How often should I change the oil in my motorbike?

1. Learn about lubricants.

Most manufacturers specify engine oil for motorcycles and scooters. Motorcycle engine oil is completely different from car engine oil. Generally, high-quality car oil cannot be used for motorcycles and vice versa. The main difference lies in the operating conditions.

Therefore, to differentiate between types of oil, manufacturers rely on the standards of the American Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) and divide them into two types: single-grade and multi-grade oils. Single-grade oils only meet the required viscosity at a specific temperature, while multi-grade oils offer flexible viscosity across a wide range of temperatures.

Currently, multi-grade engine oils with the "W" symbol on the oil container, such as 5W40 and 10W60, are still commonly available on the market. The "W" is believed to stand for "Winter," indicating the ability to start the engine in cold weather. Multi-grade oil ensures the appropriate viscosity for good engine lubrication at high temperatures while also preventing the oil from becoming too thick at low temperatures, thus facilitating easier starting and operation of the vehicle.

2. How often should I change the oil in my motorbike?

In Vietnam, due to poor road conditions, car manufacturers recommend changing the oil regularly according to the maintenance schedule in the owner's manual for each vehicle model.

Under normal driving conditions, the oil must be changed after the first 1,000 km and then every 4,000 km thereafter.

For vehicles that are used regularly, around 1,000 km per month, the oil change interval can be shortened. However, in the initial period, with a new vehicle, it's even better to change the oil sooner after the first 500 km break-in period.

Scooters typically use two types of oil: engine oil and gear oil (transmission oil). Based on experience, gear oil should be changed once every three engine oil changes.

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/xe-may-di-bao-lau-can-thay-dau-post244200.html