What is the Ideal Distance to Change Motor Oil? Find the Answer!

For motorcycle users, maintaining their vehicle is key to preserving its performance. Special attention should be given to the lubrication system regulated by oil. Oil is crucial because it impacts the lifespan and efficiency of the engine. Therefore, it's important to know the correct oil change interval for your motorcycle. According to the Technical Specialist at PT Pertamina Lubricants, motorcycle manufacturers typically recommend changing the oil every 2,000-3,000 km or every 2-3 months, whichever comes first.

Functions of Oil in Motorcycles

Understanding the functions of oil in motorcycles is an important first step before knowing the recommended oil change timings. Oil plays a crucial role in maintaining the performance and longevity of your vehicle, including:

Lubrication

Motorcycles operate thanks to the collaboration between various metal engine components. To ensure that friction between these metal components does not damage the engine, oil acts as a vital lubricant.

Protection

Since most engine components are made of metal, they are prone to rust or corrosion. Oil serves as a protective layer that prevents corrosion, thus reducing the risk of damage.

Cleaning

During operation, the engine produces combustion waste. This waste accumulates over time with vehicle use. Oil plays a crucial role in cleaning the engine from accumulated waste.

Cooling

The combustion process in engines generates heat that increases the engine's temperature. Friction between engine components also contributes to this temperature rise. Oil helps cool the engine by coating the engine walls, preventing excessive temperatures that can damage the engine.

How Many Kilometers Before Changing Motorcycle Oil?

A common question is, how many kilometers should you change motorcycle oil? Or, how often should you change motorcycle oil? In essence, the frequency of motorcycle oil changes depends on several factors such as motorcycle type, usage conditions, and the brand and type of oil used.

However, most motorcycle manufacturers recommend changing the oil after the motorcycle has traveled approximately 4,000 to 5,000 kilometers. It doesn't matter whether you reach this distance in two months or one year; the important thing is to change the oil every 5,000 kilometers.

Consequences of Delayed Motorcycle Oil Changes

There are strong reasons why it's recommended to change motorcycle oil every 5,000 kilometers. Delaying oil changes can result in the following consequences:

Decreased Engine Performance

Delaying oil changes can lead to reduced motorcycle engine performance. This can cause more serious damage, and ultimately, you may need to replace the engine, which is far more expensive than the cost of an oil change.

Reduced Comfort Due to Noisy and Vibrating Engines

Reduced engine performance also causes the engine to dry out or wear out quickly. Oil lubricates the friction between metal components inside the engine, making its operation smoother and less prone to vibration. If you rarely change the oil, the motorcycle engine will become noisy and vibrate, which is very uncomfortable.

Inefficient Fuel Consumption

Delaying oil changes also forces the engine to work harder. If this happens continuously, the engine will consume more fuel because it has to support suboptimal engine performance.

Shorter Engine Lifespan

Oil acts as a protective layer that maintains the durability and longevity of motorcycle engines. However, if you delay changing the oil, it will actually shorten the engine's lifespan. When the engine is damaged, the required service costs will be higher.

Overheating

Delaying oil changes can cause motorcycle engines to overheat. If this happens frequently, it can cause damage to the motorcycle engine.

Problems Spreading to Other Components

Delaying oil changes can cause problems with the engine, which can then spread to other components of the motorcycle. Servicing the engine and other critical components can incur significant costs. Therefore, it's important to know the correct interval for changing motorcycle oil to avoid these problems.

How to Choose Motorcycle Oil

Understanding when to change motorcycle oil and the interval between changes isn't the only important thing. You also need to ensure that the oil you use is of high quality because the right oil can extend the life and improve the performance of the engine. Here are some tips to choose the right oil:

Choose the Right Viscosity Grade for Your Environment

In Indonesia, oil packaging often displays codes like SAE 10W-30, SAE 20W-40, and SAE 20W-50. These codes, created by the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE), indicate the viscosity of the oil. You just need to match the type of oil with your environmental conditions.

For colder environments, choose oil with a code like SAE 15W-50, which has higher viscosity. For hotter temperatures, SAE 15W-40 or SAE 20W-40 are recommended because they have lower viscosity. If your motorcycle is older or has traveled more than 100,000 km, use oil with a code like SAE 20W-50.

Use High API Ratings for Heavy-Duty Engine Performance

The American Petroleum Institute (API) code is also important because it indicates the specifications of the oil. Oils with API codes are designed to withstand high friction, making them suitable for heavy-duty motorcycle engines. API codes are usually followed by other letters indicating their quality, such as API SB, API SL, API SA, and so on. The higher the letter following 'S', the better the quality of the oil.

Match with Motorcycle Type and Clutch

Also, pay attention to the JASO code on the oil packaging. JASO is an oil classification based on lubrication tests by the Japanese Automotive Standard Organization. There are two main classifications: JASO MA for wet clutch motorcycles, sports motorcycles, and scooters, and JASO MB for automatic motorcycles.

For motorcycle users, maintaining their vehicle is key to preserving its performance. Special attention should be given to the lubrication system regulated by oil. Oil is crucial because it impacts the lifespan and efficiency of the engine. Therefore, it's important to know the correct oil change interval for your motorcycle. According to the Technical Specialist at PT Pertamina Lubricants, motorcycle manufacturers typically recommend changing the oil every 2,000-3,000 km or every 2-3 months, whichever comes first.

Functions of Oil in Motorcycles

Understanding the functions of oil in motorcycles is an important first step before knowing the recommended oil change timings. Oil plays a crucial role in maintaining the performance and longevity of your vehicle, including:

Lubrication

Motorcycles operate thanks to the collaboration between various metal engine components. To ensure that friction between these metal components does not damage the engine, oil acts as a vital lubricant.

Protection

Since most engine components are made of metal, they are prone to rust or corrosion. Oil serves as a protective layer that prevents corrosion, thus reducing the risk of damage.

Cleaning

During operation, the engine produces combustion waste. This waste accumulates over time with vehicle use. Oil plays a crucial role in cleaning the engine from accumulated waste.

Cooling

The combustion process in engines generates heat that increases the engine's temperature. Friction between engine components also contributes to this temperature rise. Oil helps cool the engine by coating the engine walls, preventing excessive temperatures that can damage the engine.

How Many Kilometers Before Changing Motorcycle Oil?

A common question is, how many kilometers should you change motorcycle oil? Or, how often should you change motorcycle oil? In essence, the frequency of motorcycle oil changes depends on several factors such as motorcycle type, usage conditions, and the brand and type of oil used.

However, most motorcycle manufacturers recommend changing the oil after the motorcycle has traveled approximately 4,000 to 5,000 kilometers. It doesn't matter whether you reach this distance in two months or one year; the important thing is to change the oil every 5,000 kilometers.

Consequences of Delayed Motorcycle Oil Changes

There are strong reasons why it's recommended to change motorcycle oil every 5,000 kilometers. Delaying oil changes can result in the following consequences:

Decreased Engine Performance

Delaying oil changes can lead to reduced motorcycle engine performance. This can cause more serious damage, and ultimately, you may need to replace the engine, which is far more expensive than the cost of an oil change.

Reduced Comfort Due to Noisy and Vibrating Engines

Reduced engine performance also causes the engine to dry out or wear out quickly. Oil lubricates the friction between metal components inside the engine, making its operation smoother and less prone to vibration. If you rarely change the oil, the motorcycle engine will become noisy and vibrate, which is very uncomfortable.

Inefficient Fuel Consumption

Delaying oil changes also forces the engine to work harder. If this happens continuously, the engine will consume more fuel because it has to support suboptimal engine performance.

Shorter Engine Lifespan

Oil acts as a protective layer that maintains the durability and longevity of motorcycle engines. However, if you delay changing the oil, it will actually shorten the engine's lifespan. When the engine is damaged, the required service costs will be higher.

Overheating

Delaying oil changes can cause motorcycle engines to overheat. If this happens frequently, it can cause damage to the motorcycle engine.

Problems Spreading to Other Components

Delaying oil changes can cause problems with the engine, which can then spread to other components of the motorcycle. Servicing the engine and other critical components can incur significant costs. Therefore, it's important to know the correct interval for changing motorcycle oil to avoid these problems.

How to Choose Motorcycle Oil

Understanding when to change motorcycle oil and the interval between changes isn't the only important thing. You also need to ensure that the oil you use is of high quality because the right oil can extend the life and improve the performance of the engine. Here are some tips to choose the right oil:

Choose the Right Viscosity Grade for Your Environment

In Indonesia, oil packaging often displays codes like SAE 10W-30, SAE 20W-40, and SAE 20W-50. These codes, created by the Society of Automotive Engineering (SAE), indicate the viscosity of the oil. You just need to match the type of oil with your environmental conditions.

For colder environments, choose oil with a code like SAE 15W-50, which has higher viscosity. For hotter temperatures, SAE 15W-40 or SAE 20W-40 are recommended because they have lower viscosity. If your motorcycle is older or has traveled more than 100,000 km, use oil with a code like SAE 20W-50.

Use High API Ratings for Heavy-Duty Engine Performance

The American Petroleum Institute (API) code is also important because it indicates the specifications of the oil. Oils with API codes are designed to withstand high friction, making them suitable for heavy-duty motorcycle engines. API codes are usually followed by other letters indicating their quality, such as API SB, API SL, API SA, and so on. The higher the letter following 'S', the better the quality of the oil.

Match with Motorcycle Type and Clutch

Also, pay attention to the JASO code on the oil packaging. JASO is an oil classification based on lubrication tests by the Japanese Automotive Standard Organization. There are two main classifications: JASO MA for wet clutch motorcycles, sports motorcycles, and scooters, and JASO MB for automatic motorcycles.