What Happens If a Motorcycle is Low on Oil?

We all know how motorbike oil is crucial for your motorcycle. Have you ever wondered what happens if a motorcycle is low on oil? Here’s what happens when your motorcycle is low on oil. 

When your motorbike is low on oil, your motorbike piston and cylinder can overheat because of friction when running for a longer time. Because of friction, your motorbike will experience burnt clutch plates, defects in piston and cylinder, problems in shifting gears, increases in engine vibrations, and decreased engine performance. 

Let’s look at what it means and what you can do about it. 

While writing this post, I leave no stone unturned so you can know everything about the consequences which you will face when a motorcycle is low on oil. 

What Happens If a Motorcycle is Low on Oil? 

We all know how crucial motorbike oil is for your motorbike, thanks to oil advertisements. Now the question arises, what happens if a motorbike is low on oil? 

Before going deep into the topic, you should first understand the need for motorbike oil. 

Your motorbike engine works when the piston in the cylinder does up-down movement, and this movement causes friction which heats the engine. 

For reducing the friction, motorbike oil is inserted into the motorbike engine. 

Without a motorbike engine, your motorbike engine will experience overheating issues. 

Your motorbike will also experience burnt clutch plates, some severe defects in the piston and cylinder, and you will also experience an overall decrease in performance. 

And to avoid this, it’s better to change or insert motorbike oil at regular intervals. 

What to Do When Motorcycle Engines Overheat?

I mentioned some reasons why your motorcycle engine overheats. But how will you detect if your motorbike engine overheats or not? 

Although new motorcycles have a heat indicator that will indicate if there’s something wrong with your motorcycle engine. Still, it would be best to not rely on the indicator solely. 

Detecting engine overheating isn’t wrapping your head around something. You just need to focus on some signs.

The most significant sign of motorcycle overheating is the burning sound and extra smoke coming from the exhaust. Additionally, you’ll feel extreme heat on your feet while riding. 

If your motorbike engine ever overheats, then you must pull over your motorbike and wait at least 15 minutes to cool down the motorbike engine again. 

How to Prevent Motorcycle Engines Overheating:  

Engine overheating might cause some severe damage to your motorbike. Unfortunately, there’re many motorbikes ruined because of engine overheating. 

The best part is, you can prevent engine overheating. Here’re some ways through which you can avoid engine motorbike overheating. 

How to Prevent Your Motorbike Engine from Overheating: 
Check the oil level of your motorbike. 
Check the coolant level. 
Always use suitable oil for your motorbike. 
Check if any leakage is there. 
Check the radiator fan. 
Table Explaining Some Ways to Prevent Your Motorbike Engine from Overheating.

Check Oil:

Oil helps to reduce the friction between cylinder and piston. And in the absence of enough oil, the friction will cause overheating. 

It’s always better to check the oil level before going for a long ride. 

Suitable Oil:

It’s not always the lack of oil that overheats the motorbike engine. Unsuitable motorcycle oil could also hamper engine performance. It’s always better to put suitable oil which your motorbike engine demands.

Check Coolant Level:

As mentioned above, coolant protects the engine from overheating. It would be best if you check the coolant level every six months. 

Check Leakage:

If you always find a low level of coolant every two months, then you should focus on radiator leakage and see if the coolant is leaking or not. 

Check Radiator Fan:

If everything goes right and the motorbike is still suffering from overheating, then you shouldn’t forget to check the radiator fan before you miss the boat.  

What’re the Symptoms of Low Oil?   

So far, you understand some steps you should take to prevent overheating. Now the question arises what the same symptoms of low motorbike oil are. 

The most prominent symptom of low motorbike oil is engine overheating, mainly caused by friction between motorbike piston and cylinder. 

However, this is not the only sign you need to consider before concluding anything. The engine overheats for various reasons such as traffic jams, hot weather, etc. 

Another symptom of low motorbike oil is a burning smell you will experience while riding the motorbike for a longer time. Not only the burning smell, but you will also experience the whining sound from your motorbike engine.

Experts always recommend checking your motorbike engine if you see any symptoms with your motorbike. 

You can also check the oil level in your motorbike engine by dipstick; most of the motorbike dipsticks come with an indicator that will tell you the level of motorbike oil in the engine. 

Even new motorbike models come with an indicator that will tell you whether your motorbike is low on oil.

I highly recommend taking your motorbike to a mechanic if your motorbike engine produces unordinary heating and burning smell. 

The burning smell and sound are the most significant sign that your motorbike has already gone through enough destruction. And riding a motorbike further will only increase the destruction. 

Does using Wrong Type of Oil Makes Your Motorbike Overheat?

Sometimes the engine does not overheat because of low oil but because of oil type. Many of us don’t bother to cross-check the oil type the technician is using. Even some of us leave the whole oiling work to the technician. 

For instance, some technicians use mineral oil in the high CC engine and synthetic oil in the low CC engine. 

Using mismatched oil in your motorbike can harm your motorcycle engine instead of cooling it. 

Experts always recommend checking the oil level and its type before going for a long ride. And always remember telling the technician about your motorbike engine demand before you miss the boat. 

Here’s the recommended oil change frequency-time: 

Oil Type: When to Change Oil:
Synthetic oilAfter covering 8000 miles. 
Seme-synthetic oilWhen your motorbike covers more than 5000 miles. 
Mineral oilAfter covering 2000 miles. 
Table Explaining Some Oil Types With Time Duration to Change Oil.

Also, read my previous post where I discussed what is mineral oil and semi-synthetic oil, CLICK HERE to read.

Frequently Asked Questions:

What to do if your motorbike start to become overheat?

If your motorbike engine ever overheats, then you must pull over your motorbike and wait at least 15 minutes to cool down the motorbike engine again. 

Why checking oil level in your motorbike is crucial?

Oil helps to reduce the friction between cylinder and piston, and in the absence of enough oil, the friction will cause overheating, thus it always better to check oil level in your motorbike.

Why using suitable oil for your motorbike is crucial?

It’s not always the lack of oil that overheats the motorbike engine. Unsuitable motorcycle oil could also hamper engine performance. It’s always better to put suitable oil which your motorbike engine demands.

What’re some symptoms of low oil in your motorbike?

The most prominent symptom of low motorbike oil is engine overheating, mainly caused by friction between motorbike piston and cylinder. 

Does using wrong oil type can make your motorbike overheat?

Using mismatched oil in your motorbike can harm your motorcycle engine instead of cooling it, and thus experts always recommend checking the oil level and its type before going for a long ride.

Final Verdict: 

What happens if a motorcycle is low on oil? When your motorbike is low on oil, your motorbike piston and cylinder can overheat because of friction when running for a longer time. 

Because of friction, your motorbike will experience burnt clutch plates, defects in piston and cylinder, problems in shifting gears, increases in engine vibrations, and decreased engine performance. 

I’ve also mentioned some symptoms that you need to consider most when seeing whether your motorbike is low on oil or not.