How to Choose the Right Motor Oil

  • Four-stroke Motor oils have two main characteristics: SAE viscosity index and API Performance Classification


Viscosity index
The viscosity of an oil can be thought of as how thick or thin the oil is, or as oil’s resistance to flow and shear. Oil viscosity must be high enough to maintain a lubricating film, but low enough that the oil can flow around the engine parts under all conditions. Thicker oils generally have a higher viscosity, and thinner oils a lower viscosity. This is the most important property for an engine. An oil with too low a viscosity can shear and loose film strength at high temperatures. An oil with too high a viscosity may not pump to the proper parts at low temperatures and the film may tear at high rpm. Motor oil must be able to flow adequately at the lowest temperature it is expected to experience in order to minimize metal to metal contact between moving parts upon starting up the engine.

Resistance to thinning with increasing temperature is called viscosity index. A higher viscosity index indicates the viscosity changes less with temperature than a lower viscosity index.

Motor oil viscosity is rated according to SAE standards. SAE classification consists of two figures where „W“ stands for winter. This means that the first number in the oil classification refers to a cold weather viscosity and denotes cold start characteristics of the oil. The lower this number is, the less viscous your oil will be at low temperatures. For example, a 5W motor oil will flow better at lower temperatures than a 15W motor oil. Second number in SAE rating refers to hot weather viscosity, or how fluid your oil is at hot temperatures. The higher the number, the thicker the oil at a specified temperature. The more resistant is oil to thinning, the higher the second number is (10W-40 versus 10W-30 for example) and that's good.

Maxima oils are premium multi-grade all-season oils specially developed for motorcycle, ATV and UTV engines, and allow safe everyday use in all climatic conditions and temperatures.


API Performance Classification
The next „code“ to look for in oil labeling is the API Performance Classification. The API service classification is a two-letter code starting with either an "S" for gasoline engines or a "C" for diesel engines. The second letter in the API classification effectively speaks to the model years the engine oil was formulated to serve. As an example, the first API service classification was "SA" and these oils were designed to meet the requirements of engines built prior to 1930. The API SA service classification was then followed by SB, SC, SD, SE, SF, SG, SH, SJ to its current level of API SL (in case of Motorcycle, ATV and UTV specific oils).

Choosing the right Motor Oil
When choosing a motor oil for your machine it is important to follow the grade and type of oil recommended by your manufacturer. Viscosity grade and API classification recommended for your engine you´ll find in your Owners manual. While API ratings should be strictly followed (or slightly exceeded if you want), picking up the viscosity of oil is your task according to the expected ambient temperatures your vehicle will be operated. Most vehicle manufacturers indicate recommended motor oil viscosity grades based on the outside temperature in Owner´s manuals.

Synthetic oil vs. mineral oil
Most riders know that synthetics motor oils typically outperform mineral motor oils in providing more protection for engine, but they might not know why. Here are some differences  between synthetic and mineral oils:

Synthetic oil:

  • Superior fluidity within whole temperature range and thus improved fuel economy
  • Protects the engine better at high temperatures
  • Flows better in low temperatures and thus guarantees:
    • Problem-free cold starts
    • Much better fuel economy at cold starts and short trips
    • Synthetic oil reaches all lubricating points more quickly in cold temperatures thus significantly reduces engine wear during cold starts and drive-aways.


Additional benefits of synthetic oils:

  • Smoother engine running
  • More power
  • Better resistance to aging
  • Increased engine life
  • Higher thermal stability
  • Less carbon deposits buildup.
  • Keeps your engine including pistons and piston rings cleaner


Mixing Engine Oils
Generally, there are only two types of motor oils on the market - mineral and synthetic. To make it simple, all engine oils can be mixed, synthetics with minerals, one brand with another, one weight/grade with another too. If you add a different brand of mineral oil to the existing mineral oil in your engine, you will just get more mineral oil. If you add a different brand of synthetic oil to the existing synthetic oil in your engine, you will just have more synthetic oil. If you mix mineral and synthetic oil, just will get blend of the two - semi-synthetic oil.
The only thing you should take care is to mix oils of the same API classification („SJ“ oil with „SJ“ oil), and then you can only change the final ratio of SAE weight/grade.

Adding aftermarket additives into engine oil
We do NOT recommend using any type of aftermarket oil additive in your motor oil!