be slippery enough, but not too slippery. This means they strike a perfect balance between the engine, clutch performance, and transmission protection. This is something that is generally not considered in the manufacturing of car engine oils.

In simple words, we can say that bike engine oils have different “Viscosity profile” as compared with the car engine oils because bike engine oils need to be thin when cold, just for the easier starting and for cold flow and it needs to be thick when hot just to maintain the adequate film strength.

Conclusion

According to the FRVelion, changing the bike engine oil depends on a variety of factors like if you are a hardcore rider and use mineral-based oil then you need to change the oil after 2000 or 3000 miles. As compared with the mineral-based oil synthetic motor oil last longer and you need to change the oil after 5000 to 6000 miles.

FRVelion suggests you to always check your bike’s oil level. Having a clean bike oil is good but maintaining the correct amount of the oil inside the crankcase is always better.

Also, make sure while changing the bike oil that there should be no leakages around, and properly check all the screws that they are tightened & unlikely to leak. With the help of the spare rags, clean any remaining bike oil from the surface of the bike.