Today, from young men and women to elderly people are riding scooties as a means of affordable personal transport. And something as important as scooty in a family needs care to keep on providing services for years to come. Thus, as an owner, you should know which type of scooty engine oil is good and at what price they should buy it. 

To actually evaluate the scooty engine oil value, you need to consider the Cost Per Kilometre (CPK). For example, an ordinary engine oil might be cheaper, but you will need to change it more often. 

In this blog, we will discuss in length the necessity of knowing CPK and how to evaluate engine oil based on the price-to-performance ratio.

Scooty Engine Oil Cost Vs Performance

As mentioned before, CPK or Cost Per Kilometre is used to evaluate how much performance you are obtaining according to its price. Thus, if you opt for cheaper scooty engine oil, you will need to change the oil sooner. To put into perspective, the cheaper oil might need to be changed every 2,500 km, while a premium oil will need to be changed every 5,000 Km. Depending on your usage, going for the premium oil could prove to be more economical. Moreover, different types of oil are available at different price points, which also offer varying performance benefits and longevity.

In our country, scooty engine oils start at ₹300 for an 800ml to 1L pack to almost over ₹1000. Furthermore, you will get different types of oils at different price ranges. For example, mineral oils, which start from ₹300 – ₹450. Or, if you move up a ladder, you will find semi-synthetic oil for ₹450 – ₹600. Fully synthetic oils are the most expensive in the segment, starting at ₹600 and crossing well over ₹1000; however, they also provide the best performance and longevity.

Among all these different factors, you also need to take the brand reputation into consideration. There are a plethora of brands that vary in both price and performance. Thus, you need to look into their reputation for their product, their pricing for each viscosity grade and ultimately their price-to-performance ratio. But to make such decisions, you also need to know scooty engine oil better. 

Knowing Your Scooty Engine Oil

To start with, there are mainly three types of scooty engine oils, and they have different prices and performance depending on their composition, so let us discuss them in detail. 

Understanding Mineral Oils

The first on the list is mineral engine oil, which is derived directly from refined crude petroleum. These scooty engine oils are the most affordable among the bunch, which also makes them popular in the country. Thus, they are compatible with most of the old scooty engines as well. 

Apart from being cost-effective, they are usually good for scooties for low mileage or those driven in mild conditions. However, they are also less stable in extreme temperatures and break down easily under intense load. They also have a much shorter range, somewhere around 2,500 – 3,000 km. This makes them only suitable for older scooters or those used sparingly for very short, non-strenuous rides. Therefore, scooties with newer engines or people who drive more often cannot reap any benefits from using mineral engine oil.

Benefits of Semi-Synthetic Engine Oil

Mineral oil might be more compatible, but it is not suitable for more demanding drivers, and for them, semi-synthetic engine oil is a better option. This scooty engine oil is a blend of mineral oil and a synthetic base oil, which is somewhere around 5% to 30% synthetic. This oil is the right balance between performance and affordability. Furthermore, it is more suited for newer engine models by offering better protection against wear and tear inside the moving parts of the engine. 

Moreover, they are also more stable under extreme temperatures and less prone to breakdown. They also provide longer drain intervals, which are typically 3,500 – 4,000 km. This makes semi-synthetic engine oil the best companion for the vast majority of modern, BS6-compliant commuter scooters used for daily city riding. However, unlike fully synthetic oil, they cannot offer the same peak performance or better engine life extension benefits.

Is Fully Synthetic Scooty Engine Oil the Best Option Available?

Fully synthetic oil is the most premium scooty engine oil available in the market, but for good reasons. They contain zero crude mineral oil, but instead, they are composed of high-quality chemicals made in a lab. Thus, they have an incredible lubrication property that fully protects your scooty engine. Not only that, the oil is extremely stable under both cold and hot temperatures, making it less prone to breakdowns.

Apart from lubrication, the oil also provides great protection against the daily wear and tear and reduces the friction between the moving metal parts substantially. Fully synthetic oil also improves fuel efficiency by making the engine work smoothly for a longer period, as well as offering the longest drain intervals, about 5,000 km or more. However, as mentioned before, such benefits also make them the most expensive option, which can be overkill for a very small, short-distance commuter scooty. Therefore, this oil is recommended for commuters who run for longer distances.

Viscosity Grade Also Determines Scooty Engine Oil Cost

Another factor that considers the price of scooty engine oil is its viscosity grade. The most common range of viscosity grade in the country is 10W-30, where the ‘W’ stands for winter, indicating the oil's flow in cold temperatures. The lower the number before the ‘W’, the better the flow at the start-up. Knowing the viscosity grade is very crucial for quick lubrication and engine protection in colder weather. On the other hand, the number ‘30’ indicates the oil's thickness at operating temperature at 100°C.

Furthermore, in the premium section of the market, you may also find scooty engine oil with a viscosity grade of 5W-30. Which offers marginally better performance, but it is more expensive due to specialised formulation for better cold start protection. However, this is a minor improvement that is only better for more hardcore riders, as 10W-30 is more than enough for most commuters. Just remember one thing, that you do not compromise on the viscosity grade as it is responsible for maintaining the health of the engine.

Conclusion

So, when you are out in the market looking for the best scooty engine oil, you now know what to look for. However, for a better understanding, let us summarise the things you need to consider. First, ensure your priority, do you own an old scooty and use it for small trips, then opting for mineral engine oil is more than enough. Using this oil will save you money; however, you will not have a better experience for more intensive loads. 

On the other hand, for most people, semi-synthetic scooty engine oil is better suited; it is a bit more expensive than mineral oil, but it is better for most modern scooty engines. But, if you are an intensive commuter, you can look at the fully synthetic oil, which offers better performance but at a much higher price. Lastly, keep the viscosity grade in mind to have peace of mind during the winter season.