Motul has ISO 9001 certification and according to our quality procedure all products are guaranteed for a minimum of two years after their production date. To ensure the validity of this guarantee, a reference sample of each production batch is systematically kept and checked on a regular basis.

Most modern 4-stroke motorcycles have their engine, gearbox and wet clutch combined together in the same unit and as a result all three components are lubricated by the same common lubricant.

Technical constraints for the 4-stroke engine, gearbox and clutch are very much different so the 4-stroke motorcycle lubricant must meet all of these: from Fuel Economy and high temperature stability for the engine - to shear stability for the gearbox - to anti-slip properties for the clutch!

Japanese Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) are members of the Japanese Automotive Standards Organization, (JASO) who have drawn up specifications to avoid clutch slip problems and require motorcycle oils to have a given level of performance. These are referred to as JASO MA and JASO MB standards with different levels of friction to address these clutch requirements. All products in Motul 's 4-stroke motorcycle lubricant ranges are fully compliant with these JASO standards.

In a passenger car, the engine is separated from the gearbox and the clutch hence different lubricants are used which are specific for each mechanical component. For example, the engine oil in a passenger car can be formulated with a variety of friction modifier additives to achieve fuel economy benefits without causing any compatibility problem with the clutch. The gearbox lubricant is also specifically formulated to resist the very high shearing and contact pressures found when the gears are in operation.

This is why Motul are offering specific products for individual applications: whether it's for your 4-stroke motorcycle or passenger car. By choosing the right product, you're ensuring that the mechanical components of your bike or car are protected by a dedicated lubricant meeting the technical requirements set out by the Original Equipment Manufacturers.

A lubricant is said to be mineral when its main component, the base oils are coming from the refining of crude oil. Crude oil is being extracted from the ground at various locations across the globe. Crude oil is a fossil fuel and is made of various different components in a ratio that will vary from its geographical origin. One component of crude oil is mineral oil used for lubricants. The refining process will separate this component from the remainder. However this technique is a basic separation process and the resultant mineral oil is always a mixture of different components which have only similar physico-chemical characteristics. For this reason, lubricants based on mineral base oils have a limited performance with properties that also offer a limitation of protection of the mechanical application. In addition, mineral oils are fully dependent on the production of crude oil, which is a non-renewable energy.

Synthetic lubricants, on the other hand, are formulated with synthetic base oils. Synthetic base oils are produced from one or more chemical reactions (known as a "synthesis") between starting materials and reagents. This process is precisely controlled so that the desired synthetic product is achieved. This is a very versatile process in which a multitude of single products can be produced with bespoke characteristics.  Motul and its partners have developed the expertise to finely tune the chemical processes to achieve the best properties for a specific application. That is the reason why synthetic lubricants from Motul offer unrivalled performance and protection coupled with extended long drain intervals. In addition to this, synthetic base oils like esters, developed with Motul's unique technology, can come from sustainable, renewable and biodegradable starting materials making synthetic lubricants even more beneficial!

Nowadays, the terms 'semi-synthetic', and 'synthetic base', are overused. These terms are not regulated and therefore only a few drops of a synthetic base oil can be added to a mineral base oil to make it a "semi-synthetic". Obviously the performance and protection of such a lubricant will be more like a mineral product than a synthetic product.

Motul's Technosynthese® lubricants are made from a very special blend of different synthetic base oils which can also include esters and mineral base oils for optimizing performance, whilst considering market price implications. Many Technosynthese® lubricants can achieve the most demanding and stringent OEM approvals, which is a testament of their performance.

These are SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) viscosity grades that class 4-stroke engine oils in relation to their hot and cold viscosity characteristics. There are 2 parts to a "Multigrade" viscosity product:

• A cold grade, the "0W" or "5W" in the above examples. The "W" stands for "Winter". The numbers go from 0 to 25 and give an indication of the viscosity at cold temperatures. The 0W will have the lowest viscosity and the 25W will have the highest viscosity at cold temperatures.

• A hot grade, also called summer grade, the "40" or "30" in the above examples. The numbers go from 20 to 60 and give an indication of the viscosity under normal (hot) operating conditions. The 20 will have the lowest viscosity and the 60 will have the highest viscosity under normal operating conditions.

You should refer to the OEM's exact recommendations when choosing your engine lubricant.

4-stroke engine oils are compatible with each other and can be mixed. You can therefore safely use a quality Motul lubricant in your vehicle from now on.

Viscosity at hot temperatures was measured until quite recently at only 100 °C, which is not too representative of the temperatures reached today by the latest generation of engines. Therefore it was decided to also measure viscosity at 150 °C, and under a high shear rate, so as to really examine the ability of the lubricant. Hence what HTHS (High Temperature, High Shear) viscosity stands for.

The concept exists of High HTHS and Low HTHS: A low HTHS oil has a lower viscosity at high temperature (<3.5 mPa.s) than that of a so-called High HTHS oil (>3.5 mPa.s). Please note that the "mPa.s" is a unit to measure viscosity. This notion is important as it allows for the classification, on the one hand, of fuel economy oils having a low HTHS and, on the other hand, of high protection oils having a high HTHS.

The oil drain interval depends on the frequency of use of your car and also on the type of driving you do.

• For ordinary daily driving, you should follow the OEM's recommendations, either in your service hand book or on the in-car display.

• If you take part in track-days or performance meetings, you should shorten the oil drain intervals. Our technical hotline will be happy to discuss the possibilities according to your usage and driving style. 

• Similarly, if your engine has been modified or tuned, you can no longer follow the OEM's recommendations. In this case also, you should shorten the period between oil changes. Again our technical hotline can give you advice depending on the modifications you made to your car.

Oil consumption is a natural phenomenon in an engine, whether new or old. However, high consumption is probably more pronounced in engines that have been driven a greater number of kilometers/miles and have increased wear. Depending on the exact problem causing your high oil consumption, it can sometimes be reduced by altering the choice of your engine oil.
Changing to an oil that is more viscous than grade 40 when hot, such as 15W-50, 20W-50 or 15W-60 is more than likely to considerably reduce your oil consumption, without there being any risk to your engine.

Our 300V Motorsport range of lubricants is specifically formulated for racing applications. They are based around Motul's unique ESTER Core® technology which combines the best performing synthetic base oils including esters with bespoke dedicated chemical additives.

The result is unrivalled power increase, outstanding lubrication and optimal protection, the best conditions for ultimate victory! These lubricants have been developed for leading Factory Racing Teams Worldwide, but also have exactly the same availability to the general public!

8100 is Motul's top of the range passenger car engine oil based on 100% synthetic technology. These products meet the up to date and most demanding OEM engine oil approval requirements. 8100 lubricants are available in the latest and fuel-efficient 0W grades. 8100 lubricants are the safest way to keep your engine protected and operating the way it was designed to, fully compliant with the car's warranty, whether it is in stop-and-start traffic or at full speed on the motorways.

6100 is based around Motul's Technosynthese® technology. 6100 Products come with a multitude of official OEM approvals making sure you are using the right oil for your car. 6100 is designed to be price competitive without sacrificing on quality and performance. They are available in a wide range of popular viscosity grades.

Your engine probably has hydraulic tappets. At low temperatures, a 15W oil is too viscous to ensure the proper operation of such pushrods. You should therefore use a 10W-40 or 5W-40, depending on the OEM's recommendations – please refer to your handbook that came with the car or contact your nearest dealer.

The constraints on oils in these two types of engines are not exactly identical. In particular, the minimum performance levels differ regarding to the ability to keep the surfaces of the engine clean. Nevertheless, virtually all products of the Motul range largely exceed these minimum levels and therefore meet the standards and approvals for both petrol and diesel engines, for example ACEA Ax / Bx or API Sx / Cx.

Here, we touch on the SAE viscosity grade classification for manual gearboxes. It works in similar ways to the engine viscosity grade system for a 2 part "Multigrade" viscosity product:

• A winter grade, the "80W" which is an indicator of the viscosity at cold temperatures ("W" still stands for "Winter"). The numbers go from 70W to 85W with 70W having the lowest viscosity at cold temperatures and 85W having the highest viscosity.

• A hot grade, the "90" in the example above. Numbers go from 80 to 250 with 80 having the lowest viscosity at high temperatures and 250 having the highest viscosity.

Going back to the question itself, these difficulties are probably caused by using an oil that is too viscous when cold, preventing the synchromesh mechanism from working correctly. Changing to an oil with a 75W-90 viscosity grade should help to solve the problem, but always check the OEM's recommended viscosity grade as listed in the handbook of the vehicle prior to making any change.

Unlike with cars, the capacity of motorcycle oil sumps is generally limited given the low overall dimensions of a motorcycle engine. For scooters in particular, their capacity is often less than 1 litre and for some applications dry sumps can also be used. (this is when the oil sump is located remote from the engine).

Given these lower volumes of oil in motorcycles and the increased constraints put on the lubricant, such as higher temperatures, multiple lubrication (engine, gearbox and clutch) and extreme RPM - oil drain intervals are shorter for motorcycles than for cars.

However, we advise that In any event you should always refer to the OEM's recommendations for the correct oil change intervals.

300V Factory Line lubricants are especially formulated for the severity of racing applications.  Based around the Double-Ester technology, 300V Factory Line lubricants provide the best engine response and protection at very high temperatures and RPM, throttle feedback, clutch feel and ultimate gearbox protection.  Four viscosity grades are available for track/road applications with 100 % shear stability and constant oil pressure and two viscosity grades are available for off-road with optimal traction.  Developed  in close partnership with Worldwide Factory Teams, the 300V Factory Line range of lubricants are also available to the general public who demand only the best!

7100 is Motul's dedicated 100 % synthetic range of lubricants for modern high performance 4-stroke motorcycle engines. Ester technology and optimized additives ensure clutch compatibility, gearbox durability and power response from the engine. With a variety of viscosity grades to choose from, you can be sure to find the right lube for your bike and your riding style.
5100 is Motul's Technosynthese® range of lubricants formulated with esters. For the price conscious, you can still be sure that this range of lubricants is certainly not lacking in performance and protection.   They are especially formulated for the highest possible reliability for more general everyday use.

For sure, the requirements of a lubricant for normal everyday use of your motorcycle are entirely different from those of the demands of racing.

Motul 7100 and 5100 have been formulated so that you can meet the OEM's recommended viscosity and oil drain intervals without any issues under normal daily use conditions.

4-stroke engine oils are compatible with each other and can be mixed. You can therefore safely use a quality Motul lubricant in your motorcycle from now on.

We can only recommend that you mix two different brands or qualities of lubricant only if the two oils were designed for the same application (4-stroke engine oil for instance, but you can't mix a 2-stroke oil with a 4-stroke oil). However, make sure you comply with the minimum quality recommended by the OEM, bearing in mind that the quality of the mixture obtained will generally be closer to that of the lesser product, depending on the proportions.

Your engine probably operates with hydraulic pushrods. At low temperatures, a 15W oil is too viscous to ensure the proper operation of such parts. You should therefore use a 10W-40 or 5W-40, depending on the OEM's recommendations – please refer to your handbook that came with the bike or contact your nearest dealer.