The engine is an integral part of any vehicle and it should be routinely checked and maintained to avoid damage. The same applies to a motorcycle engine. Regular maintenance, even done by yourself at home, can save you a lot of time and money because you will be able to prevent the most commonly occurring engine problems.
Here are the most important steps for motorcycle engine maintenance:
Changing the oil
The oil’s function is to lubricate the various parts of the engine and you will need to replenish it with time. So if you don’t have enough oil in your engine you risk severe damage. Check the oil tank regularly to see if you still have enough. It also reduces engine noise so if you notice that your motorbike is louder than usual one of the possible causes is not enough oil.
The oil will also get dirty over time because it soaks in dirt particles that get inside the engine when driving. Running on dirty oil is highly inefficient as it increases fuel consumption and is in general detrimental to the engine’s health. Each motorcycle’s manual should specify how often the oil should be changed. It is commonly somewhere around two times a year or every 3000 miles.
Cleaning the internal parts of the engine
No matter how carefully you drive it is inevitable that with time, your engine will become dirty due to oil build-ups or dirt and mud from the road. It is crucial to not allow clogging to become too bad to avoid having to have your motorcycle serviced.
For this, you will need help from cleaning products created specifically for engine cleaning. One of the best ones available comes from SeaFoam. It will take care of all your engine maintenance needs. The SeaFoam carb cleaner treatment cleans not only the carburetor passageways but also the fuel tank, the intake valve, and gets rid of any dirt deposits. It also lubricates the engine and stabilizes fuels when added to the fuel tank. The SeaFoam treatment is an excellent product for overall engine maintenance. It works best on most small engines like motorbikes, scooters, or lawnmowers but some people have successfully used it in their car and boat engines.
Replacing the air filter
The air filter’s purpose is to keep dirt and debris from falling into your engine system while driving. To do that, an air filter has small pores that will do a great job not letting unwanted stuff in but that means it clogs up easily. A clogged air filter stops air from going in and circulating in the engine. This can cause damage to the engine and will surely increase the fuel consumption.
Each motorcycle’s manual specifies when the air filter should be replaced. Depending on the vehicle, finding where the air filter is can be tricky though. Sometimes you will need to remove some other internal parts, like a gas tank, to gain access to it. Always refer to the manual to make sure you do everything correctly.