Ever wonder what might happen if you don't replace your engine oil?
Let's take a look at how important it is to replace your engine oil to keep your beloved motorcycle running smoothly for years to come!

Hello, everyone!

This article will take a look at the topic of periodically replacing your engine oil. Here, we will offer a few tips on this topic to keep your beloved motorcycle in tip-top shape for longer.
Your motorcycle won't keep running without regularly filling up with gasoline, but it will if you forget to change your oil. Some people may no doubt forget to change the oil regularly.

Forgetting to change the oil can lead to more costs than a regular oil change.
The engine may also eventually break down and fail to run.
In this article, we will explain why oil should be changed periodically to maintain your motorcycle.

1.The Role of Engine Oil

Engine oil helps the engine to run properly.
The typical roles of engine oil are as follows.

(1) Lubrication
It provides an oil film between sliding engine components to keep the engine running smoothly and prevent wear in the sliding components.

(2) Sealing
By filling the gap between the piston rings and cylinder wall, the combustion chamber is sealed, preserving starting performance and power output.

(3) Cooling
Oil cools the engine by absorbing and dissipating heat generated by engine combustion and friction, preventing seizure and damage.

(4) Cleaning
The oil keeps the inside of the engine clean by capturing and washing away the dirt that builds up inside the engine.

(5) Preventing rust
Oil prevents rust and corrosion inside the engine.

(6) Operating function
Oil is used as power to operate hydraulic actuators, such as in VTEC systems.

As you can see, engine oil plays an important role in places not seen by the naked eye.

The amount of engine oil gradually decreases as your motorcycle is driven.
This is because oil and other substances adhered to the cylinder walls during combustion are burned with the fuel and discharged with the exhaust gas.
Oil is burned away very slowly, so while you may not need to top up the oil frequently, your riding style may increase the speed of its consumption. If the amount of oil gets too low, there is a risk of wear and seizure inside the engine, so periodic inspections are necessary.

Engine oil quality also deteriorates as the vehicle is used.
This has a variety of causes, such as accelerated oxidation due to exposure to combustion gases and their remnants, as well as infiltration by soot and dust. However, these are not clearly correlated to mileage. This is because the degree of deterioration differs greatly depending on how the vehicle is ridden and the environment in which it is used. In reality, however, there is no way to accurately determine the degree of deterioration of this oil. Therefore, oil replacement mileages and timings are set based on usage assumptions to expedite failure prevention.

2.How to Check Engine Oil Inspection and Replacement Timing

Engine oil replacement timing varies from motorcycle to motorcycle.

First, check when your bike requires oil inspection and replacement.
Your owner's manual will list a recommended oil inspection and replacement time.

If you do not have the owner's manual at hand, you can also check it from Motopub.

In the Maintenance chapter, there is a Maintenance Schedule section.
In the example of the following replacement, the first engine oil replacement is required at 1,000 km and then every 12,000 km thereafter.

3.Possible Issues from Unreplaced Engine Oil

Being a little behind your engine oil replacement will not damage the engine or cause any abnormal noises.
Few symptoms will appear on the surface if you miss your oil change timing.

However, as oil performance deteriorates more and more steadily, so too will the engine performance deteriorate.
Simple performance reductions may not be critical, but there is also the potential of wear and deterioration inside the engine and eventual engine breakdown.

Failure to periodically change your engine oil isn't good for your wallet, either. That's because it can result in lower fuel economy, shorter engine life, and the need to replace engine parts earlier than the standard maintenance schedule due to increased wear inside the engine.

To delay wear inside the engine and keep your motorcycle in good health for many years to come, follow the engine oil change timings according to the maintenance schedule.

4.Summary

In this issue, we took a look at the importance of periodic engine oil replacement.
Engine oil degradation is affected not only by usage but also over time.

If your motorcycle is only ridden a few times a month or stored in a garage for an extended period of time and has not had an oil change in a year or two, you may want to consider an oil change, even if the mileage does not match the maintenance schedule.

We hope this article will help guide you ensure you can enjoy a safe and long-lasting life for your Honda bike.

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