One of the biggest question asked among motorcycle owners is, “Does synthetic oil cause my engine to leak?”
The question is especially asked for those who own high mileage bikes (and cars), above 200,000km. But does it really happen?
What is synthetic oil?
To recap, a synthetic oil means its base oil was made from some source other than petroleum. “Base oil” on the other hand, refers to the origin of the oil before additives are added to it. There are several sources for synthetic base oils including PAO (polyalphaolefin) and ester.
A mineral base oil originates from refined petroleum, so synthetic base oil was synthesised.
The origins of this myth
The earliest synthetic engine oils were made from ester and entered the market in the early 80s. Prior to that, engine oils were mineral based.
1. Synthetic oil cleaned out sludge left by mineral oils
Sludge is that ultra sticky brown to dark brown goo, seen in poorly maintained and/or old engines. Once sludging has set in, getting them out is no easy task, even for the engine flush.
This sludge blocks gaps and holes in oil seals, stopping the oil from leaking.
Now, synthetic oils have better flow, detergence, and anti sludging properties which went ahead and cleaned out that sludge that stopped the leak. Therefore, the engine began to leak, when it was already waiting to leak in the first place.
It was not the oil’s fault, because a diligently maintained engine, regardless of age, is not supposed to leak at all.
2. Ester
Ester has some great properties such as resistance to high heat. However, the earliest ester-based synthetic oils were said to have caused oil seals to swell and break.
Oil producers have since overcome this by using better additives to counter that side-effect. This can be seen partly in oil service standards as it progressed from the earliest SA to SN, SN+, SP, SP+ now. The API service standard corresponds to an oil’s compatibility to the latest engine tech.
3. Synthetic oils have even sized molecules
Petroleum consists of many substances and that cannot be refined out completely. Some molecules are small, some are medium, and some are large.
As such, larger molecules will clog all the niches in the engine, including places or gaskets that have actually leaked. So when synthetic oil is used, it seeps through these gaps.
Conclusion
So, go ahead and use synthetic engine oil. I have been using it in my motorcycle and car, which both have gone above 200,000 km will no ill effect.
What do the markings on engine oil bottles tell us?
A full understanding of engine oils results in using the correct oil.
Using the wrong oil could result in higher maintenance and repair costs.
It always happens. Post anything about engine oil and emotions get stirred harder than a Frappuccino. There are just so many fears, myths and misunderstanding. So, let’s start with the basics such as the markings on engine oil bottles.
Every engine oil bottle has markings on them, telling us something about its properties. What goes on beyond that would be the specifics such as the base oil, additive packages, high-heat protection, etc.
GRADE
This is the oft-discussed property. Common nomenclatures are 5W-40, 10W-40, 15W-40 and so forth. They’re also marked as SAE 10W-40, sometimes (these days) but we’ll get to SAE later.
They denote the viscosity index (VI) of the oil at certain conditions. We say again, “certain conditions.” Viscosity means the flow properties of oil. A less viscous fluid flows easier and we usually call it “thin.” On the other hand, a more viscous fluid flows slower and we call it “thick.”
So, a 10W-40 oil is more viscous then 15W-50.
Credit Rymax Lubricants
The “W” stands for winter and tells us what the viscosity is when the ambient temperature (weather) drops to freezing point and below. Please refer to the chart below.
So, a 10W-40 oil can maintain a viscosity index of 10 at -25-degrees Celsius. As such, the “W” in engine oils doesn’t concern us in Malaysia at all, unless the Earth shifts the Equator to become the North or South Pole somehow. It also doesn’t matter we stayed overnight at Genting Highlands.
By the way, oils with two numbers are called “multigrades” because they can perform through a wider range of temperatures compared to single grade oils such as SAE 40.
As for the upper ranges, more viscous oil is needed at higher ambient temperatures. Since our weather normally stays below 40-degree Celcius, any 40-grade is good enough. However, using a 50-grade oil such as 15W-50 is also okay especially for older engines that need more sealing.
One caveat that must be observe is the use of oil that’s too thin or too thick. Too thin and the oil will be too light at high temperatures to provide good protection, while an oil which is too think may not get pumped through small gap sufficiently. The safest bet is to go by the engine manufacturer’s recommendation then move to a higher viscosity when the bike ages.
SAE
SAE stands for Society of Automotive Engineers. They are the people who set the standards for engineering professionals in various industries. Among the key members were Henry Ford, Thomas Edison, Glenn Martin, Orville Wright and Charles Kettering. They currently have over 138,000 members worldwide.
Oil properties standards such as viscosity index was specified by SAE called the SAE J300.
Although not shown these days, oil grades still adhere to SAE standards.
API SL/SM/SN
You may have heard friends say “SN” grade. This has no connection to the viscosity index. Some even called it “oil quality” but the real desription is the oil’s service standard as classified by the American Petroleoum Institute (API).
The short explanation for the classification is the oil’s suitability to the performance of vehicles, according to when they were produced. In other words, newer bikes require higher oil specification oil. This is because the oil grades were developed hand-in-hand with automotive manufacturers and the API.
The current standard for petrol engines, SN, was introduced in October 2010 for vehicles produced from 2011 onwards. Grades SA through SH are considered obsolete and should not be used.
The classifications are backward compatible, meaning that you can use SN oil for older vehicles. Refer to the chart above.
Classifications are made depending on the oil’s properties such as soot thickening, seal compatibility, aftertreatment compatibility, fuel economy, oxidative thickening, piston deposits, sludge and wear.
JASO MA or JASO MA2
The short description is the oil’s compatibility with “wet clutches.” The engine oil in virtually all motorcycles (apart from certain models) is shared between protecting engine parts, the transmission and clutch.
As such, the oil needs to withstand high temperatures and pressures from combustion, shearing forces in the gearbox, and still allow the clutch plates and friction to grip each other in order to transfer the engine’s power. This is why we should never, ever use engine oils for cars!
Anyway, the standard is JASO T 903:2006. To meet JASO requirements, the oil must be of API SG classification and above.
The oil is tested for dynamic friction, static friction and stop time to meet the JASO T 904:2006 clutch friction test results. They are then divided further into JASO MA, JASO MA1, JASO MB, and JASO MA2.
Do consult your user’s manual if your bike requires JASO MA/MA2 specification oil.
CONCLUSION
We’ll stop at this for the moment. We’ll take a look at the lubricants’ base oil such as PAO, ester, GTL, mineral, etc.
The Shell Advance AX7 15W-50 and Shell Advance Ultra 15W-50 are two excellent motorcycle engine oils in the market.
Both are formulated for kapchais all the way to superbikes.
Here’s all you need to know about Shell motorcycle oils.
We’ve written a number of articles about motorcycle engine oil in the past but of course, myths surrounding them are hard to die. At the same time, we’ve found two good oils in the market that dispel the myths. They are the Shell Advance AX7 15W-50 and Shell Advance Ultra 15W-50.
This writer has ridden motorcycles for the past 31 years and owned plenty of bikes along the way. Accordingly, he’s used plenty of brands and types of engine oils in the market, some of them are non-existent anymore.
But first, let’s take a look at the two products.
Shell Advance AX7 15W-50
Shell Advance AX7 15W-50 is a synthetic blend engine lubricant. It complies with the latest API SM service standard. It’s also certified with JASO MA2 for motorcycles with wet clutches. Shell has formulated the oil with Shell Active Cleansing Technology to break dirt and soot particles, preventing them from clumping up and blocking oil passages or scoring engine parts. As such, it is suitable to be used in small capacity motorcycles all the way to superbikes.
With the recommended retail price of RM 33.90, it represents great value.
Shell Advance Ultra 15W-50
Shell Advance Ultra 15W-50 is the ultimate in lubricant technology and engine protection.
Shell Advance Ultra products are formulated using unique Shell PurePlus Technology, a leading-edge gas-to-liquids technology process that converts natural gas into base oil with virtually no impurities. This creates a base oil with stronger molecular bonds for long lasting performance as well as providing enhanced viscosity, friction and volatility performance when compared with traditional base oils.
It complies with the latest API SN service standard. It is also certified with JASO MA2 for motorcycles with wet clutches.
At a recommended retail price of RM 68.30, it’s affordable while still providing riders with years of enjoyment.
Myth 1 – All oils are made to degrade quickly
This myth may be true 30 years ago but isn’t quite true in this age of modern engines and better additive packages in engine oil.
Let’s look closer at each aspect.
Motorcycle manufacturers strive to produce more engine power while lowering emissions, extending product reliability and thereby lower maintenance costs for the consumer. As such, even it’s common to find anti-friction materials in kapchai engines, specifically the cylinder lining being finished with diamond-like coating (DLC).
On the lubricant producer’s side, they are also striving for the same performance from their products i.e. to allow the engine to produce more power while providing optimal protection. Consequently, the customer’s bike not only lasts longer but also avoid high maintenance costs.
These days, if you can find a good mineral oil, it can outlast semi-synthetics from years ago due to superior additives and higher quality base oils.
As such, engine oils such as the Shell Advance AX7 and Shell Advance Ultra are formulated through years of experience not only in racing but also through feedback from consumers like you and me.
Thereby, the Shell Advance AX7 15W-50 semi-synthetic provides superb protection for older and the latest small bikes to big bikes for longer periods of time. The Shell Advance Ultra 15W-50 on the other hand, can be used on all bikes from the smallest to the latest high-powered beasts.
Again, this was true many years ago. I’ve purposely ran the AX7 15W-50 in my Kawasaki ER-6f past 6000 km with the bike still feeling like it had just undergone an oil change. Sure, certain workshops will say, “Change the oil after 3000km” but the best way is to refer to your user’s manual.
Additionally, semi-synthetics are formulated With a combination of fully synthetic and mineral base oils, giving you some of the protection of fully-synthetic oils.
Myth 3 – Using fully-synthetic oil is a waste of money
This thinking shouldn’t even exist at all. Fully-synthetics are formulated for the best protection for the worst working conditions. Mineral oil breaks down faster when subjected to extreme heat, humidity and shearing forces. Fully-synthetics are formulated to address these very issues resulting in better protection for longer periods of time.
For example, the Shell Advance Ultra 15W-50 is the official engine oil for Ducati and the manufacturer recommends oil changes every 12000km. Again, refer to your motorcycle’s owner’s manual – you’d be surprised that you don’t have to change oil every 5000km.
Myth 4 – Using fully-synthetic causes engine to leak
This myth is especially propounded by owners of older motorcycles. Truth is, seals need to be replaced after a certain period of time because they will wear down. Fully synthetic oils usually come in the thinner viscosity grades with more neatly arranged molecules and tend to find their way through these gaps and leaks much sooner. For a well-maintained motorcycle with regularly changed seals, no leaks should be expected.
A Bit of News
Before we end, Shell Malaysia also announced that Fattah Amin is their New ambassador for Shell Advance motorcycle oils. Visit one of the Advance Branded Workshop today, who knows you might stand a chance of meeting Fattah Amin at the workshop!
Lubrication systems in modern engines provides sufficient lubrication.
However, most engine damage occurs during start up.
Castrol Activ aims to provide lubrication during all stages of engine operation.
Car drivers should be familiar with a Castrol product called Magnetec. The engine lubricant is infused with a formulation that clings to engine parts (hence “magnet”) even after you turn off the engine, thus protecting it when restarted. But Magnetec is for cars and lubricants for cars and motorcycle engines are different (click here to find out why they are different). Castrol aims to achieve the same for motorcycle engines with the new Castrol Activ lubricant.
Lubrication systems in modern engines do provide sufficient lubrication while running, but the oil will drain back down into the sump a few minutes after stopping the engine (that’s why we check the oil level with the engine off after running it for a few minutes). Therefore, there’s hardly any oil when we restart the engine, although almost all good lubricants will leave a layer a micron thick on the surfaces it lubricated before. But it depends if that layer breaks down at engine start. Besides that, most new engines have parts with coatings that trap some oil – usually the piston rings, piston skirts and cylinder bores – while other parts do not.
That is why, contrary to popular belief, most engine damage actually occurs during start up, not when fully running.
The new lubricant is fortified with improved Actibond molecules, that cling to critical engine parts through all stages of riding.
Keow Mei-Shan, Marketing Director for Castrol Malaysia and Singapore explained, “Modern riding conditions demand a lot from riders and their motorcycles. There can be at least 10 million instances per month where a motorcycle engine could get damaged simply whilst running. In fact, a motorcycle requires continuous protection not just whilst riding but also during start up and even when the engine is off. The new formulation of Castrol Activ has Improved Actibonds that provide continuous protection during start up, riding and even when the engine is switched off. Overall, new Castrol Activ promises Castrol’s Best Continuous Protection ever for motorcycles.”
Castrol Activ is able to protect your motorcycle’s engine through all three stages of operation:
During start up – Most engine wear occurs during warm up, just after start. The improved Actibond molecules reduces warm up wear by 75 thereby reducing wear and tear of vital engine parts.
During riding – The improved Actibond molecules fights deposits and provides superior engine cleanliness, to help ensure smooth running and reduce piston wear.
During engine switch off – By clinging on to engine parts even when the engine is switched off, Castrol Activ provides excellent protection against corrosion which may occur due to humidity.
We came across this Castrol Activ TVC from India, so please take a peek.
Castrol Activ meets API SL and JASO MA2 specifications. It is available in 1 litre bottles at Castrol Bike Points, motorcycle workshops and retailers throughout Malaysia at the price of RM23.50 for Peninsular Malaysia and RM24.20 for East Malaysia.
The new Havoline motorcycle engine oils are especially formulated for urban riding.
At the heart of some oils is the CORE Technology.
Caltex is also offering “Ride Strong” promotional package.
Subjected to extreme pressure and heat in the engine, coupled to variable operating and ambient temperature, fighting off affluent of the combustion process, resisting being oxidized by moisture, engine oils lead a hard life in order to protect, lube, cool, and clean the parts of an engine.
Racing is of course and activity that’s harsh on oils, but lugging the bike at slow speeds in traffic is just, if not worse.
At extra slow speeds like those encountered in inner city commuting, depending on the state of tune (in terms of valve overlap) an internal combustion engine may not produce enough positive pressure from combustion or negative pressure from the exhaust tract to evacuate the burned gasses, leaving behind residues that end up as carbon and so forth.
In the meantime, temperatures increase due to lack of airflow and it’s the job of the coolant (if the bike is liquid-cooled) and oil (especially critical if the engine’s oil- or air-cooled) to keep temperatures manageable. Oils break down quickly in this environment.
Yet, the oil has to avoid causing the clutch plates to slip while being sheer resistant to provide optimum protection to the engine and transmission. (This is why we should never use car engine oils in a motorcycle engine. Click on the link below for our earlier article on this subject.)
That’s the main aim of Caltex’s new line of engine oils, lead by the flagship Havoline Super 4T Fully Synthetic SAE 5W-40 for motorcycles and scooters. The family includes semi-synthetics and mineral grades, as well.
Caltex’s latest proprietary C.O.R.E. Technology was developed to address the concerns of today’s urban riders. The semi-synthetic range is further fortified with ZOOMTECH additive, to minimize clutch slip hence maximizing power transfer.
Lennard Kwek, Regional Marketing Manager, Asia Pacific, Chevron Lubricants said it best, “Motorcycles make up almost 46% of the registered vehicles on Malaysian roads and in start-stop city traffic and congestion, the vehicles are constantly under stress. For our consumers, our latest range of Havoline motorcycle engine oils with C.O.R.E. Technology and ZOOMTECH booster aims to give riders a reliable product that is especially suited for urban commuting.”
C.O.R.E. Technology stands for: Cleans and protects for a more efficient and cleaner engine to deliver superior performance. Oxidation stability provides heat protection against oil degradation. Reduces engine heat damage with superior oil stability for continuous protection. Enhances acceleration through improved clutch grip even under high loads.
CORE Technology is available in all products except for Havoline Ezy 4T.
The addition of ZOOMTECH in Havoline Super 4T Semi-Synthetic delivers a 13% improvement static friction index (SFI) when measured the JASO T903:2016 standard for better clutch grip over the Havoline Super 4T Synthetic Blend SAE 10W-40. The term “JASO” may sound familiar to you – that’s the certification for the MA or MA2 clutch grip standards.
The flagship Havoline Super 4T Fully Synthetic SAE 5W-40 with C.O.R.E. Technology is suited for high performance, large capacity motorcycles. To cope with the high revving engines which generate additional heat, this oil has been formulated to be 50% superior compared to the industry’s standard in oxidation stability. It means the engine will be better protected against heat damage, and last longer.
We presented a question during the Q&A Session on whether there’s a need for higher viscosity such as 5W/40 or 10W/50 in view of our climate’s higher ambient temperature. Caltex is confidence that the C.O.R.E. Technology addresses the issue since it’s formulated against high heat oxidation.
As for the scooter segment, Havoline’s scooter range has been upgraded to meet the latest API SN service standard, for both semi-synthetic and mineral grades. All products are JASO MB certified, as scooters do not use wet clutch.
“RIDE STRONG” PROMOTIONAL PACK
Chevron Malaysia Limited is offering a special bundle pack promotion in conjunction with launch. Customers will receive a free limited-edition microfiber towel with “Ride Strong” branding.
Ever wonder why bike shops don’t sell car engine oils?
Using a car-specific engine oil for motorcycle engines is bad.
But worse are those who don’t listen.
I used to hang out with a bike club many years ago and the last TTS (teh tarik session) with them was in 2012.
The group consists of the more senior crowd, from their mid-30’s and up. A few guys have been riding for a long, long time. Although I had been (legally) riding for 25 years up to that point, there were two guys who started riding even earlier.
I’m usually the quiet one, sitting silently in the corner, always enjoying my tomyam ayam kurang pedas while mosquitos fed on me in return. Symbiosis with nature, albeit in a stupid way.
One night, they started discussing about engine oil. Now, that’s one subject I’d abstain from because no other topic has the kind of passion to create an animosity just short of a new world conflict. Brader X (not his real name nor pet name), who’s the group’s “mechanic” spoke the loudest. He proudly proclaimed that he’s now using Mobil 1 for cars, which he has plenty around his car workshop anyway. (There’s a Mobil 1 for motorcycles but this guy was using the one for cars.)
The others took interest for some inexplicable reason. Maybe it was a full moon night, or Jupiter was aligned to the Earth, I didn’t check, but no one spoke up about using automotive engine oil in a bike! Or maybe it’s because Brader X can patch a tyre leak while we’re out riding.
So, out of helpfulness, I broke my code of silence and offered, “I’m not a major in this subject, but I’m very certain that we shouldn’t use a car’s engine oil for our bikes. None of us is using a bike with dry clutch, and even if we did, we should best stick to a lubricant for bikes.”
“Car lubricants are different because they contain friction modifiers and is not shared with the clutch. All our bikes are the wet clutch, which means the engine oil goes there too. A car’s engine oil will cause the clutch to slip and ultimately wear out the plates,” I explained.
I continued further, “That’s why we need to use oils that are either JASO MA or JASO MA2 certified. Those aren’t found on car engine oils for that very reason. You might just as well use minyak masak Saji (Saji cooking oil) if you want to use car oil!”
I swear to you that I said that not because I had bad childhood thus I craved attention, credit and affirmation. Instead, I did that because I just wanted to help, so I didn’t expect any “Thank you.”
But I didn’t expect to get lambasted either.
Mr. A (for a word which starts with that letter and ends with an “e”) straight up accused me of “supporting a petroleum brand that’s bankrolled by Jews.” Brader M said, “All engine oils are the same, their only job is to ensure the engine doesn’t seized solid, anyway.” Brader S, our group’s leader said, “We should just try it.”
Still, I protested, “Please. Don’t.” “Just get back to your tomyam and let the old men talk. We’ve been riding since you were just a kid,” Mr. A castigated me.
Fine. I shrugged and ordered another teh-o ais limau.
I missed the next entire month’s TTS as I was busy and rejoined them after that.
Again, I ordered my favourite tomyam and sipped quietly in the corner. But my curiousity got the better of me and I decided to ask, “How’s the oil in your bikes?”
They half-turned to me and then Brader M pulled out his phone abruptly, stuck his face into his Facebook newsfeed as if another 9-11 happened. Mr. A suddenly got Mr. S’s attention and interest in a lawn bowl telecast on TV (who the heck watches lawn bowl anyway?). Mr. X was missing, he’s never missed a TTS.
It was only when I was leaving that Mr. S said, “You were right, the oil caused our clutch to slip. My new bike’s (a Z1000SX) clutch is gone.”
I just nodded and left, never to see them ever again.
Mike Akatiff bersama dengan bantuan daripada Top 1 Oil telah memecahkan rekod kelajuan bagi motosikal terpantas di dunia pada tahun 2010 yang lalu dengan sebuah ‘streamliner’ TOP 1 ACK ATTACK.
Jentera yang dijana oleh Suzuki Hayabusa berkembar itu telah berjaya mencapai kelajuan melebihi 376bsj (605km/j) namun untuk tahun ini, pasukan itu sedang merancang untuk memecahkan rekod itu sekali lagi dengan cubaan untuk melepasi penanda 400bsj (643km/j).
Pasukan Mike Akatiff bersama dengan TOP 1 Oil akan menuju ke pamah garam Salar de Uyuni berdekatan dengan Pergunungan Andes bermula dari 3 Ogos hinggan 8 Ogos 2017 untuk mencapai apa yang suatu ketika dahulu dikatakan mustahil.
Mike Akatiff together with the support from TOP 1 Oil broke the land speed record for the fastest motorcycle in the world back in 2010 with the TOP 1 ACK ATTACK streamliner.
The twin Suzuki Hayabusa powered machine managed to hit over 376mp/h (605km/h) but this year, the team is planning to break the record again by attempting to go over the 400mp/h mark (643km/h).
Mike Akatiff’s team together with TOP 1 Oil will head over to the Salar de Uyuni salt flats near the Andes Mountains from 3 August to 8 August 2017 to achieve what was once impossible.
It was back in 2010 when the world witnessed a motorcycle set the land speed record for the fastest motorcycle on the entire planet. The highly modified twin-engine streamliner dubbed the “TOP 1 ACK ATTACK” shocked the entire world when it hit 605.697km/h. The legendary machine’s record still stood the test of times almost a decade. (more…)
Petronas Sprinta dengan UltraFlex™ baru menjanjikan untuk mengurangkan tekanan kepada enjin yang boleh menyebabkan bunyi getaran dan juga motosikal terasa lembab dan berat.
Teknologi UltraFlex™ dan formula uniknya terdiri daripada molekul adaptif yang lebih bagus untuk menangani sebarang kesan akibat tekanan ke atas enjin motosikal dan melanjutkan hayat enjin.
Terdapat sembilan pilihan yang ada bagi memenuhi keperluan motosikal yang berbeza bermula dari RM15 sehingga RM70 setiap botol 1 liter.
New Petronas Sprinta with Ultraflex™ promises to reduce engine stress which leads to signs like rattling noise and sluggishness
The Ultraflex™ technology and its unique formulation consists superior adaptive molecules to address diverging effects of bike stress
Nine variants available to cater to different motorcycles ranging from RM15 to RM70 per one-litre bottle
Petronas Lubricants Marketing Malaysia (PLMM) just launched their latest engine oil range; the Petronas Sprinta with Ultraflex™ as its new flagship range of motorcycle lubricants formulated specifically to reduce engine stress and promote longer bike life. (more…)
