Most Japanese motorcycles are operated exclusively during the summer season, staying in a warm garage for the winter. So that after a long winter parking there are no problems with the engine, it is necessary to use high-quality motorcycle oils.
There are many rules to help you choose the right oil for your motorcycle. One of the main things is to fill in only what is recommended by the manufacturer and is written in the operating instructions or in the service book.
Oils for old and modern motorcycles
If the motorcycle is old - 80s or older - it can be "fed" with car oil. The fact is that standards for motorcycle lubricants began to be developed in the 80s, and many motorcycles of those years were designed to work with automotive oils. Moreover, many owners drive exclusively on mineral oils. For older air-cooled motorcycle engines, SAE 50 type mineral automotive oil is the ideal choice in terms of both product stability and benefits.
When switching from one oil to another, when refueling a motorcycle with low-quality gasoline, when the engine overheats or when the oil change period is exceeded, the engine must be flushed before filling with new oil.
For a modern motorcycle, the oil must contain certain additives, have a certain viscosity and be designed to operate at high temperatures and engine speeds. Motorcycle oil, in contrast to automobile oil, is less ash, neutral in relation to acidity and alkalinity, does not have harmful effects on aluminum parts.
On Japanese motorcycles, the engine, gearbox, motor transmission, and sometimes the generator are lubricated with the same oil. Therefore, the use of low-quality oils is extremely harmful for all of these units.
Most Japanese motorcycle manufacturers recommend the use of synthetic oils, since they do not leave carbon deposits and coke in the engine. In this case, synthetics can be made both on the basis of esterns and on the basis of polyalphaolefins. Estern synthetic oils are used in racing motorcycles and must be changed after every race. Polyalphaolefin-based materials have weaker protective functions, but are well suited for everyday and long-term use.
Oil viscosity parameters
Also, many Japanese motorcycle manufacturers prescribe in the instructions the use of low-viscosity oils that protect the motorcycle engine well at peak loads. However, many experts recommend using more viscous oils for Japanese motorcycles in Russia. More severe road and climatic conditions of our country are very different from European and Japanese. Thicker lubricants better protect the motor from overheating and under high loads. This opinion is equally true for both low-powered and high-powered Japanese motorcycles. When choosing a specific product, pay attention to the numbers in the designation of the viscosity standard. The first number in brackets is the oil viscosity at cold start of the engine. This parameter is important for those who use the motorcycle in subzero temperatures. The second number is the viscosity of the oil at high temperatures. The higher the value, the thicker the oil.
