If you want to maintain your bike in perfect condition, you need to change the oil before it gets too dirty. Changing the bike's engine oil is very important after a certain period to keep it in good condition. The good part is, it is not that difficult to change the oil.

The procedure to change the bike oil is pretty simple, and you do not even need to take it to a garage for this. It can be done quickly at your place. Engine oil helps the bike to help the internal components move better.

Basically, it absorbs the extra heat produced by the engine so that there is no engine seize risk. A seized engine is the worst thing ever that could happen to the bike. If it happens, you will be required to rebuild the bike engine instead of changing the oil.

How to Change the Oil in a 4-stroke bike?

To keep the bike in perfect condition, you need to change the oil often before it gets toxic. The period to change engine oil entirely depends on how hard you drive the bike. It depends on the speed because the engine's activity level shows how much dirt it may collect while functioning.

The standard time after which you should change the engine oil is after 3500 miles coverage. It is the average, but the frequency of changing oil depends on the type of engine oil, type of engine, and consistency. There are multiple types of engine oils in the market.

Every type has a different time limit about how long you should wait to change the engine oil. When we talk mainly about a 4-stroke bike, these bikes have a compartment for oil built in the engine. Oil is stored in this compartment and passes to the engine through several components.

The modern 4-stroke bikes contain one or two oil storage compartments. One compartment is for the engine oil and the other for the transmission oil. It is not complicated at all to figure out how many oil compartments are installed in your bike, as you only need to check the filler caps to know it.

How Often Should You Change the Oil?

Have a keen look at the factors mentioned below to know the right time to change a 4-stroke bike oil.

1. Inspect the Dirt in Oil

When the oil gets too dirty, it cannot function perfectly to prevent the engine from overheating. To make sure that the oil is toxic enough to change, check whether it looks gritty or not? If it seems gritty and dark, that's a clear sign that oil is now dirty enough to stop supporting the engine anytime soon.

When you notice a variation in color from golden brown to blackish means oil is getting dirty. Furthermore, when you observe tiny particles floating over the oil, the oil is dirty and must be changed.

2. Noisy Engine

While driving the bike, if you notice that the engine is making loud noises resembling metals rubbing together, take it as an indicator. It is the sign that there is something fishy happening inside the engine. When you clearly observe the engine's friction, know that that oil is no more effective to support the engine.

To prevent your engine from a more extensive loss, you need to change the oil on an immediate basis. There are times when oil is not dirty enough, but the friction is caused due to the low amount of engine oil. When it happens, you need to refill the engine oil instead of completely changing it.

3. Warning Flashlight 

The latest 4-stroke bikes come with a lot of smart features. One of those is the sensors installed in the bike to indicate problems with the bike engine. If you see the flashlight showing on the dashboard, you must check the engine oil for purity and oil levels. 

4. Oil Levels Lowering

We often wait for the engine oil to reach below the minimum level required for the engine to change it. Usually, the engine consumes more oil in a shorter period. The reason why it happens is due to the old oil presence.

The old oil makes the lubrication complicated and tends to lose the viscosity with time. As a result, it ends consuming more oil. In this situation, you need to change the engine oil.

Why is it Important to Change the Engine Oil?

The new engine oil acts as a purifier to eliminate the dirt formed in the oil. It also increases the performance of the engine and gives a better ride experience. Changing the oil on time also helps to prevent friction which usually happens due to overheating.

It also helps to avoid the risk of engine damage. When you change the dirty oil on time, it better impacts the engine's performance and reduces fuel consumption. 

Conclusion

Changing the oil of a bike when it gets dirty helps to enhance the engine's performance and gives a better ride experience. A 4-stroke bike usually has two compartments for oil storage. The latest 4-stroke bikes come with various smart features that help know the right time for an oil change.

Usually, the flashing light feature is enough indicator to tell it is the time to change the oil. Other than that, when you see the color change from light to the darkest tone, or the particles showing in the oil, you should change the oil. Not changing the engine oil at the right time may cause the engine to damage.

There is a risk of rebuilding the engine if the damage worsens due to not changing the oil on time. Here we have discussed the signs that give a message that these are the factors to keep in mind to change a  4-stroke bike oil.