Can I use a car oil filter on a motorcycle?

Can I use a car oil filter on a motorcycle?

Again, there’s no difference between a car oil filter and motorcycle oil filter. As long as you find one with the correct specs, you are safe to install that on your motorcycle – despite it being marketed for cars.

Is there a difference between car oil and motorcycle oil?

Car engine oils contain friction modifiers and are formulated with the aim of reducing friction between moving parts in order to provide good fuel economy and efficiency. Motorcycles, on the other hand, use the same oil for both the engine and the gearbox.

Are oil filters all the same?

You will want to check with your vehicle’s manufacturer to make sure, but typically any automotive filters that are made for modern vehicles can be used with any type of oil. Every major motor oil manufacturer says you do not need a special or different oil filter when using synthetic oil.

Are oil filters specific to cars?

Oil filters are application-specific. Don’t think you’re getting better filtration by substituting a larger filter just because it fits the threads on your engine. It may have a different filter media, flow rate or bypass valve rating than the correct filter.

Can I use car oil in a 4 stroke motorcycle?

This is one of our most frequently asked questions and the simple answer is yes, as long as it does not say energy conserving on the label. Because cars need the extra mileage there are additives in the oil that is there to reduce friction.

Why is motorcycle oil different?

Typically, motorcycle oils have greater viscosity than the car oils. Motorcycles need higher viscosity levels to balance the wet clutch performance and transmission performance. Car oils prefer lower viscosity to provide smoother power transmission and better engine performance.

Is a bigger oil filter better?

A larger, smaller, or otherwise differant oil filter will offer no real benefits or gains. It will not prolong oil changes, it will not make the car go faster or use less fuel. But it will open the prospect of a failure into your cars lubrication system, how ever unlikely.

How important is oil filter?

Your car’s oil filter removes waste, too. It captures harmful debris, dirt, and metal fragments in your motor oil to keep your car’s engine running smoothly. Without the oil filter, harmful particles can get into your motor oil and damage the engine. Filtering out the junk means your motor oil stays cleaner, longer.

Can you use a car oil filter in a motorcycle?

What is extremely important to understand is that you should never use a car oil filter in your motorcycle. As similar as they may look, the engine, moving parts, as well as the lubrication system have completely different requirements when it comes to comparing cars and motorcycles.

Does motorcycle oil have friction modifiers?

So motorcycle motor oil does not contain the friction modifiers of a passenger car motor oil. The second area of concern for motorcycle motor oils is that they tend to shear (break down viscosity) more quickly than a typical passenger car.

What happens when motorcycle oil becomes contaminated?

In the unfortunate situation, this oil becomes contaminated, there are quite a few important engine parts that can get damaged. Needless to say, this can lead to expensive repairs. Even if you are using a high-quality motorcycle oil, you still need the filter to ensure that the oil remains clean and free of contaminants.

Can you use motor oil in a car transmission?

In a motorcycle, where the motor oil may lubricate the transmission, a motor oil that does not have the same level of friction modification (for fuel economy) of a typical passenger car motor oil will provide better transmission performance in terms of transmission lock-up and slippage.

author

Back to Top