GUIDE TO CHOOSING SCOOTER OIL: WHAT DO EXPERTS RECOMMEND?

Scooters can be worth tens or even hundreds of millions of VND. However, while owners often focus on appearance, maintenance and oil selection – factors that directly affect engine lifespan – are often overlooked. Here are important tips to help owners choose the correct oil and protect the “heart” of their scooter.

1. Maintenance and Proper Oil Selection – Key Factors for Vehicle Longevity

The true value of a scooter lies not only in its design but also in its durability and long-term cost efficiency. Two key factors to achieve this are:

• Timely maintenance
• Using the correct oil type for the engine

Owners should pay attention to unusual signs such as:

• Engine overheating
• Sluggish acceleration
• Noisy or hard-to-start engine
• Higher-than-normal fuel consumption

If these symptoms appear, check and service the scooter immediately to avoid serious damage.

2. How Often Should You Change Oil and Service a Scooter?

2.1 For New Scooters (Break-in Period)

• First oil change: After 300–500 km or about 1 month (whichever comes first) to remove metal shavings and contaminants from initial part friction.
• Second oil change: After 1,000–1,500 km or about 2 months.
• From the third change onward: Maintain every 1,500–2,000 km or every 2–3 months, depending on operating conditions.

TABLE – OIL CHANGE INTERVALS FOR 4-STROKE SCOOTERS

Standard Oil Capacity:

• Common scooters: 0.8–1.0 liters
• Premium/large displacement scooters (SH, Vespa, ADV…): 1.0–1.2 liters
  Follow manufacturer recommendations—avoid underfilling or overfilling to maintain lubrication efficiency.

2.2 For Older Scooters

• Healthy engine with quality synthetic oil: every 1,500–2,000 km.
• Harsh operation or weak engine: every 1,000–1,500 km.
• Worn engines: choose higher viscosity oil (10W-40 or 15W-40) for better protection.

Technical Tips:

• Do not delay oil changes—degraded oil loses lubrication, increases engine heat, fuel use, and wear.
• During servicing, also check the air filter and spark plug to maintain performance.

3. Why Scooters Need Special Oil

Unlike manual motorcycles, scooters use a CVT (belt drive, dry clutch, high RPM) → oil must:

• Resist high temperatures without degrading
• Have strong oxidation stability to prevent deposits and discoloration
• Maintain viscosity stability throughout use
• Provide optimal lubrication at high speeds

Using manual bike oil or low-quality oil in scooters can cause overheating, lower efficiency, and engine damage.

4. How to Read and Choose Oil Specifications

4.1 Oil Types

• Mineral Oil:
  • Derived from crude oil, few additives, low cost.
  • Pros: suitable for old/simple engines, affordable.
  • Cons: degrades quickly, poor high-temp resistance → short change intervals.
• Semi-Synthetic:
  • Blend of mineral & synthetic oils.
  • Pros: balance between performance & cost, better heat resistance than mineral, good for common scooters.
  • Cons: average lifespan, must follow change schedule.
• Fully Synthetic:
  • Man-made, rich in anti-wear & anti-oxidation additives.
  • Pros: superior heat stability, reduces friction, best engine protection, ideal for premium scooters.
  • Cons: higher price, but longer change intervals.

4.2 JASO Standards

• JASO MB: Low friction, fuel-efficient → standard for 4-stroke scooters.
• JASO MA/MA2: For manual/clutch bikes → unsuitable for scooters.

4.3 API Standards

• From low to high: SF → SJ → SL → SM → SN
• API SN: Latest, best protection, anti-deposit, fuel-saving.

4.4 SAE Viscosity

Example: 10W-40, 5W-40, 10W-50

• Number before W: cold viscosity, lower = easier cold start & fuel saving.
• Number after W: hot viscosity, higher = better high-temp protection.

Technical Recommendations:

• New/premium scooters (large engines, high RPM, tight tolerances): SAE 5W-30 or 10W-30, 5W-40, 10W-40 (prefer 5W-30/5W-40 for easy start & fuel economy). Use fully or semi-synthetic API SN/SP, JASO MB.
• Older scooters (looser tolerances, reduced power, heat or oil consumption): SAE 10W-40 or 15W-40, semi or fully synthetic, or mineral API SM/SL/SN, JASO MB.

TABLE – OIL VISCOSITY GUIDE FOR SCOOTERS

Quick Selection Principles:

• New scooters → lower viscosity (5W-30, 5W-40) for easy start & fuel economy.
• Old scooters → higher viscosity (10W-40, 15W-40) for protection & oil loss reduction.
• Always prefer API SN and JASO MB for 4-stroke scooters.

5. Benefits of Choosing the Right Oil

Short term:

• Smooth, cool engine, fuel savings.
• Reduced friction & deposits.

Long term:

• Extended engine life.
• Lower repair costs.
• Higher resale value.

In short, investing in quality oil is long-term savings.

6. Product Recommendation

DNS Scooter Ultra – Fully Synthetic Oil, JASO MB, API SN, SAE 5W-40.
Suitable for all scooters, heat resistant, fuel-saving, superior engine protection.

Contact for consultation & purchase:
GODIVA IMPORT EXPORT CO., LTD
Tax ID: 3603 891 859
K5, D3, Buu Long Residential Area, KP1, Tran Bien Ward, Bien Hoa City, Dong Nai Province, Vietnam
Phone: +84 966 234 518, +84 935 365 286
Technical Hotline: +84 936 909 096
Email 1: denisoilvietnam@gmail.com
Email 2: godiva268@gmail.com