Lubricant-additive manufacturer Infineum found that less than 60% of bikers use a motorcycle-specific oil in their motorcycle. Clearly, many riders are unaware of the importance of using an oil formulated specifically for its intended application. In this post, we&#;ll look at motorcycle oil vs car oil and provide insight into why you should always use motorcycle oil in a motorcycle engine.
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In general, automotive engines are water-cooled. A typical automotive engine can reach 235°F (113° C) during operation, which is plenty hot.
Motorcycles, however, run even hotter, particularly big, air-cooled V-twins, like the average Harley-Davidson.* They rely on air flowing across the engine for cooling, which is inherently less efficient at dissipating heat.
This configuration poses additional challenges in stop-and-go traffic when there&#;s little airflow, especially on hot summer days. In fact, during testing of a Harley Street Bob* with a Milwaukee-Eight* 107 engine in the AMSOIL mechanical lab, the rear-cylinder temperature surpassed 420°F (216°C).
Heat that intense causes some oils to thin and lose viscosity, which reduces wear protection. High heat also hastens chemical breakdown of the oil (called oxidation), which requires you to change oil more often. In extreme cases, the bike&#;s temperature sensors can shut down the engine if it gets too hot.
Motorcycles tend to operate at engine speeds significantly higher than automobiles. The average metric sport bike easily eclipses 10,000 rpm. Some have even pushed 20,000 rpm. Your car or truck&#;s redline doesn&#;t even come close.
High rpm places additional stress on engine components, increasing the need for wear protection. It subjects oils to higher loading and shear forces, which can rupture the lubricant film and reduce viscosity, both of which increase wear. High rpm also increases the likelihood of foaming, which can reduce an oil&#;s load-carrying ability, further inviting wear.
Motorcycle engines produce more horsepower per cubic inch than automobiles. They also tend to operate with higher compression ratios. Increased power density and compression lead to higher engine temperatures and increased stress. This places greater demands on motorcycle oil to fight wear, deposits and chemical breakdown.
Many motorcycles have a common sump supplying oil to both the engine and transmission. In such cases, the oil is required to meet the needs of both the engine and the transmission gears.
Transmission gears can shear the oil as it&#;s squeezed between gear teeth repeatedly at elevated rpm, causing some oils to lose viscosity. Many motorcycles also incorporate a wet clutch within the transmission that uses the same oil. Motorcycle wet clutches require a properly formulated lubricant that meets JASO MA or MA2 frictional requirements.
AMSOIL resists viscosity breakdown 6X better than Harley-Davidson SYN3* for improved protection against compensator and transmission gear wear.1
1Based on testing of AMSOIL 20W-50 Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil and Harley-Davidson Screamin&#; Eagle SYN3 purchased on 3/19/19 in the CEC L45-KRL, ASTM D445 test.
Whereas cars and trucks are used almost every day, motorcycle use is usually periodic and, in many cases, seasonal. These extended periods of inactivity place additional stress on motorcycle oils. In these circumstances, rust and acid corrosion protection are of critical concern.
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While a good passenger-car motor oil (PCMO) hits many of these performance areas, it doesn&#;t get them all.
PCMOs usually contain friction modifiers to help boost fuel economy. Furthermore, PCMOs don&#;t meet JASO MA or MA2 requirements. If used in a motorcycle, they can interfere with clutch operation and cause slippage. And no rider wants to deal with a slipping clutch.
Likewise, motor oils for cars and trucks have no natural rust or corrosion resistance. Instead, corrosion inhibitors must be added to the formulation, and typical motor oils don&#;t contain them.
AMSOIL Synthetic V-Twin Motorcycle Oil and Synthetic Metric Motorcycle Oil are designed for the unique demands of motorcycles. They are formulated without friction modifiers for precise, smooth shifts. They also contain a heavy dose of corrosion inhibitors to protect your engine against rust during storage. And they&#;re designed to resist viscosity loss due to shear despite intense heat and the mechanical action of gears and chains.
When deciding between motorcycle oil and car oil for your bike, the choice is clear. AMSOIL Synthetic Motorcycle Oil delivers the protection your bike needs.
Whether someone is driving a car or a motorbike, they&#;ll need oil to keep it running smoothly. Although motorcycle and car oils are similar in a number of ways, certain factors make it easier to set them apart. That being said, be sure to understand the nuances between both, as drivers cannot use car oil in a motorcycle for long periods of time&#;only temporarily. As an auto mechanic, you&#;ll want to be sure you&#;re providing the correct type of oil to a car, in order to avoid any preventable issues with transmission performance.
Despite these types of oil having a similar feel and appearance, understanding which factors separate them is essential, so that the car functions properly and any damage is averted. Here&#;s what you need to know about the difference between car and motorcycle oil.
One Major Difference Has to Do With the Engine and Transmission
In either a motorcycle or a vehicle, the transmission and engine are connected with one another. However, there&#;s a big difference with regards to how they&#;re connected depending on which one is being driven. With a motorcycle, these two parts are open to one another despite being connected, which allows for both sides to be lubricated by the oil being fed to it. Graduates of mechanic school know that with a car, the interconnected transmission and engine are completely separate parts. This means different oil types are necessary for both of them to be sufficiently lubricated. As such, motorcycle oil is meant for the specific type of transmission found within motorcycles, and using automotive oil as a replacement can do significant damage when used in motorcycles.
Another Difference For Mechanic School Students to Notice: Friction
For anyone studying at an automotive college, it&#;s important to notice how frictional properties between different parts play a role with regards to oil. Motorcycle oil needs to have a balanced amount of friction, while automotive oil is designed to minimize that friction. With a car, an ATF fluid that can generate the necessary friction is used to lubricate the transmission before driving. Oil for car engines also includes more friction modification in order to save fuel and limit friction on the engine. Meanwhile, motorcycles use oil with fewer friction modifiers, in order to have optimal transmission performance.
Automotive Oil Also Cannot Be Used for Too Long in a Motorcycle
As mentioned earlier, using automotive oil in motorcycles can be suitable as a temporary fix, but cannot and should not be used regularly, or for long periods of time. This is because the friction modifiers found in this type of oil can lead to the motorcycle being unable to function properly and/or create clutch slippage, as the transmission clutch plates can get clogged. The transmission and engine of a motorcycle need to combine with one another, so only one specific type of oil is able to do this by lubricating each part. Anti-wear additives are also used in high quantities in motorcycle oil, with little or no modification needed to account for friction.
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