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So, the lower the number, the better the oil will hold its form and viscosity at freakishly cold temperatures. If you’re located in place where the outside temperature is lower than the grade, it won’t be viscous enough to provide sufficient lubrication when the engine is started or running. The lowest operating temperature for this grade is usually -25☌. The number 10 represents the lowest point of temperature which the oil will hold its viscosity. Check out the chart below to have a brief look at engine oils using the SAE grading system. The letter ‘W’ stands for ‘Winter’ and the number that is stated BEFORE the letter represents the lowest performing temperature for the particular oil (NOTE: The temperature refers to OUTSIDE temperatures, not the engine). When looking at the engine oil grade, just pay attention to the number before and after the letter ‘W’. So, lets break it down on the things you need to know about engine oil grades. Looking at so many different brands with all those numbers and letters can be overwhelming for some like 5W40, 10W40, 15W50 and so on. So many times, a lot of us rely on mechanics and workshops to advise on what would be the best engine oil for our bikes. So now that we’ve covered the basic types of oil, the next most important thing everyone needs to know is the ENGINE OIL GRADE or grading system. Some manufacturers would also state that they’re particular fully synthetic oil will increase performance but that is still a very subjective topic. They also give the best lubricating performance which won’t break under pressure (providing that the right grade of oil is used). They won’t break down as fast as mineral oils or semi-synthetic oils. The main benefit of fully synthetics oils is that they won’t degrade in terms of quality as they have constructed to have a very long life cycle. Superbikes and race machines are prime examples of machinery that require the help of fully synthetic oils. The best example of when to use this type of oil is for high performance motorcycles that are constantly put under a lot of stress. Constructed out of pure polymers based of factory made oils, it is the exact opposite of mineral oil (you can say it is artificial and not made using any natural products). The fully synthetic oils are considered to be the best of the best.
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If you’re using small mopeds below 150cc, mineral oil is more than enough for the engine to run efficiently. Generally, all small capacity motorcycles can use this particular type but it will cost more than the normal mineral oil. You will also hear recommendations to switch to semi-synthetic oil after the bike has been run-in using mineral oil. If you’re running a smaller capacity bikes upwards to 250cc which produces a healthy horsepower but still are not put under a lot of stress (like normal daily commutes to work), the semi-synthetic oil is the right choice for you. Manufacturers have taken the best of both worlds the high level of protection from mineral oils and high performance aspects from synthetic oils. Even with frequent oil changes, it is still considered as affordable to most folks.Īs the name goes, the semi-synthetic oil is a mixture between mineral oils and synthetic oils. The downside of mineral oils is that they don’t last very long so you need to make sure to replace the oil at recommended intervals. The upside of mineral oils is that they are very affordable and will not hurt your wallet for frequent oil changes. Most manufacturers will recommend new bike owners to use mineral oils as they offer good engine protection for the first few kilometres of running the engine in. Essentially the most basic type of engine oil, it is highly recommended for smaller capacity engines which do not impose a lot of mechanical pressure while running. Mineral oils are essentially a product or by-product of petroleum processing. Below are the basic explanations for each individual type. When it comes down to the materials of engine oils, there are only THREE basic types Mineral Oils (MO), Semi-Synthetic Oils (SS) and Fully Synthetic Oils (FS). The first basic thing every rider needs to know is the type of engine oil that they are using or planning to use.
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We here at Bikes Republic will help you break down the mystery of engine oil for your motorcycles. Asking friends does not help either as they will tend to give you different answers on which is the best. Lubricant brands are producing a plethora of different engine oils that if you don’t know what you are doing, it’ll cost you the ingredients of your wallet and maybe even your precious motorbike.
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