Motorcycle Engine Maintenance
If you have a new motorcycle make sure you follow all of the manufacturers maintenance recommendations, this is a must. What is always a good idea is to keep a log of all fluid changes, repairs, miles, dates, etc. This way you’ll know exactly when you did something vs trying to remember. If your motorcycle is under warranty the best advice we can give you in terms of motorcycle fluids is to use whatever the motorcycle manufacturer recommends, which is probably going to be their own product. Which is fine, probably cost a bit more, but if something was to happen while under warranty they have nothing to argue with you about. Buy your fluids from your local dealer so they get to know you. This is important to follow while your motorcycle is under warranty. Once off of warranty use your own mind and use what you feel comfortable with. We’re not recommending using automotive oil or things. Use products designed for motorcycle use. Gasoline comes from refining crude oil, which is ultimately a mixture of hydrocarbons. One way to explain how gasoline properties and characteristics are defined is to walk through the process of how gasoline burns. When gasoline burns the hydrocarbons separate into hydrogen and carbon atoms and unite with oxygen atoms. Octane rating (86,87, 89,..) volatility and density. Gasoline will vary in octane and quality from brand to brand but also station to station. Common problems are with moisture and contamination of the gasoline in the tank. Always start with using the motorcycle manufacturers recommended gasoline type. Here is probably the most important and value added hint we can provide you. Purchasing gasoline that is higher then what your motorcycle manufacturer recommends ads zero value, performance or longevity to your motorcycle. Simply put DON’T WASTE YOUR MONEY. But also remember that using the right octane gasoline is important since by not using the proper octane you can cause damage due to detonation, a condition where anti-knock fuel used doesn’t meet the engine requirements allowing part of the mixture to combust before the spark plug ignites the rest of the gasoline. How to select the right gasoline / fuel for your motorcycle? Let’s dig a bit deeper into what does octane, volatility and density of motorcycle fuel / gasoline really mean. Volatility is the ability for the fuel to vaporize. For example: a highly volatile fuel will help start a cold engine easier and run more smoothly and consistent during the warm up period. On the flip side in warm climates highly volatile fuel will cause vapor lock, which is common in carbureted cars. Density is provides the measure of how much chemical energy the fuel contains, in terms of BTUs per gallon. How many miles to a gallon you get depends on the increase or decrease (usually in 2% increments) of the fuel density. Octane ratings are the rating of how able is the fuel able to resist knock or metallic noise. Knocks can happen for many reasons and one of the main reasons is incorrect octane rating. Last but not least are fuel / gasoline additives which help ensure consistent fuel and air mixtures required for consistent engine running and gas milage. During winder months or colder climates common additives are to de-ice carburetors. There are many other additives, which help with things like rust, wear and tear, and gum formation. Please refer to manufacturers manual for your motorcycle on how and when to use additives and which octane to use as well as density and volatility of the fuel you should use. Engine oil is the single most important part of routine engine maintenance. There are more myths, misunderstandings and urban legends regarding engine oil, than any other mechanical thing out there. Let’s demystify the engine oil and help you make the best decision for what type of oil to purchase for your motorcycle. When it comes to motorcycle engine oil there are 3 ways you can help improve your motorcycle’s mileage and insure that it delivers good economy for a long time. 1 – understand the functions of oil in the engine 2 – choose the proper oil for various operating conditions 3 – change the motorcycle oil and filter at proper intervals If you look at all the parts in the motorcycle engine that oil keeps lubricated you’ll get an appreciation for importance of proper motorcycle oil maintenance. Motorcycle engine oil is a lubricant and it is its’ primary function but it also performs a number of other functions which are vital to the life and performance of your engine. Motorcycle engine oil also dissipates heat and makes parts run cooler, helps reduce engine noise, engine oil prevents rust and corrosion, acts as a seal for pistons, rings and cylinder walls, combines with oil filter to remove foreign substances from the motorcycle engine. There are several types of motorcycle engine oils out there. Engine oid service classifications are designated by the American Petroleum Institute based on the chemical composition of a given type of oil and testing of samples. The ratings include “S” for normal gasoline engine use and “C” for commercial use. The S rating has been supplemented with various letters, each one representing the latest and greatest rating available at the time of it’s introductions. During the recent years these ratings have included SF, SG, SH and SJ. Since oil is so important to the life of your motorcycle engine, you should never use and oil of questionable quality. Oil should also be selected based on temperatures for coming months. Please refer to your manufacturers manual for their recommendations. In addition to the classification of the American Petroleum Institute your oil should be of a viscosity suitable for the outside temperature in which you’ll be riding in. Oil must be thin enough to get between the close tolerance moving parts it must lubricate. It must also be thick enough to separate them from a slippery oil film. If the oil is too thin it won’t separate the parts, if its’ too thick it can’t squeeze between them in the first place. In either case excess friction and wear takes place. According to the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) viscosity classification system, oil with a high viscosity number such as SAE 40 or 50 will be thicker than one with a lower number such as SAE 10W. The W indicates that the oil is desirable for use in winder driving. How to translate the codes for oil: For example, a 10W40 oil is to have the viscosity of a 10W oil when the engine is cold and 40 when the engine is warm. In cold temperatures below 0 degrees F you should use oils such as 5W20 or 5W30. For all oil specifications please refer to your motorcycle manufacturers manual. Oils are also enhanced with several different additives: Pour point depressants which help cold starting by making the oil flow more easily at low temperatures. Oxidation and Bearing Corrosion Inhibitors which help to prevent the formation of gummy deposits which can take place when engine oil oxidizes under high temperatures. Rust and Corrosion Inhibitors protect against water and acids formed by the combustion process. Detergents and Dispersants clean up the products of normal combustion and oxidation while dispersants keep them suspended until they can be removed by filter and oil change. Foam Inhibitors prevent the air bubbles which can be caused by tast moving engine parts whipping air into the oil. Viscosity Index Improvers reduce th rate at which an oil thins out when the temperature climbs. And Friction Modifiers and Extreme Pressure additives which are valuable in boundary lubrication where there is metal to metal contact due to the absence or breaking down of the oil film between moving parts. You should make this task a regular part of your motorcycle maintenance and life in general. Simply, Get to know your motorcycle engine. Understand your motorcycles consumption of oil. Hopefully it does not eat much oil between changes. But it is important that you check how much oil your motorcycle uses / eats up. Any change in oil consuption means that there is some kind of a change in the mechanical condition of your motorcycle. If your motorcycle starts to use or loose oil you should take steps to find out why ASAP. Two-stroke motorcycle engines and motors are by design supposed to use oil. They usually come in 2 types. Some use a separate oil tank, which should be checked at each gas fill. And some mix the oil with the gasoline during fill-up. Be sure to check your motorcycle manufacturers owners manual to determine and fully understand the proper amount of oil and how to add it to your specific motorcycle. Most manufacturer’s recommend that you check the engine oil when it's HOT (warm really). This means that the bike has been run for some time but not a long time. It also means that the engine has been shut off for a few minutes, giving the oil time to seep back down into the crankcase (unless your bike has a separate oil tank because then you want to check it before any seeps back down into the crankcase. When checking motorcycle oil the motorcycle should be parked on a level surface to make sure that you get a correct reading. If your bike has a centerstand (it probably means that it is not a harley, buell or ducati) then the bike should usually be placed on a centerstnad for ease of checking. Please make sure that it is sitting level when you check the oil. This is a very important step as you might get a wrong reading. You may have to block one wheel up or weight the front tire to bring it down slightly when checking the level. On some bikes with centerstands the manufacturer recommends holding the bike upright and not using the centerstand and this must be done unless you can level the bike on the stand. Since it is awkward to hold the bike upright and see most sight glasses, it would pay to find another way. On motorcycle models that are awkward to check oil, talk to another biker to find another way to check the fluid. Once you have propertly filled the bike place it on the centerstand and see how the level changes. Weigh the bike on one side or the other, or block a wheel up and see if you can duplicate the correct level reading. Once you have found how to do that, you are set to go. If the bike doesn’t have a centerstand, then manufacturers are usually nice enough to design the bike so that it can be checked on the sidestand. If you have an owners manual, double ckeck to see if your bike has one of these exceptions. There are 2 methods of checking motorcycle engine oil on most motorcycles, a dipstick or a sight glass. Checking Your Motorcycle Oil with a dipstick The motorcycle oil level is usuall checked with teh motorcycle on its centerstand or sidestand, as applicable. But always make sure the motorcycle is level. Most Harley Davidson Sportsters and Softairls are exceptiois to the logical sidestand rule. They must be checked with teh motorcycle standing staight up and level. This can be a major pain unless you always have someone handy to hold the motorcycle upright when you want to check your motorcycle oil. You've got a couble of options. 1. Keep a pair of jackstands handy in the garage 2. Learn to balance the motorcycle really well with one hand while you pull the dipstick out withthe other 3. When you know the motorcycle oil level is correct put it on the sidestand and check where the level is now. Make a mark on your dipstick and use that mark to check the motorcycle in the future. Be sure to double check and make sure your mark is accurate. In general you want to follow the follwoing steps: 1. With the engine warmed to normal operationg temerature, park teh motorcycle on a level surface. 2. REmove the dipstick from teh ike. Most Japanese and German motorcycles use the threaded dipstick, gently turn the tab counterclockwise until it is free, then remove it by pulling straight upward. The dipsticks on most modern harley's use a large rubber grommet which is simply an interference fit with the motorcycle oil tank. These are removed by gently grasping and pulling upward. 3. Wipe the dipstick clean using a rag or paper towel. 4. Insert the dipstick back into teh crankcase. 5. Remove the dipstick and hold it vertically with the level mark toward the bottom of the dipstick. 6. If necessary, add motorcycle oil to keep the level between the marks. Tip: Most harley models use a large range marked on the dipstick. Be carefule not to overfill. ON many models overfilling will lead to motorcycle oil carryover to the breathers. Checking Your Motorcycle Oil with sight glass Virtuall all motorcycles that are equipped with a sight glass are designed to check the motorcycle oil while the motorcycle is held upgight and level.This can usually be accomplished using the centerstand. If you must hold the motorcycle upright withoug the aid of a centerstand then checking the level without the help of a friend can be a challange. 1. When the engine warmed to normal operating temperatur parke the bike on a level surface. 2. Locate the sight glassand check for any markings. Some crankcases are marked with LOW and FULL lines just to the side of the glass. Sometimes the sight glass itself is marked with lines or with a dot in the center. 3. If required add motorcycle oil to keep the level between the marks. Add motorcycle motorcycle oil slowly since even a small amount of motorcycle oil will normally make a difference in the sigh glass.
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