To choose the right oil for a moped, consulting a salesperson in a store is not enough. Moreover, many of them have only superficial knowledge of the characteristics and properties of motor oils.
Motor oils should be selected depending on the engine installed on the motorcycle.
It should be remembered that in the regulatory and technical literature there is no special term “scooter oil”. However, in the store you often find oils specifically designed for motorcycle and moped engines. You can purchase them with confidence, paying attention only to what type of engine they are suitable for: two-stroke or four-stroke.
engine's type
When buying oil for a motorcycle, you need to pay attention to its classification, as well as the content of special additives.
To choose which oil to put into your scooter, first consider the engine type: products for two-stroke engines are not suitable for four-stroke engines, and vice versa. The fundamental difference in operation: oil for two-stroke engines is mixed with gasoline in a ratio of 1:25 or 1:50, depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation. Lubricant replacement in four-stroke engines occurs by draining the old product from the oil tank, washing and filling with a new one.
The choice between mineral, semi-synthetic or synthetic oil for mopeds and scooters is not difficult. For economy class mopeds and scooters, mineral or semi-synthetic is perfect. Mineral varieties are the cheapest, so they are more often purchased by poor scooter owners. But when using them, you should remember that they are chemically unstable, so the timing of their replacement must be strictly observed. Semi-synthetics are preferable to mineral ones, but are noticeably more expensive. Synthetic oil is intended for high-speed boosted scooters, whose engines place increased demands on oil quality. It preserves engine life better, has better viscosity, lower volatility, and a wider range of operating temperatures. For inexpensive mopeds, synthetics are just an unnecessary luxury.
Special attention should be paid: mixing mineral, semi-synthetic and synthetic oils is strictly prohibited!
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Marking and viscosity
Engine wear is affected by the oil viscosity parameter. The required viscosity depends on the operating temperature of the engine and is usually specified in the operating instructions. The generally accepted standard for designating viscosity according to the American SAE method: 5W40, 5W30, 10W40, 10W50 or simply SAE 40, SAE 50. Moreover, the first number indicates the viscosity of the oil in a cold engine, the second - in one warmed up to operating temperature. The letter W indicates that the oil belongs to winter or all-season varieties. Summer varieties do not have this letter and the first number (SAE 30, SAE 40). The lower the first number, the better the engine starts in cold weather. But if there is no need to ride a moped in winter, there is no point in using liquid oil. In warm weather, high viscosity provides better lubrication of power unit parts, the oil film on rubbing surfaces is not destroyed, and dry friction, overheating and destruction of parts are prevented.
For summer, viscosity 10W40, 10W50, SAE 30, SAE 40, etc. is more suitable. The higher the viscosity of the oil when hot (second number), the better suited the oil is for hot operating conditions. In mid-latitudes, SAE 30 or SAE 40 is quite suitable. In hot countries, SAE 50 and even SAE 60 are used.
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Quality Standards
Motor oils have various specifications indicating their quality: API, JACO and others.
The oil standard is indicated on the canister. After the letters API there is a letter designation of oil quality: from SA to SM. The S scale indicates that the oil belongs to gasoline engines; the quality scale is indicated by letters from A (low quality) to M (high quality). A total of 11 quality classes are provided: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, L and M. Products with specifications from SA to SE are currently almost never produced and are only suitable for older equipment manufactured in 80s or 90s. Modern mopeds and scooters consume oil of at least SF quality, but it is better if it is SH, SJ or SL.
SH - products for engines manufactured after 1994. SJ - for engines manufactured after 1996. SL – for engines after 2000. SM – for engines after 2006.
API-TA is required for two-stroke moped and lawn mower engines. For large capacity two-stroke engines of low power - API-TB standard. For powerful large-capacity two-stroke engines - the API-TC standard.
The Japanese JASO standard is intended for models of mopeds and motorcycles with a “wet” clutch, that is, a clutch operating in an oil bath. With this design, the power unit and clutch use the same oil. Accordingly, changing the transmission oil on the scooter will occur simultaneously with replacing the engine oil. Therefore, using a high quality, low friction product may cause this clutch to slip. JASO is suitable for motorcycles manufactured before 1994 or copied models of that time. For modern mopeds and scooters, you should choose JASO MA, JASO MA-1 with a high friction coefficient. The JASO MA-2 standard has an even higher coefficient of friction, but is intended for sports mopeds and scooters. JASO MB has a low coefficient of friction and is not suitable for wet clutch vehicles.
For two-stroke engines, the JASO standard has completely different designations. JASO FA - intended for use in developing countries. JASO FB is the minimum quality standard for Japan. JASO FC is a smokeless oil for a wide range of two-stroke engines made in Japan. JASO FD – for two-stroke engines with increased requirements for the quality of motor oils.
The European ACEA oil quality designation standard is often found. Grades ACEA A1 to ACEA A5 are intended for four-stroke gasoline engines (two-stroke engines are not produced in Europe). Moreover, category A2 denotes the lowest quality oil, and A4 - the highest quality. For engines with normal operating characteristics, category A2 is recommended. Category A3 is recommended for use in motors with high performance. Category A4 is used in motorsports. Certain categories A1 (with particularly low viscosity) and A5 (the latest oils) are not suitable for all engines and are used only in cases where this is directly specified by the manufacturer.
Mopeds and mokicks made in China. Design, operation, maintenance. Delta, Musstang, Leader, Dingo, Sagitta, HongDou, Jianshe, Loncin, Simple, Zip Star, Alpa, Farmer, Dino Eriskay. >> Maintenance of a moped. Changing the engine oil.
Bykov K.P., Shlenchik T.A.
Changing the engine oil
The engine oil is changed after 1,000 km, and then every 2,000 km.
The engine oil is changed on a hot engine in the following order (Fig. 18):
remove the oil dipstick (Fig. 18.1) and unscrew the nut to drain the oil (Fig. 18.2);
drain the used oil (Fig. 18.3);
After checking the condition of the sealing gasket of the oil drain nut, tighten the nut (tightening torque 2.3 kgcm);
pour approximately 0.7 liters of oil into the crankcase through the hole for the oil dipstick (Fig. 18.4);
reinstall the oil dipstick;
start the engine and let it run for a few minutes at idle speed, stop the engine;
Check the oil level and, if necessary, bring it to normal.
Rice. 18. Changing engine oil
How to understand modern oil labeling?
Recently, many brands of motor and transmission oils from various companies have appeared on sale: SHELL, BP, CASTROL, MOTUL, NESTE, MOBIL, TEXACO, ELF, TEDEX, VALVOLINE, TEBOIL, etc. How to make sense of all this abundance and understand the principle of oil selection ? All oils have many indicators indicated in the technical specifications, but we, as buyers, should be interested in only two of them: quality level (will it suit my motorcycle) and viscosity (is it suitable for the upcoming season and in general for this climate). The answer to these questions is contained in the labeling of any commercial grade - the globally accepted indexing system for motor oils.
Viscosity is determined and indicated according to the method of the American Society of Automotive Engineers SAE (SOCIETy OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERS). The letters SAE on the label mean that the subsequent numbers characterize the viscosity of the oil. Only viscosity, and nothing more! The letter W (WINTER - winter) is placed in the designations of winter varieties (SAE 5W, SAE 15W), while summer varieties do not have any letter (SAE 40, SAE 50). In all-season varieties, in the viscosity marking after the letters SAE, the winter indicator first follows, and then the summer indicator. Between the two designations there is usually a hyphen or fraction sign, and sometimes nothing at all. For example, SAE 15W-40, SAE 10W/40, SAE 15W40. An example of motor oil marking is shown in Fig. 16, and the manufacturer’s recommendations regarding the use of motor oils for gasoline engines are given in Table. 4.
Table 4. Classification of the quality level of motor oils no API.
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Designation |
Application |
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For gasoline engines |
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For designs from 1980-1988 |
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For forced engines, production of which began in 1989-1994 |
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For forced engines, production of which began in 1994-1996 |
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For forced engines, production of which began in 1996-2000 |
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For forced engines, the production of which began in 2000-20006 |
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Newly introduced highest quality class for gasoline engines |
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For diesel engines |
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Engines produced since 1988 |
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Improved CD-II performance for two-stroke engines |
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Engines manufactured since 1994. Improved CF-4 performance and stricter exhaust emission requirements |
Now about assessing the quality of the oil level. Here, the qualification system developed by the American Petroleum Institute API (AMERICAN PETROLEUM INSTITUTE) has become the international language. The Institute regularly tests all motor oils and, based on their results, assigns a quality index in accordance with the requirements of car designers. The letters API on the label precede the quality class symbols. There are two of them: S scale - use in gasoline engines; scale C - use in diesel engines. The steps of the quality level are designated by Latin letters. The API system has 11 classes for gasoline engines (A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, J, L and M) and 7 classes for diesel engines (A, B, C, D, E, F , G).
For gasoline engines, oils with the designations SF, SG, SH, SJ and SM are currently used, and for diesel engines - CD, CE, CF and CG. Oils of old brands - from SA to SE and from SA to SS - have passed the stage and are no longer produced. The container may be marked with the index SG-CE or SF-CD, allowing use in gasoline and diesel engines. Often on the packaging there are certificate numbers from car manufacturers, who assign them after factory tests. Examples of viscosity and oil class markings are shown in Fig. 19.
Rice. 19. Designation of motor oils: 1 - viscosity; 2 - quality class.
A lot of questions arise from people who are servicing a moped themselves for the first time.
The operating instructions recommend using oil for four-stroke engines, API SE, SF, viscosity SAE 15W40. Let's try to figure out what this means.
Gearbox oil
The instructions say what kind of oil should be poured into the engine, but there is not a word about the gearbox. Although we are all accustomed to the fact that transmission oil is poured into the box, usually thicker than in the engine.
Owners of Alpha mopeds (and the like) need to know that the gearbox, engine and clutch are located in the same (common) crankcase and are lubricated by the same oil. This way you don’t have to think about what kind of oil needs to be poured and where. It is one!
Oil for four-stroke engines
This phrase means that you cannot fill a moped engine with two-stroke oil. The thing is that two-stroke engines have a completely different principle of engine lubrication: they mix oil with gasoline in certain proportions (either in a gas tank or using a special oil pump), and then, together with gasoline, first enter the engine crankcase, lubricating the bearings crankshaft and connecting rod, as well as the cylinder mirror. The mixture then enters the combustion chamber, where the oil burns along with gasoline and is discharged from the engine through the exhaust pipe. Thus two-stroke oil is not designed for long-term use, it is “disposable”.
In most four-stroke engines (and the Alpha's engine is four-stroke), oil is poured into the engine crankcase and lubricates the rubbing parts either by splashing (due to the rotating parts of the engine) or under pressure (which is created by the oil pump). Oil also helps cool the engine. Therefore, the oil in a four-stroke engine must withstand long service life at high temperatures.
Some owners ask: “Do I need to add oil to gasoline?” Remember: for Alpha mopeds (Delta, Sabur, Vento, etc.) there is no need to add oil to gasoline!
API classification
API is a quality classification system for automobile oils. The oil designation in this system consists of Latin letters.
The first part can be either S (Service)- oil for gasoline engines, C (Commercial)— oil for diesel engines, EC (Energy Conserving)— energy-saving oils.
The next letter is the designation of the oil generation. The designation is in alphabetical order, i.e. The farther the letter is from the beginning of the Latin alphabet, the higher the generation of oil (better performance qualities).
API categories SA, SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG are currently recognized as invalid, category SH is considered conditionally valid. Thus, the categories of oil recommended in the instructions for the moped S.E. And SF Can't find it on sale right now. What kind of oil should you buy then? The answer is to buy any one that is further down the alphabet (SJ, SL, SM, SN), it will in any case be no worse than the recommended one.
SAE classification
The latest edition of the classification divides motor oils into 11 classes: 6 winter (0W, 5W, 10W, 15W, 20W, 25W) and 5 summer (20, 30, 40, 50, 60) viscosity classes. Letter W(Winter) before the number means that the oil is adapted to work at low temperatures.
Most of the motor oils on the market today are all-season, i.e. they meet viscosity requirements at both low and high temperatures and have a double designation, for example in our case: SAE 15W-40. The first number characterizes the pumpability of the oil at low temperatures. If you subtract 35 from the first digit, you get the minimum temperature at which a safe cold start of the engine is possible. The second number is an indicator of oil viscosity at 100 degrees Celsius. If you add 5 to the second digit, you get the maximum permissible air temperature at which the oil can be used.
Synthetic, semi-synthetic or mineral water?
It is generally accepted that synthetic oils are of the highest quality and almost extend the life of the engine. On the other hand, as I wrote above, now any oil that has been certified according to the API standard is suitable for use in the Alpha moped engine.
I chose the golden mean for myself: I pour semi-synthetics from imported manufacturers into my moped, because... the price of a liter of semi-synthetic oil is now not much different from the price of mineral oil.
But only now you can rarely find semi-synthetic 15W-40 on store shelves. Mostly mineral oils are sold with this designation. Therefore, I fill the engine with 10W-40 oil as the closest to the manufacturer’s recommendations.
How often should you change the oil in your moped?
In the operating instructions, the first oil change (on a new moped) is after 500 kilometers (TO-1). The second replacement is at 1500 km (TO-2). The third replacement is at 3000 km. (TO-3). Then every 2000 km. But there is an indication that if the moped is operated under increased loads and in dusty conditions, the oil needs to be changed (maintenance) more often.
Personally, I change the oil every 1500 km.
How much oil to pour into an Alpha engine?
The owner's manual says to fill the crankcase with 0.9 liters of four-stroke engine oil. In practice, it may turn out that not all of the old oil has left the engine. I usually do this: fill in 0.8-0.85 liters of oil, control its level with a dipstick and top up if necessary.
Where to fill oil in Alpha mopeds?
When faced with servicing a moped for the first time, many owners look for a separate oil filler neck on the engine. But in fact, the engine developers acted very wisely: oil is poured into the engine through the hole with the dipstick. It is located on the right side of the engine. To avoid spilling oil on the engine, I usually use a small plastic funnel bought at a hardware store; it makes filling quick and clean.
Write in the comments what oil you chose for your moped/motorcycle.
