[RaSing]

Guys

I have a activa which is used occassionaly for short trips for grocery and local errands. It is a 2015 model but has run only 3700kms till date. I have been getting this serviced once a year and hence the engine oil change is kind of yearly affair. In fact at times it goes beyong 1 year too. I would like to ask the experts here, what is right in this case considering the low mileadge.

Rasing

[WhiteSierra]

Same here, I have a Yamaha Fascino 2017 model, it clocked only 10,500 kms so far, with yearly running less than 3,500 kms on average. The vehicle has run only 1500 kms from last year's service till now. I should get my servicing done for this year.

Coming to the point, oils tend to contaminate over time when not used. Even when used very rarely, the oil heating and cooling period while running and when parked will cause oil to gradually lose it's lubrication property after mixing with metal waste, carbon and many other foreign bodies in the engine. That's why oil change atleast once in an year is better despite low running.

[Mortis]

Same here. We bought a secondhand Activa 2G in 2018 and our running is quite low, just about 2000km a year and even lower due to lockdown. As such I'm sticking to the once a year oil change as it seems sufficient due to low running or at the 2000km mark if that comes up earlier. I guess a good mineral oil like Motul with a little dash of engine oil additive at the 6 month mark should allow for an annual oil change on a low run scooter.

Somehow semi synthetic oils for scooters seem uncommon. It's either mineral at a 2-300 Rs price point of full synthetic at 800+ bucks.

[hackerboy303]

I own a 2012 Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme (Without Kick Model). It has 30k kms on odo. I am using Castrol Power 1 10W30 Fully synthetic engine oil. I rode 1000+ kms after getting this oil and the ride experience has improved considerably from the conventional mineral oil Hero offers. I am wondering what should be the engine oil change interval considering I am using a fully synthetic oil and my bike is used occasionally just for city errands.

[siddhant]

I read/watched this somewhere a few weeks back. In cars, the oil has to lubricate just the engine. Clutch is usually a separate dry unit and transmission has its own fluid.

In motorcycles, the oil has to lubricate the engine, clutch and the transmission. Plus, motorcycle engines usually rev much more than cars engines.

In short, in motorcycles engines, that oil is doing a lot more and therefore needs to be replaced more often.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by hackerboy303

I own a 2012 Hero Honda CBZ Xtreme...

considering I am using a fully synthetic oil and my bike is used occasionally just for city errands.

"occasionally just for city errands" would be considered SEVERE service. It's long highway rides at good speeds and at optimum temperatures that are easy on the oil. So change oil accordingly.

[shancz]

Originally Posted by Mortis

Somehow semi synthetic oils for scooters seem uncommon. It's either mineral at a 2-300 Rs price point of full synthetic at 800+ bucks.

If its still a question then get a TVS Tru4 scooter semi synthetic 10W30 from any TVS workshop. Costs around 315 for 900ml IIRC. I tried it in a friend's Activa and it works well.

I am using Castrol Power 1 Ultimate on my Access 125 detailed here (The Suzuki Access 125 thread).

[ishan12]

As most have pointed already, the oil in a motorcycle lubricates a lot more components and moves around a lot more compared to a car. Apart, motorcycles usually rev higher too.

But with new tech in engine and new oils, the oil change intervals in bikes are now same as cars at least in the high capacity segment. Interval for my Inty 650 is 10k Kms same as our Creta diesel. Some new motorcycles have their service/ oil intervals as long as 15-16k kms. But I guess most small motorcycles still have shorter oil change intervals.

[Sumedik]

Another theory I heard is that for lower (100-125) cc engines, full synthetic oil does more harm than good...is there any truth to this? Excess clutch plate wear due to slippage maybe?

TVS Sport User manual mentions the oil change interval at every 3K kms, but does not specify any time limit surprisingly. Any idea on the recommended interval?

[Gansan]

Originally Posted by ninjatalli

Noob question - what's the difference (and pros/cons) between a liquid cooled engine vs an air cooled engine? I am aware of the obvious difference but would appreciate a bit of more schooling on this

A liquid cooled engine can have a much higher compression ratio and rpm than an air cooled engine of same displacement. Hence more power for the same displacement. We can see an example in the 150 cc Yamaha FZ (12.6 ps/7500 rpm) Vs the R15 (18.6 ps/10000 rpm) engines.

There are no real cons for either. But air cooled engines are simpler and easier to maintain. If I wanted the same power as the 150cc R15, I would rather choose the 250 cc FZ 25 for more or less the same price.

[Fastdriver]

1. Two wheelers generally run at higher rpm
than four wheelers.
2. Engine oil doubles as gear/transmission oil.
3. Two wheelers are mostly air/oil cooled.
4. Two wheelers generally have wet clutch as
compared to dry clutch in cars.
I may have missed out some other points. Correct me if I am wrong.

[Fastdriver]

Originally Posted by RaSing

Guys

I have a activa which is used occassionaly for short trips for grocery and local errands. It is a 2015 model but has run only 3700kms till date. I have been getting this serviced once a year and hence the engine oil change is kind of yearly affair. In fact at times it goes beyong 1 year too. I would like to ask the experts here, what is right in this case considering the low mileadge.

Rasing

Please go through the owner's manual, oil change interval in terms of kms/months should be mentioned there.

[Fastdriver]

I am riding an FZ25 BS6 Moto GP Edition since September 2021. First servicing was done at 1000km. 2nd servicing is due at 5000km as informed by the authorised service centre. That means I can ride for another 4000 km before oil change. The bike is run with Yamalube Sporty Premium fully synthetic engine oil. One of the mechanic said that the oil should be drained out at 3000 km max. Can anyone shed light on fully synthetic engine oil drain interval of bikes?

[FiatDiesel]

I recently bought new RE 350 Classic. Though service interval is 5000 Km but oil change is every 10000 Km. I think with new tech and synthetic oils two wheelers are also matching the oil change intervals of 4 wheelers. Obviously good synthetic oil costs more but at the same time saves the cost of frequent oil changes.

[mvadg]

Originally Posted by Fastdriver

I am riding an FZ25 BS6 Moto GP Edition since September 2021. First servicing was done at 1000km.

Was the oil changed at the first service? Highly recommend changing the oil after the first 1000 KM, this is where most of the metal particles from the initial smoothening of the cylinders would drop into the oil. Don't know if this theory is still valid in today's manufacturing environment, but doesn't hurt to change the oil after the initial "run-in".

Originally Posted by FiatDiesel

I recently bought new RE 350 Classic. Though service interval is 5000 Km but oil change is every 10000 Km. I think with new tech and synthetic oils two wheelers...

I don't think anyone does any serious research into this for Indian conditions. They want you to service the bike every 5000KM for a good reason - our potholed roads and dirty air must be throwing everything out of whack due to the vibrations and shocks to the entire chassis and related equipment. Tightening, realigning and lubing everything back to normal would certainly make the ride better.

I'm not really familiar with the new RE engines, and whether they still use their old manufacturing tech as compared to the Japanese high revving engines, but I think the tolerances are not as tight, so it may not make a difference to the performance even if the oil carries plenty of debris along with it.

This guy has quite a few videos, draw whatever conclusions you want! Watch what he says about silica. We must be in dirt bike mode at least 80% of the time.

https://youtu.be/RGaM4vcyHlc