What is Engine Oil? Can a Bike Lose Too Much Oil? Why Should You Care?
Engine oil is the ‘blood’ of a motorbike. The engine oil is the primary reason a bike can function effectively and move as fast as it does. In an ideal case scenario, the oil would be flowing through your engine and keeping it lubricated and cool.
This circulation would lead to reduced friction and prevent the internal chambers from heating up for a long time. Now, lack of heat and friction would lead to increased output with respect to power, high speed, and, lesser pollution from your bike.
But it’s not an ideal world that we live in, right!
While it is normal for bikes to lose oil due to its high viscosity, they have another problem! Apart from the engine oil evaporation that it has to live with, your bike may also have to endure leakage.
These oil leaks remain a persistent issue for a biker. Small leaks can quickly develop into an enormous leakage, and so, your engine needs to be diagnosed and taken care of frequently.
You may think your bike is running just fine with a tiny gaping hole. But, is it okay?
Engine oil leaks can easily aggravate; and if we leave them unattended, we may need to replace the hefty engine components eventually. A possibility is that you may even have to replace your entire bike engine. However, that’s not the worst that could happen! The worst that could happen is fire may break out! Needless to say, in such a case, a leak can be fatal.
While you can ‘technically’ drive a car with an oil leak, repeatedly doing so can put you and everyone else around you in severe danger. Let us understand why an unattended engine oil spillage is a dangerous thing!
Engine Oil 101: What Does It Do? How Does It Help?
Engine oils are lubricants. They allow engine parts to slide past each other and work with minimal energy loss. Engines, consequently, produce more output or kinetic energy – rather than accumulating heat.
The engine, thus, works effectively and longer without deteriorating.
In the 1800s, engine oils were a mix of base oil (derived from crude oil) and animal fats. However, the product was only so useful. There remain lingering problems of rust, leakage, and jammed valves.
John Ellis tackled this problem. Initially a medical researcher, Ellis developed a petroleum-based high-viscosity oil. This breakthrough allowed oils to lubricate without burning at higher temperatures.
Later, in the 1940s, German researchers developed the first synthetic engine oil. They are structurally uniform and free of impurities. Therefore, they can function effectively across a wide temperature range. At high temperatures, large structures allow the oil to remain viscous without breaking down. Similarly, at lower temperatures, the branched form prevents solidification, allowing oil to flow without freezing.
Modern synthetic engine oils go beyond lubrication. With the mix of chemical additives, they prevent corrosion, wear of mechanical parts, and build-up of sludge, among others.
Furthermore, engine oils contain detergents, allowing them to clean the engine regularly. Various kinds of metal particles, mud, and dirt can end up developing friction, which, in turn, leads to wear-and-tear of the engine parts. Engine oil picks up these contaminants, waste, or sludge particles. These are, in turn, filtered through the vehicle’s oil filter, keeping the oil clean.
The engine oil also acts as a coolant, flowing through engine components and helping them to dissipate engine heat. The scattered heat helps prevent engine failure that can be caused by a single area overheating.
Signs of Oil Loss
Finding leaks early on can save you a lot of trouble and money later. Following are a few abnormal signs you can look out for to identify a potential leak:
- A red light/ engine light will be illuminated in your display panel, signaling low oil levels.
- High temperature may also indicate oil loss. However, this may be due to other reasons as well.
- An unusual drop in oil levels. Some vehicles have an indicator for oil levels. For most entry-level bikes, you may need to check this using the dipstick provided manually.
- Visible oil stains may appear on the ground as well as on engine parts. Their color ranges from amber to dark brown. They result from these repeated leaks. Since the leaks here are small, they dry up quickly and accumulate as stains.
- Misfiring spark plugs, which are caused by leaked oil accumulating into the spark plug.
- Uneven vibrations while idling.
If oil leaks are left unattended, these problems may worsen and lead to more prominent and dangerous signals like:
- Grinding /rumbling sound: The sound originates from different metal parts scraping against each other. Ideally, engine oil forms a film on moving metal parts of the engine. This film allows them to move faster with minimal or zero noise. With reduced oil levels, there is little to no lubrication that allows swift movement. Sounds are a critical warning sign, indicating low to acute oil levels. At this stage, it is essential to take your bike to a repair shop for oil change and repair immediately.
- Heavy oil loss: If you see a sharp drop in your oil levels, it may indicate extensive leakage.
- Wet oil stains: These may appear as damp, dark brown patches on the ground or engine parts.
- The smell of exhaust gas: When the oil does leak, it has a stench about itself. So, look out for any such weird odors.
- Heavy White to grey smoke from the tailpipe: Normally, as the engine burns, a translucent vapor is emitted. In case of an oil leak, motor oil may burn in the engine. A noticeable white exhaust smoke signals this.
- Blue smoke: This is an unmistakable giveaway for motor oil leaks. It happens when the gas cylinders are not sealed properly and the oil leaks inside. The oil then mixes with the fuel and burns in the combustion chamber. You can find the damaged part based on when the blue smoke comes out. If it is released while on acceleration, the issue is probably with the piston ring. Similarly, if it happens while deaccelerating, then the cylinder head valve seals may be leaking.
Common Sources Leading to Oil Loss
These are the most likely places where you can encounter an oil leak:
The oil filter is responsible for cleaning the oil through each cycle. It can easily cause leaks if it is not fitted properly. However, oil filters are also one of the easiest to replace.
- Leaks in the hoses and oil lines: They are pipes that help the oil circulate through the engine. Such leaks can occur over time.
- Worn and unfitting seals: The seals around engine parts can be out of place or worn out, causing oil to leak.
- Oil pan: The oil pan is at the base of the engine. It holds the oil and pumps it back into the engine. The pan can become loose or break from wear and leak the oil from puddles on the ground.
- Faulty plug: Plugs can start leaking if they become loose or were not threaded right. Motorbike vibrations can also make them insecure.
An oil drain plug is the most common source of leaks. It can start leaking because of scrapes from high-speed bumps and curbs. Other plugs that can cause oil leaks are side-crankcase plugs and the valve cover plug.
- Gaskets: They are seals secured with bolts, responsible for keeping parts together. The securing bolts can often get loose with time. The resulting space causes oil to seep into the engine. The most important gaskets will be the valve cover gasket and the head gasket.
The valve cover gasket keeps contaminants from entering the engine. If it is not secured correctly, the oil and contaminants can enter the engine. The resulting engine fire can lead to extreme havoc and the by-product fumes may even be toxic.
On the other hand, the head gasket seals the combustion chambers and the bike’s cooling system. If this fails, the combustion chamber is compromised, resulting in misfiring spark plugs.
At such a goof-up, the engine oil and the car coolant may mix.
However, in a severe case, your engine can come in contact with the water that is normally kept to avoid over-heating internally. When this mix-up happens, the machine would suffer a hydrostatic shock. Such an engine will not start due to the presence of water.
- Wear out of engine parts: Over time, usually with a lack of regular maintenance, parts of the engine can wear out and break. These cracks are passages for the circulating motor oil. The engine oil can use these new lanes to slip into fuel pistons and burn. When so happens, the reparations can be expensive. The engine block is one of the prime targets for breaking.
How to Fix the Problem?
Once you notice an oil leak, do consult a repair job. While you can do some repairs at home, most oil leaks can be tricky to diagnose and locate. Depending on where you live, the prices for an oil leak diagnosis may vary from $60 to $120.
Costs
Early diagnosis will go a long way in keeping your expenditure low. The cost of parts that need replacement will depend on the location and the damage sustained.
On the lower end, replacing an oil and filter change can cost you from $35 to $75 for conventional oil and $65 to $125 for synthetic oil. A new gasket will cost around $200.
If a hose, piston ring, or pan is damaged, the costs may be higher – around $400 – $600. However, prices can keep moving further if parts of the engine are damaged. Depending on the severity, costs can go above $1000.
The cost will also depend on the bike’s make and model and your mechanic.
While not likely, if your bike has lost a lot of oil, oil change may also be needed.
Stop Leaks Additive
Stop leaks is a chemical additive to seal leaks by pouring it through the engine.
It “fixes” the leak by accumulating around and causing engine seals to expand.
It is a cheap solution for small to moderate leaks. However, its effectiveness is not verified. For sure, this is not a long-term solution to the problem. You would find that excessive use of such agents will hamper the circulation of oil within your machine.
Measures to Prevent Oil Loss
While oil leaks maybe a common problem, there are a lot of things you can do to keep your bike healthy:
- Follow your bike’s regular maintenance schedule
Regular servicing and maintenance goes a long way to prevent leaks.
- Ride your bike regularly
While this may sound simple, riding your bike keeps necessary gaskets attuned and prevents them from becoming brittle or loose.
- Protective Engine Oils
Use the most protective engine oil compatible with your bike. If your motorcycle has traveled more than 75,000 miles, switch to high-mileage oils.
- Oil Levels
It is also essential to keep an eye on the oil levels in your bike. Most medium and high-level bikes come with an engine oil indicator. If your bike does not, you can use a dipstick with markings to check.
- Change Your Engine Oil periodically.
Over time, engine oils can lose the additives that allow them to maintain their pH. The oil after that starts becoming acidic. This acid eventually leads to faster corrosion of bike parts and huge unexpected leaks.
- Warming Up
You can prevent gasket leaks by warming up your gasket before riding. You can do this by letting it run for 15 – 30 seconds to allow the gasket to expand and fit. Further, use the choke for about ten seconds when you start in the morning.
- Occasional bike checks
From time to time, inspect your bike for anything out of place. If you notice any part of your motorcycle slacking, like a stray loose bolt, fix it immediately. These vigilant checks will allow you to find problems sooner without causing irreplaceable damage.
Conclusion: The Virtue of Regular Maintenance
Oil leaks have always been daunting for new bikers. They can be difficult and unpredictable to diagnose as well as expensive. If left to their own devices, they can have engine damaging and life-threatening consequences.
But that has never stopped bikers from joyriding their favorite roads, has it?
While oil leaks remain a recurring problem, giving your bike the attention and care it deserves regularly minimizes the hazard. Every servicing extends the life of your bike. Checking for everyday wear and other problem areas and making corrections- before the signs are visible- is the key to a healthy engine. A well-maintained engine runs smoothly, longer with less wear and less fuel.
Maintenance keeps you safe, and safety is a critical consideration in biking. Mistakes can take a second, and its toll looms larger. The little push of servicing goes a long way to prevent your bike from giving up on you too soon.