Is synthetic oil good for the bike?
The engine of a bike aka the heart of a bike needs oil for lubricating internal moving parts and also to cool down the engine to some extent. Without oil, an engine of a bike is unimaginable to work because oil is essential for smoothing the movement of moving parts like the motion of the piston in the cylinder.
Mainly three types of engine oils are available in the market
- Mineral oil.
- Semi-synthetic oil.
- Synthetic oil.
Which kind of oil is best suitable for your bike?
Well, the answer to the question depends on the type of bike you own and more importantly the specifications of the engine. Let’s see what kind of advantages each kind of oil type has over the other.
Mineral Oils
Mineral oils are the oils that are the by-product of the crude oil refinement process. The crude oil is separated from lighter volatile carbon-rich fuels and denser remains form asphalt or tar-like substances. Then whatever is left contains high levels of Sulphur and other contaminants that form the base for the mineral oil.
Minerals oils are advisable for bikes that have lower power output or are having engines dedicated to better mileage which are designed to run at low rpm. The reason is mineral oils are lighter and rarer compared to synthetic oils and would be no burden to the engine at low rpm.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Cheaper compared to synthetic and semi-synthetic oils. | Contamination leads to the formation of sludge. |
| Perform well in varied | Lower life |
Synthetic Oils
The synthetic oils are those which are made in laboratories using chemicals that will produce oil from conventional mineral oil. The chemicals used will change the viscosity and other properties like temperature coefficient. Synthetic oils are less contaminated compared to mineral oils which will ultimately lead to less formation of sludge.
The synthetic oils are denser than mineral oils and have got the ability to resists changes in its property due to changes occurring in temperature. Hence synthetic oils are advisable for engines that have higher power outputs or known as a high-performance engine.
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
| Forms less sludge and hence have a longer life. | Costlier |
| It can better resist changes in the property of oil which occurs because of change in temperature. | Not advisable for mileage engines because chemicals present in it may damage the oil seal and may lead to oil leakage. |
Semi-Synthetic Oils
Semi-synthetic oils are a perfect blend of natural and chemical products that are dedicated to engines that would be used extensively which is more than usual period every day. This kind of oil better heat resistance hence for longer runs it is suitable. Semi-synthetic oils are a blend of mineral oil and less than 30% of synthetic oil so it has properties of both kinds of oils.
These oils are best suitable for those who travel more in a day, like those to commutes outside the city or to neighboring towns every day for work.
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Read, also about:
1. When to change your Bike engine oil?
2. Best Oil for 100 cc, 125 cc, and 200 cc Bike
3. Best Engine Oil For Bike in India 2019
