Choosing the RIGHT Motorcycle Engine Oil - Tech Tip

Penrite Oil's National Training Manager, Brendan Hughes talks about why it's important to get a motorcycle oil compliant with JASO MA.

If you have a motorcycle with a wet clutch arrangement, it will require an engine oil that is not only compliant with the engine in terms of protection, economy and specification, but one that can also act as a gearbox fluid whilst providing the right amount of friction for the clutch. It also needs to protect the gears from pitting and provide lubrication and heat transfer for the entire engine and gearbox.

Up to 1998 passenger car oils had been used as the base for many motorcycle oils. As car technology evolved over the years the oils that cars needed, changed and additives were added that weren’t good for motorcycle engines especially motorbike clutches and gearboxes, mainly due to the fact that, unlike most motorcycles, cars use a separate oil for the gearbox.

In 1998 the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization (or JASO for short) developed a grading system for motorcycle oils. The grading system measure an oils ability to resist clutch friction or slippage, the protection offered against engine wear and pitting in the gearbox.

Car oils had been blended using higher amounts of friction modifiers, which, although good for cars, wasn’t too good for motorcycles as these modifiers can cause clutches to slip at higher revs and gearbox pitting.

JASO introduced 2 ratings for 4 stroke motorcycle oils:

JASO MA 
This was the standard for single unit engines where the wet clutch, gearbox and engine used the same oil. JASO-MA oils don’t contain friction modifiers.

JASO MB 
This is for motorcycles fitted with an Automatic transmission (Scooters). MB lubricants can be formulated with friction modifiers to contribute to greater fuel economy in Automatic Transmission (Scooter) applications.

Modern motorcycles usually have the same oil lubricating the engine and the wet clutch. For this purpose, most of the time the many regular friction modified engine oils are not good enough. To make sure that the right oil is used motorcycle manufacturers usually require the oil to meet one of the JASO standards.

The Penrite Motorcycle range is now available at most leading stockists, Find your local store by clicking here.

Looking for more Technical Information? Please click on "Technical" at the top of the page. To talk to the Tech Team call 1300 PENRITE (M-F 7:00am - 5:30pm AEST) or email tech@penriteoil.com.au

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