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Stuff 101 - 3 Steps To Change Your Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

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Oil is the lifeblood of your motorcycle. If you are already a motorcycle enthusiast you probably already know this. However if you are a seasoned pro or new to the lifestyle, you may still find this article all about motorcycle oil interesting.

So what is motorcycle oil anyhow?

Well motorcycle oil acts as the lifeblood of your engine and without it the engine will seize and die. As well as acting as a lubricant ensuring metal parts do not touch, as in the case of the majority of motorcycles, oil is also used to cool down the engine. Furthermore motorcycle oil helps to quickly move minor debris, such as metal filings, carbon and dirt away from the engines parts and into the oil filter.

Now you can see why I refer to oil as the lifeblood of your motorcycle.

Great so now we know about the importance of motorcycle oil, what is next? Well changing the oil and oil filter is a good start.

Every motorcycle is different, so the following steps are a guideline on how to change your oil and oil filter. Consult your user manual or purchase a Haynes repair manual for the exact steps.

Step 1
Drain the old oil. Some tips to make this easier include warming up the engine up to thin down the oil, putting the motorcycle on its center stand, unscrewing the oil plug to relieve pressure and slowly rock the motorcycle side to side to speed up the process.

Step 2
After all the oil has been drained you need to replace the oil filter. Once replaced put everything back together and make sure all bolts are tight.

Step 3
Replace the oil. For exact amounts consult your user manual or repair manual. After you have replaced the oil plug turn the motorcycle on and let it run for a few minutes to distribute the oil around the engine.

Okay, now we know the importance of motorcycle oil and how to change it, but what kind of oil should you use for your motorcycle?

When deciding on the types of motorcycle oil to use always consult your user manual first. My personal preference is to use a 20W50 synthetic motorcycle oil in the summer and then I change it up to a 10W40 synthetic motorcycle oil in the winter. As you will notice motorcycles require heavy grade oil such as 20W50, 10W40, SAE 60 motor oil, and 75W110 (SVT) and 75W140 (SVO), the latter two being used in exclusively in Harleys. The heavier grade oil is required because the same oil is not only being used to lubricate the engine but the transmission and the clutch as well.

I bet you are asking yourself why you can’t just use regular automotive oil?

Well there are many motorcycle-specific oils now being produced however the ongoing debate by many motorcyclists is whether automotive oil is just as good as motorcycle oil. Although motorcycle oil has the same properties as regular automotive oil, shear-stable polymers are added to improve the way it works in motorcycle engines. Because of these polymers, motorcycle oil will retain its viscosity much longer than automotive oil will. Which is important for the life of your motorcycle.

The option of which type of oil to choose, motorcycle oil or automotive oil, is of course yours to make, however for myself if the user manual recommends motorcycle oil I am the type of person to follow it.

Article Source: ABC Article Directory

About The Author: ABOUT THE WRITERS Corey Rozon and David Leonhardt are Ottawa ghost writers. If you want a great oil try motorcycle Amsoil oil and oil filters.