Dedicated motorcycle oils deliver ultimate performance

In the vast, untapped and fast growing motorcycle markets of Asia Pacific, motorcycle users really value high performance motorcycle oils.

Here, the combination of a growing desire for personal mobility, rising incomes, poor road networks and unreliable public transport, mean two-wheelers – especially small Japanese motorbikes and scooters – are the most popular way to get around. But not only the smaller motorcycle, the larger, faster and more powerful machine also needs advanced protection and power.

But just what do the end users expect from their engine oil?

Because bikes meet people’s essential daily transportation needs, users want to keep them reliably on the road – day in, day out - while ensuring their investment lasts for as long as possible.  Bike owners are heavily involved with the maintenance of their vehicles, and they know which performance features they need in a motorcycle oil to ensure it delivers exceptional engine protection.

The good news for oil marketers is that these end-users understand the benefits of high performance motorcycle oils. They look for brands they can trust and that are tailored for motorcycle needs.

Motorcycle oils, developed using Infineums advanced additive technology and knowhow in motorcycle engine oil formulation, provide all the performance and engine protection requirements all riders expect.

Four-Stroke motorcycles are very different from passenger cars, that’s very obvious.  But when choosing the oil, some motorcycle owners still select passenger car motor oils.  What end users might forget is that the lubricant in a motorcycle not only lubricates the engine, but also lubricates the gearbox and the oil immersed wet clutch. Looking at these three components in more detail, we see that the lubrication needs of a motorcycle engine are more demanding than that of a passenger car.

Firstly motorcycles typically contain half the volume of oil compared to a passenger car. In addition the demands placed on the oil are more severe. Many motorcycles rely on air cooling alone so run hotter and motorcycles generally also run faster with motorcycle engine speeds typically double those of a passenger car. This increased speed leads to higher power outputs for a given engine size so 200hp per liter is not uncommon for motorcycles but is double that of the average passenger car.  This results in an engine application that demands greater lubricant performance from a smaller volume of oil in the sump.

Now, let’s consider the motorcycle gearbox.  Where gearboxes in other applications would call for a special lubricant, motorcycle gearboxes are lubricated with oil fed from the common sump. For example most passenger cars, certainly all modern ones, will have separate extreme pressure (EP) gear oil in the gearbox, whereas motorcycle gears have to run on engine oil.  That oil needs to contain the correct type and amount of additives to prevent gear wear and pitting. This is recognized in the JASO T903:2011 motorcycle oil specification which has a 0.08% phosphorus minimum requirement, many modern passenger car motor oil’s will be below this level.

Finally we must consider the clutch.  Because of their compact size and the high power they have to transmit, motorcycle clutches are usually oil immersed to help dissipate the heat that would otherwise build up. Clearly if the oil has frictional properties that are too low, it will cause the clutch to slip excessively. This would slow down the clutch engagement following gear changes thus reducing acceleration and in the worst case could cause slippage, or break away, under heavy load conditions at a point when the clutch should be fully engaged. Modern passenger car motor oil’s normally contain higher levels of friction modifiers to lower the frictional properties of the oil with the intention of improving fuel economy of cars. These are the types of oil that can cause problems in motorcycle clutches.

Understanding the needs of a motorcycle is one of the keys to finding a balanced formulation approach that delivers protection for the gearbox, clutch and the engine and thus providing a positive rider experience.

In a motorcycle, the oil that lubricates the gearbox must also protect the engine and clutch – a very different scenario from automotive or industrial gearboxes where special extreme pressure lubricants are used. No one would ever consider using conventional passenger car engine oil in these specific hardware applications - but in a motorcycle it is not abnormal to fill with easily available passenger car oils.

So just what problems might this bring?

Perhaps the most common is gear pitting - this is where micro-cracks form under the metal surface and spread when the gear teeth come into contact during operation. Eventually tiny fragments of metal drop out of the gear surface - this pitting increases noise and can lead to gear failure.

Gear pitting can be significantly reduced by following the correct running in procedure and by selecting engine oils that has been specifically designed and formulated for motorcycle use. Good clean precise gear change enhances the rider experience.

Field trials are vital part of our development process to confirm and improve product performance and exceed end-user expectations. The performance of new motorcycle products in field conditions allow us to compare engine and bench testing with the real world environment. We have used them to compare existing and new products but also existing passenger car motor oils. This has confirmed to us that passenger car motor oils cannot adequately protect motorcycle engines and match dedicated motorcycle technology.

All Infineum motorcycle field trials are tightly controlled, using approved test protocols, sampling procedures and reference oils - and are the ultimate proof of performance.

As we look to push our formulations to their limits we run trials in various regions of the world under extreme conditions. And, in the quest for the ultimate lubricant packages, we gather information on oil condition and bike performance throughout the trial; so that we can be sure the final product meets the rider’s high expectations.

Field trials on the busy streets of Bangkok were designed to put oils under extreme stress.  The results demonstrate that passenger car oils commonly fail to provide adequate motorcycle engine protection, and confirm that the performance of established OEM products can not only be matched but improved upon.

Motorcycle use continues to grow around the world driven by transportation need and recreational interests even as the motorcycle OEMs deal with tougher emission laws and demand for improved fuel economy. Lubrication requirements dictate the need for motorcycle oils that are notably different in performance from automotive oils. Let us introduce you to the unique lubrication requirements of motorcycle engines when compared to passenger car engines. A 4T motorcycle engine operates at more than twice the engine speed of a typical passenger car not surprisingly a motorcycle engine also provides double the specific power output of a typical automotive engine measured in horse power per litre of engine displacement. Meanwhile, the oil volume in a motorcycle is much smaller almost half that of a passenger car.  While we expect motorcycle engine oil to excel at lubrication under these demanding conditions we also expect much more from it with motorcycle transmission gears often integrated with the engine motorcycle engine oil must also contain high phosphorus content and offer extraordinary sheer resistance in order to provide the necessary level of gear protection. In contrast, passenger car oil only provides engine lubrication at the same time motorcycle engine oil has to maintain higher friction for optimum clutch performance this is different from a passenger car which prefers lower friction oil for lower fuel economies.

Putting it all together it is imperative for us to recognise the importance of using the right lubricant to fulfil the demanding performance of a  motorcycle oil. Let us introduce the three important parts of motorcycle: the engine, the gears and the clutch which are integrated into one casing and lubricated by the same oil. We’ll look first at the very heart of the motorcycle, the engine.
A typical motorcycle engine operates at very high temperatures. This harsh environment fosters break-down and oxidation of the oil, sludge and deposits in the engine and acid formation and corrosion of internal engine parts. The high engine speed which is required to produce high output ratio puts enormous stress on all the moving parts in the engine and will cause higher wear without proper lubrication. The right motorcycle lubricant helps to achieve maximum protection for the engine by forming a lubricating film between moving parts to prevent wear and formation of deposits in the combustion chamber. Special components in the lubricant oil also prevent oxidation and formation of corrosive acids and at the same time helps the engine to cool. The result - a longer lasting engine that continues performing at optimum conditions.

Next, let us take a look at the equally important part of the motorcycle, the gears. All the power generated by the engine is transmitted to the wheel through the gears. The metal to metal surfaces on the gears are subjected to extreme pressure. This requires specially formulated lubricant to reduce wear and pitting of the surfaces. In contrast, the gears in passenger cars are completely separate from the engine so passenger car engine oils are not formulated to provide gear protection and the divergence from motorcycle oils in this area of performance is becoming more significant. It is therefore essential for a 4T motorcycle oil to maintain good oil film thickness to protect the gears against wear and prevent gear pitting.

Now, we shall take a look at another important part of the motorcycle, the clutch. The constant slipping and gripping of the clutch plates requires a motorcycle oil to maintain good clutch friction and cool the clutch. It is therefore essential for a motorcycle oil to maintain optimum friction between the clutch plates that is to prevent clutch slippage which will cause power loss during acceleration and undesirable gear shift experience. Let us introduce the JASO friction requirements. The JASO standard was introduces in 1999 to establish requirements for 4T motorcycles. The MA category is recommended for motorcycles with a common sump for which motorcycle oils with high clutch friction properties are preferred. MA2, the highest friction level, represents the quality level that is viewed as providing maximum performance. MA1 is the minimum level of friction that is required by most of the common motorcycle manufacturers. MB, the low friction level  is only applicable for motorcycles with automatic transmissions. Motorcycles fitted with a wet clutch require lubricating oil with high friction properties that at a minimum meets the JASO  MA standard passenger car oils do not have any such requirements.

Now, having introduced the three levels of protection requirements, we shall now discuss how Infinuem’s unique additive technology helps motorcycle lubricants maintain proper lubrication and protection while delivering uncompromising performance. Infineum’s state of the art dispersant and detergent technologies offer maximum protection for the engine, the gears and all other moving parts. Detergents keep the engine clean and dispersants prevent formation of deposits, protecting the engine against wear. The lubricant oil helps keep the engine cool to help minimise oil oxidation. Infineum’s multiple antioxidant formulation is proven to provide the higher oxidation stability required for motorcycles - a property that is less demanding on passenger car oils due to their less severe operating conditions. Infineum’s proprietary antiwear and friction modifier technologies ensure that gear protection is optimised to maintain the highest level of performance required from the motorcycle transmission these include viscosity modifiers in the oil that are resistant to the shearing action of the gears and can therefore maintain the required protection and lubrication and special additive chemistry that inhibits the formation of surface pitting. Infineum’s  unique additive technology has demonstrated the highest friction performance, MA2, in various base stock combinations and treat rates. This chart demonstrates a typical Infineum additive that performs well within the MA2 friction index requirements. Motorcycle engine oils are making and increasing significant contribution to a cleaner environment by facilitating more efficient engine operation and enhanced engine protection. Infineum’s technology enables motorcycle oils to deliver ultimate performance by prolonging engine life, protecting gears and delivering optimum clutch performance bringing you the ultimate riding experience.