Your motorcycle engine is the core of your machine - once it suffers irreparable damage, you face expensive replacements or a nonfunctional bike. Fortunately, most engine damage is preventable with attentive maintenance. Whether you own a high-performance sports bike or a commuter, following proven engine care practices can add 50,000+ km to your engine's life and save you lakhs in repairs.
In this blog, we cover some warm-up techniques that can help extend your engine’s life.
1. Always Warm Up Your Engine Properly
It is always recommended that you warm up the engine for at least 2 to 3 minutes before taking off for a ride. When your motorcycle sits parked, engine oil drains down into the sump, leaving engine components dry within just 2-3 hours.
The simple way to warm up is to turn the engine ignition on and keep the revs at idle for about a minute or two. This process will heat up the engine oil temperature and will make it circuit around the engine chambers, which dries up in just a couple of hours when the bike is parked.
2. Never Over-Rev Your Engine When Stationary
Sometimes riders tend to over-rev the bikes on a red light or in a parking lot just to show off, which often leads to several problems:
- Inadequate Cooling: When stationary, ram air cooling doesn't work - only the radiator fan operates (if equipped)
- Oil Breakdown: Extreme revs without load cause oil temperatures to spike beyond the optimal range
- Component Stress: Valve springs, piston rings, and bearings undergo stress without productive work
- Fuel Wastage: Burns fuel without generating useful power
3. Avoid Excessive Clutch Slipping and Abuse
If you have a habit of clutching the bike more than necessary, it creates friction heat that deteriorates clutch material, leading to premature replacement. There are times when the clutch needs to be engaged in order to pop a gear up, or prevent the bike from coming to a halt, but if you overdo it then it is an open invitation for trouble. Also, some riders perform burnouts while partially holding the clutch, which completely destroys the clutch plates. And these are not cheap to replace on modern sports bikes.
To avoid early wear and tear, make sure you engage and release the clutch fully and smoothly. Also, keep your bike neutral at long-haul red lights.
4. Respect the Rev Limiter - But Understand Its Limitations
A rev limiter is a feature found on modern bikes that prevents the engine from exceeding certain rev limits when the throttle is fully open. This protects the engine from jumping on the red line on the rev counter. But this feature only works when you are shifting the gears up. On the other hand, if you slam the gear lever down, the revs jump up fast and the engine red lines.
So, make sure you always downshift sequentially and always pay attention to what gear your bike is in.
5. Use Premium Grade Engine Oil Matched to Your Motorcycle
These days, a variety of engine oils are present in the market. So make sure you only choose the one that fits your motorcycle and engine type perfectly. A sport bike generally has a higher compression ratio, and its engine revs up quickly to as much as 15,000 rpm; such engines require oils that do not change properties even at extremely high temperatures and thus remain consistent. On the other hand, a commuter motorcycle generally doesn’t require such high-grade oil; all it needs is something that allows the engine to operate smoothly with minimal friction and maximum efficiency and economy.
So, always choose the engine oil as per your motorcycle type and usage.
6. Always Use High Octane Fuel for Engine Longevity
Octane rating measures a fuel’s resistance to knocking. Fuels with higher Octane rating burn cleaner and do not allow carbon deposits which are one of the primary reasons for faster aging of an engine. Always fuel at reputable, busy petrol pumps and avoid filling during tanker deliveries as the sediment gets stirred up around this time.
Conclusion
From proper warm-up techniques to choosing the right engine oil grade, we hope this comprehensive guide covers everything you need to know. Apart from the aforementioned tips, always keep in mind to buy quality gear and accessories for your bikes. Spending money on essential tools like a paddock stand, quality engine oil, proper maintenance equipment, and cleaning accessories can protect your bike’s health in the long run.
So invest well with GrandPitstop, because your bike deserves the best!