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Frequently Asked Questions about Redline Motorcycle Oils and Additives Ref: FAQs - Bikes
Q) Are there special oils for motorcycle engines?

A) The answer is both yes and no. The API (American Petroleum Industry) ratings for engine oil for petrol engines started at SA. Each increment to SG indicated a general increase in oil performance. However there is always arm wrestling between the engine manufacturers and the oil companies as to the quality level of lubricants - higher quality - higher price! It was agreed that with manufacturing tolerances becoming less that the anti-scuff level of engine oil might be reduced a little, thus API SH rated oil has less anti-scuff additive than SG. As the camshafts on motorcycle engines have far more radical timing than those on car engines and thus more prone to scuff damage, it is important to always use an SG rated oil in a motorcycle engine. Motorcycle specific oils will always be SG rated, but there is nothing different about 'car' oils as long as they have API SG on the label.

Q: Isn't synthetic oil too slippery for a motorcycle clutch?

A: No - for two reasons.
1) Wet clutches as used on motorcycles squeeze all the oil out from between the plates as the clutch is released. The slipperiness of the oil therefore has no effect at all on transmission clutch operation. There is a Japanese oil industry test sometimes quoted out of context as being a clutch slip test for motorcycles. This test refers to starter clutch slip and is only relevant if these are run in gear oils - see part 2 of answer.
2) Engine oil is not slippery. To allow the piston rings to operate correctly engine oil must not be very slippery. If engine oil is too slippery, the piston rings slide on top of the oil film, not sealing properly, giving poor compression and high oil consumption - the same conditions as bore glazing. It is often believed, and indeed encouraged by certain 'magic' oil additive producers, that by making engine oil more slippery there will be less friction losses within the engine and thus more power released and better fuel consumption gained.


MOTORCYCLE ENGINES IN CARS

Q) Should I overfill the oil to allow for oil surge on corners?

A) Most definitely not! Two major problems can arise by overfilling with oil:
1) The clutch will be drowned in oil and not be able to squeeze out the oil between the plates and will therefore start slipping.
2)A hydraulic lock can be caused in the gearbox by the excess oil falling into the leading edge of the gear train. This can cause excessive wear and at worse tooth breakage.
Minor problems include excess crankcase pressure which can blow out the oil seals or force the oil past the piston rings into the combustion chamber. 


Frequently Asked Questions about Redline Motorcycle Oils and Additives