Choosing the Right Motorcycle Engine Oil: What Do SAE 10W-30 and SAE 20W-50 Mean?

When a motorcycle engine operates under extreme thermal and mechanical stress, which can result from variations in climate and speed, the correct choice of lubricant becomes a matter of survival. Preferring a low-quality engine oil or one not recommended by the OEM can have adverse effects, such as accelerated wear of internal components, deterioration in the oil’s hydrodynamic film stability, and even engine failure.

While choosing a motorcycle before buying is usually a hot topic of discussion, the same isn’t the case for its engine oil. Beyond the labels, it’s the properties like quality, grade, viscosity, composition and thermal stability of the oil that matter the most when picking up the most suitable motorcycle engine oil.

So, let’s cut through the sludge (pun intended) and learn more about how to choose the right engine oil for your motorcycle and also about two of the most popular lubricant grades – SAE 10W-30 and SAE 20W-50:

Why Choosing the Right Motorcycle Engine Oil Matters

While choosing the suitable engine oil for your motorcycle, there is a wide array of advantages that you can’t ignore, which are as follows:

Reducing friction and wear

A suitable motorcycle engine oil is capable of forming a compelling hydrodynamic film between the crucial internal engine components, such as pistons and crankshafts. This film minimises the metal-to-metal contact between these moving components, thus reducing their abrasive wear and chipping.

Better thermal management

Due to the combustion of the air-fuel mixture at higher temperatures, the frictional forces between the moving components also generate a significant amount of heat. In such times, the engine oil serves as a coolant, if not wholly, by absorbing excessive heat generated from the surfaces of the internal engine components that come into contact.

Optimal transmission performance

In most modern motorcycles, the clutch and gearbox are integral components of the engine, with the engine oil also lubricating these transmission components. An engine oil with a suitable viscosity grade and JASO certifications helps prevent instances of clutch slipping, thereby improving efficiency and throttle response.

Control over sludge formation

 The right engine oil, with suitable viscosity grades and additives, also maintains optimal flow by reducing carbon deposits and sludge formation between the engine passages and over its internal components. Due to this, the oil flows more smoothly, resulting in enhanced engine performance and extending engine life.

How to Choose the Right Motorcycle Engine Oil

Check Your Owner’s Manual

• Every motorcycle manufacturer specifies the use of suitable engine oil and its viscosity grade to be used in its models, as mentioned in their owner’s manual.
• Check for the API (American Petroleum Institute) or JASO (Japanese Automotive Standards Organisation) ratings of the recommended engine oil mentioned in it. The mention of these standards on the engine oil’s packaging, especially JASO standards, bring out the best from your motorcycle’s engine.

Consider Your Riding Style and Climate

• Before choosing the right engine oil, be aware of the thermal and mechanical loads in which your motorcycle will be in use.
• You should opt for fully synthetic engine oils for aggressive riding requirements or high RPM usage, preferred for motorcycles with high-performance engines.
• Riding in hotter regions requires motorcycle engine oils with higher to ensure effective lubrication at higher RPMs, They are less prone to breakdown at elevated temperatures, helping maintain optimal engine performance.
• On the other hand, engine oils with lower viscosity are preferable for colder areas, facilitating cold startups and reducing engine wear in such conditions.

Understand the Types of Engine Oil

• Engine oils are primarily of three types – conventional (mineral), semi-synthetic and fully synthetic.
• Select mineral oils only for budget-friendly, entry-level commuter motorcycles that undergo moderate thermal stress.
• High-performance motorcycles usually require fully synthetic engine oils composed from advanced base stocks for best possible oxidation resistance and shear stability in extreme riding conditions.
• Mid-capacity motorcycles can run on semi-synthetic engine oils, offering a balanced performance with better control over sludge formation than mineral oils, but at a significantly lower cost than that of a fully synthetic oil. 

Know the Oil Grades and What They Mean

• You should know the significance of characters used in the grade of motorcycle engine oil, as per defined by SAE J300 standard.
• For example, it is an SAE 10W-30 engine oil. In this case, the first number and the letter following it (10W) denotes the ability of oil flow at lower temperatures, facilitating cold starting by reducing cranking resistance.
• The second number following it (30) signifies the maximum viscosity of the oil at usual operating temperatures, indicating the lubricant’s capacity to maintain thickness levels even at those temperatures and load conditions.
• The higher this second number, the thicker the engine oil will be, ensuring proper oil flow in extreme temperatures and load conditions.

SAE 10W-30 vs SAE 20W-50: What’s the Difference?

As specified under SAE J300 standards by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), SAE 10W-30 and SAE 20W-50 are distinct grades of motorcycle engine oil, each with unique properties and specific use case scenarios. The primary element of differentiation is in the oil’s behaviour in cold-starting conditions and performance at higher temperatures.

Characteristics of SAE 10W-30

• Cold start efficiency: A SAE 10W-30 engine oil has a lower winter rating, which ensures better viscosity in cold crank conditions, thereby improving the oil's pump ability at lower temperatures.
• Lower operating viscosity: Thinner in nature, this engine oil grade remains stable when hot and claims reduced engine drag between rotating internal engine components, resulting in improved fuel efficiency.
• Suitability: A SAE 10W-30 lubricant is best for entry-level motorcycles that are primarily used for short-distance commutes or in colder regions.

Characteristics of SAE 20W-50

• High-temperature protection: As the figures suggest, this engine oil exhibits improved high-temperature high shear viscosity at higher operating temperatures, which reduces metal-to-metal contact under extreme loads and stress.
• Cold flow limitations: Due to its 20W rating, which provides higher resistance in low ambient temperatures than 10W oils, it remains thicker in freezing temperatures, making cold starts difficult. This is why it is more suitable for motorcycles used for heavy-duty or high-speed riding.
• Suitability: A SAE 20W-50 engine oil is also more suitable for slightly older engines, particularly air-cooled engines that operate at higher temperatures than liquid-cooled engines and require excellent thermal stability.

Which Motorcycle Engine Oil Should You Choose?

When it comes to motorcycle engine oils, the right choice often depends on riding style and climatic conditions. Riders can typically choose between SAE 10W-30 and SAE 20W-50 viscosity grades. A modern lubricant available in both these grades is Havoline MAX 4T, with Havoline MAX 4T SAE 10W-30 now readily available in the market. Positioned as a value-oriented offering, Havoline MAX 4T delivers the advantages of a premium 4T engine oil, powered by its C.O.R.E.+ technology—a proprietary additive system that provides:

• Cleans and protects

The high-performance detergent-dispersant additives used in the formulation of Havoline MAX 4T oil minimise the carbon deposits over the engine’s components and passages. This results in cleaner combustion chambers and oil galleries, leading to smoother oil flow and extended service intervals.

• Oxidation stability

The antioxidants and base stocks used in the formulation of Havoline MAX 4T lubricant give it better oxidation resistance, while reducing volatility losses and oil thickening at higher temperatures.

• Reduces engine heat damage

Since it is available in both viscosity grades, Havoline MAX 4T engine oil maintains its film strength across a wide range of temperatures. Due to this, it prevents scuffing and abrasion of the internal engine walls caused by continuous operation at higher temperatures.

• Enhances acceleration

With its JASO MA2 certification, the Havoline MAX 4T prevents clutch slipping, resulting in consistent torque transfer, smoother gearshifts and better throttle responsiveness.

Conclusion

Modern motorcycle engines are formulated to perform excellently in all climatic conditions and at varying speeds. However, this optimality in its performance depends a lot on the type of motorcycle engine oil it runs on, and that’s where engine oils with different grades come into effect. Both SAE 10W-30 and SAE 20W-50 have varying properties and benefits, enhancing the performance of a motorcycle engine in climates and operating temperatures poles apart.

So, before scanning the grade imprinted on the engine oil bottle, be aware of your riding conditions, and based on them, select one of them. Either way, the Havoline Super 4T is at your rescue, which is available in both these grades.

FAQs

Which is better for bike oil, SAE 10W-30 or SAE 20W-50?

Both these motorcycle engine oils perform optimally in different conditions. While SAE 10W30 is perfect for cold starting and riding in colder regions, SAE 20W50 engine oil is more suitable for riding at higher speeds or under heavy loads.

What oil is thicker, SAE 10W-30 or SAE 20W-50?

Compared to SAE 10W-30, the SAE 20W-50 engine oil is thicker, making it more viscous, especially at higher temperatures.

What happens if I use SAE 20W-40 instead of 10W-30?

Using SAE 20W-40 engine oil instead of SAE 10W-30 in normal temperatures doesn’t make much of a difference. However, as it remains thicker in colder temperatures, it makes cold starts difficult for motorcycles. Additionally, if the engine is new (low mileage), you may lose the benefit of fuel efficiency.

How many km to change motorcycle engine oil?

It depends and varies according to the specifications mentioned by the manufacturer for a motorcycle. The engine oil replacement for synthetic oil is less frequent in comparison to that for conventional (mineral) oil.