Selenia Moto Rider anticipates the requirements and demands of the market, giving preference to a direct relationship with manufacturers for development on a co-makership basis of products that can bring together performance, reliability and respect for the environment.
Submitting its products every day to special tests on hi-tech mechanical units Selenia makes available and continuously renews its know-how to achieve the best results at all times and under all conditions.
International specifications
Lubricants for motor bikes have the following classifications and specifications:
- JASO specifications: the specifications of the “Japanese Automotive Standardizing Organization” were established in 1993 and for 2-stroke engines they are distinguished in order of severity, as FA, FB and FC. They certify the lubricating properties, torque, detergent capability, exhaust smoke and obstruction of the exhaust ports. In the case of oils for 4-stroke engines the JASO specifications MA and MB have been developed, which refer to API and ACEA specification levels and are distinguished by the different level of antifriction properties required.
- ISO specifications: these were issued in 1997 by the “International Standardizing Organisation” in order to indicate specifications valid for the manufacturers of two-stroke engines all over the world. ISO-L-EGB is aligned with JASO FB and ISO-L-EGC with JASO FC. ISO-L-EGD subordinates products to much longer and more stringent detergent capability tests.
- API specifications: these are subdivided into TA for engines up to 50cc, TB for engines between 50 and 125 cc, TC for engines between 200 and 500 cc and API TCW, TCW II and TCW 3 for outboard motors.
In the case of oils for 4-stroke engines, the reference specifications are the same as those used to test products for cars:
- API specifications
- ACEA specifications
Performance of lubricants
The formulation of specific products for motor vehicles involves substantial differences between products for 4-stroke engines and products for 2-stroke engines.
In the case of 2-stroke engines, the oil takes part in combustion and a formulation that makes the oil / fuel mixture homogeneous is necessary, especially after the introduction of premixing systems. In these types of engines the oil must perform other functions in addition to lubricating:
- It must reduce ashes to avoid aiding the formation of deposits on the piston or between ring and cylinder, which would cause wear and pre-ignition. This is why it is important for the oils for these engines to be ashless;
- It must reduce gas emissions, owing to the content of specific compounds in its formulation.
In the case of 4-stroke engines with clutch without oil bath and separate gearbox, the formulation is similar to the one for car engine oils. In the case of large-sized bikes in which oil bath clutches are becoming increasingly popular, current engine developments have given rise to considerable changes, with the introduction of packs of specific additives which allow the use of formulae without friction modifier.
Engine test rooms: the importance of specific tests
In the Selenia engine test room the engines of the different manufacturers are tested to choose the ideal lubricant for lubricating the moving parts.
The engine, usually the most representative of the range undergoes specifically targeted tests to reveal the critical operating aspects.
Scooter and motor bike engines undergo specialist tests as they require different operating speeds and cycles than other types of engines.
The motor vehicle possesses flexibility in use that must be simulated in the test room with combined routes and intermediate and high speeds.
Tests can last for hundreds of hours to simulate the oil change intervals in 4-stroke engines and critical aspects of “loss” lubrication in 2-stroke engines.
The bench tests are repeated several times to confirm the results and subsequent simulations on the road strengthen the results obtained.