“Okay,” you say to us, “please explain why I have to pay sooooo much more for motorcycle engine oil compared to car engine oil.” Actually, we don’t think we can. Seriously, we don’t think we can.
The Way it Was
Back in the day, when GM, Ford and Chrysler were banging out humungous engines that barely broke 2,000 revs at legal speed limits, the capabilities of your average oil were never brought into question.
Heck, you could probably have got away with four quarts of gravy in the engine. But motorcycle engines have always been special. High revving machines tend to get hot, real quick. Add to that the constant shearing from a gearbox that uses the same oil as the engine, and that distinctly average oil used in cars during the 70s and early 80s just wasn’t up to scratch.
That’s why when you went to your motorcycle dealer for an oil change, or to pick up the oil to do your own change at home, you had to purchase a specific brand and type of oil, and pay through the nose for it, too.
Better Safe Than Sorry?
Fast-forward to today, and nothing has changed. Or has it. Truth be told, car engine oil has come a long way in the last 30 or so years. Smaller, higher revving and higher tech car engines have forced the manufacture of engine oil to keep pace, to evolve and improve.
The result is that there are definitely some car oils that you could put in your bike, and we’re sure it would run just fine—maybe even better than on some of the dedicated motorcycle oils. The problem, however, is finding which ones.
Motorcycle forums are awash with divided opinions on one type of oil over another. Some swear by one brand, while others say the same brand was a fail. Add to that the potential problem of clutch and gearbox issues from running on a car oil that just isn’t up to the job, and saving a few bucks (let’s face it—this is what it’s all about) suddenly got complicated.
This is why our recommendation is to always use in your machine an engine oil that has been designed for motorcycles. If nothing else, the recommended oil is guaranteed to do the job properly. Is it worth making a mistake and selecting the wrong car oil for your bike? What a hassle, not to mention potentially costing you even more money in the long run.
Anyway, who ever said motorcycling was a cheap sport?
Fun? Always. Cheap? Not so much.