Replacing Engine Oils During Winters - What You Need to Know!

Posted on: Dec 23, 2021 | | Written by:

Replacing Engine Oils During Winters - What You Need to Know!

Published on December 23, 2021. EST READ TIME: 3 minutes

Bike rides can be fun during winter, thanks to the pleasant weather. But you might not be too enthusiastic if you live in a very cold place or are wary of fog and dewy roads. Basically, you might be planning to ride it less or stash it away for a while. In either case, you cannot ignore your bike’s usual maintenance. To be more specific, changing your bike’s oil and filter is essential during winter months. Ignoring this can affect the overall functioning of your vehicle. Read on to know why you need to change the engine oil in winter and other related issues. Also make sure that your insurance policy for bike is valid.

Here is a list of things that you should take care of:

• Type of engine oil

If your bike engine oil is very thin, it will fail to provide enough protection to your engine in winter. Again, an oil that is very thick and dense will prevent your bike from getting started. The thickness of the oil will not allow the battery and starter motor to help in the process of ignition. You need to select a suitable type of oil that you will find in the owner’s manual or from other sources. Even if it costs more, change to a good quality oil to avoid problems in the future.

• Oil filter

Take special care of the oil filter in winter. If the temperature falls below zero, the oil will thicken and look like syrup. When you start the engine, the oil pump will send cold and thick oil throughout the engine’s interior. It will also pass through the oil filter. There are different factors that affect the way in which the oil will pass through the filter. It will then lubricate the engine once the impurities get filtered out. The filtration process depends on three important technologies that the filters should contain. Construction of the filter helps in its performance, especially during winter. There needs to be the following designs in a filter:

• Structural integrity

When you start the bike in cold weather, there is an initial heavy pressure on the engine. This pressure will exert itself on the filter also, and if there is any weak point in the filter, it will get affected. If the filter is not able to withstand the pressure, the sealing ring can blow out. It can also result in a split crimp or a burst canister, ultimately causing problems in the engine. With premium quality oil filters though, you will not face these problems, although the price will be slightly high. These filters are built in such a way that they can undergo high pressure and are tested well before they enter the market.

Apart from these, you also need to keep the motorcycle clean. Clean your bike at regular intervals to keep it functional for a long time. Dust, grime, and all other particles that dirty your motorcycle, have a corrosive nature. If these things linger on the bike, they also affect the structural integrity of the surface on which they are present. Plastic components are less affected by them, but metal parts will degrade fast if you do not clean up.

• Internal valving

You will get special spring-loaded bypass valves from some brands. This is useful if you do not change the filter for a long time and it gets blocked with debris. The unfiltered, dirty oil can still flow to the engine and provide some lubrication even if it is less. Instead of a strong coil spring, some filter manufacturers may put in a cheaper substitute of spring steel. It may not return to its original shape after cycling. It can result in unfiltered oil throughout the period for which the filter is present and is harmful for the engine.

• Filter media

The most important function of a filter is that it should screen out the smallest particles and allow the uninterrupted flow of oil. The filter should not provide any resistance to the oil flow. Some of the highest quality filters have the capacity to hold almost 13 grams of debris or dirt. This is equivalent to around 31 standard size paper clips. But the flow of oil will continue.

To conclude, change the oil and filter of your bike in winter to help it function properly. Get fresh oil and new, premium quality filters even if it is a bit expensive. It will help you avoid bigger problems in future. Also, check whether your insurance policy for bike is active. Renew it on time to avoid fines and financial losses in case of any damage due to unforeseen events like accidents, fires, natural or manmade disasters and theft.

Disclaimer: The above information is for illustrative purpose only. For more details, please refer to policy wordings and prospectus before concluding the sales.

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