Any engine needs engine oil to function correctly, but a simple motor for a motorcycle is one where this is especially true. However, engine oil doesn’t last indefinitely. Over time, it becomes thick, tarnished, shrinks in the column, and loses the chemical qualities that make it so crucial to the operation of your bike motor. Low oil levels can seriously impair the performance of your motorcycle’s engine, resulting, among other things, in overheating and, eventually, complete seizure.
Given that there are many indications that your motorcycle’s oil is low, we’ve listed the eight most typical ones here:
What are The Symptoms Of Low Engine Oil In Bikes?
1. Your Dipstick Indicates Low Oil
Most dipsticks feature an indicator at the end that lets you know if you need oil or not. If it indicates insufficient oil, you must immediately add more.
A dipstick is a metal strip that resembles a rod and lies in your oil pan as a knife does in a sheath. While most modern bikes require little maintenance and are far more dependable, many still call for riders to check their oil levels with a dipstick before each ride.
A gauge that alerts you when your oil is low is probably installed on a more recent motorcycle. You should never ignore that light, so if it turns on, stop whatever you’re doing and immediately give your bike some oil. Your dipstick indicates low oil.
2. Your Oil Is In Poor Shape
Your oil will decrease in the column if it is in poor condition owing to pollution, coagulation, etc. Therefore, after testing your level using the techniques described in the previous section, one crucial early indication of low oil to be aware of is found by looking at the state of your oil.
Fresh oil has a transparent, golden hue. It gets darker and thicker as it circulates through your engine, heating up and cooling down until it turns scorched-black and syrup-thick when used beyond a certain point.
A good indication that your motorcycle’s oil is low and past due is burned or tainted oil. Rub your finger up and down on the dipstick until oil is transferred to your skin to check the condition of your oil. Check the oil with your fingertips as you rub them together for dirt, filth, or other gritty elements. Oil deteriorates with use, not necessarily with time; mileage, how hard you’re ripping, and the harshness of the environment while you ride the motorcycle all impact how quickly your oil burns and loses its valuable properties. At least once every month, and while you’re riding hard or through dusty conditions, check the state of your oil with your fingers.
3. The Check Oil Light Remains On
A gauge that alerts you when your oil is low is available on newer motorcycles. Your motorcycle’s check oil light turning on indicates that the oil level is inadequate. Recheck your oil level in the two areas above as soon as the oil light comes on. And circumstance. If it’s only low on oil, top it off and see how long it runs. Change the oil and filter before refilling if it is burned and black.
4. Your Oil Hasn’t Been Changed In A While
If it has been more than a month since you last changed the oil on your motorcycle, you should check the oil. Depending on the make, model, and motor type, manufacturers offer different spec service intervals in the owner’s manual, including different frequency oil changes. Your motorcycle’s oil won’t run out in the future if you check it every week and get ready to change it as recommended by the manufacturer.
5. The Engine On Your Bike Makes Metallic Clanking Noises
The following symptom may be simpler to spot for people who frequently ride their motorcycles and are familiar with their vehicles. If your motorcycle is making unusual noises, such as metallic noises that are louder than usual, it may be due to low oil.
The lubricating layer of protection provided by clean oil sits between the metal engine parts and the high-revving, hard-working parts. Your engine will sound tight and clean when your oil is new and at the proper amount. Your engine parts lose their protective layer of lubrication when your oil level drops, causing them to run together and make a louder-than-normal cacophony of metal clanking.
Note: Metal clanking is always a symptom of a significant problem that can cause severe damage, even though there are other potential explanations for unusual and loud engine noises than low oil. We advise halting riding and visiting a specialist immediately if you hear strange engine noises, mainly metal on metal.
6. Your Engine Is Running Hotter Than Usual
Your bike may be low on oil if your engine is overheating to the point where it is operating noticeably hotter than before. Some bikes have a temperature gauge that alerts you when your ride is getting too hot. Even more up-to-date motorcycles come equipped with a digital engine temperature gauge.
Even while an overheated engine is always a significant problem, fixing the issue is essential if your motorcycle is air-cooled. In hot weather or after sitting idle in traffic for too long, an air-cooled motorbike engine may overheat; this is another reason to pull over and check your oil level immediately.
Check your oil level as soon as you realize your engine is heated to prevent harm to the engine components.
7. As You Ride, You Can Smell Burning Metal
The smell of burning metal is another relatively severe indicator that your motorcycle needs more oil. If you have ever been in a space where a welder or caster is heating metal, you are familiar with the odor. Immediately pull over and activate the kill switch if you notice the welding metal smell while driving. If low oil is at fault, you must immediately top off your oil levels and wait for the bike to cool before riding it again. The smell of burning metal may result from your engine’s pistons fusing or binding. If you don’t take care of this immediately, you’ll soon experience the most severe low-oil symptom.
8. If The Clutch Or Engine Fails, The Motorcycle Won’t Start
As we previously stated, the symptoms become more severe as you move down the list. The last indication that the oil in a motorbike engine is low is a seize-up if all the other symptoms have been ignored.
- The motorcycle’s engine contains channels that let oil move, which was needed for proper cooling and lubrication.
- While the pistons are turning, some oil sprays up onto them to lubricate and cool them.
- Some channels transport the oil to the top end to lubricate the cam timing chains and valves.
- On many motorcycles, the engine oil also serves as the transmission lubricant because it is transported into the gearbox to coat the clutch plates.
- These vital parts may rub against each other, heat up, and fuse if you ride your motorcycle for a long time with low oil levels.
- If your pistons weld to the cylinder walls, they will seize up and stop your engine from operating, instantly killing your bike.
Maintaining the right motor oil level is essential to prevent your motorcycle’s pistons from seizing, damaging your crankshaft, valves, and connecting rods, and causing transmission failure. A seized engine needs to be extensively overhauled or replaced; therefore, experts advise checking your bike for low oil levels by looking for symptoms higher up on this list.
