FAQs
CARS - MOTOR OIL
1. First always check the vehicle’s handbook.
2. Always make sure that it corresponds to the international standards whether it is API (American Standards)/ ACEA(European Union Standards)/ JASO (Japanese Standards).
3. Check the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specification. For example If we take Volkswagen (VW), one of its OEMs is VW 505 00 or VW 502 or in the case of a Mercedes Benz (MB) an OEM can be MB 229.1, etc
4. Depends on the pump design regarding viscosity.
5. Depends on the brand of the manufacturer.
6. Depends on the age of the car (If the car is new please apply all the recommendations of the handbook).
7. Check if the vehicle works on gasoline or diesel.
8. For more questions, please ask the main distributor in Egypt for further details.
The main difference between mineral oil and synthetic oil is in their composition. This means that the composition of mineral oil is mineral base stock oil some additives while the synthetic base stock oil and the rest are additives according to the application. Techno synthesis is a mixture of mineral base stock oil and synthetic base stock oil.
Each type of oil can be used according to a specific application. There can be no denial for each type of product.
The number on the package illustrates the viscosity grade of the product you are purchasing.
XXW-YY
5W-40
5 indicates the viscosity at low temperatures or winter temperatures. Most of the kinematic viscosity measurements are @ 20°C.
W Stands up for operating in Winter conditions.
40 illustrates the viscosity at high temperatures. Most of the kinematic viscosity measurements are @ 100°C.
Note: The bigger the difference between XX and YY, the more stable the viscosity of the oil is.
From the 1940s till the late 1970s that used to be the problem. Each season had its functional oil lubricant usually known as mono-grade oil. Nowadays the technology has changed and most of the products are multi-grade oils, meaning you shouldn’t worry about changing your oil during the change of the seasons.
Motul is the first lubricant manufacturer to introduce multi-grade oils. Multi-grade oils are oils that meet the requirements of multiple grades where one can be that of winter (5W) and the other to be used during summer (40) so one can simply say it takes the benefit of both worlds to create the perfect blend.
Definitely no, as they have different viscosities and different mixtures and compositions. This might also spoil the pump as both products have different properties. But it may be used to clean the lubricant engine cycle just before the oil change or we can use Engine Clean additive from our portfolio.
The main advantages of using 100% full synthetic oils are:
• Easy starting-up – Much better driving comfort – Reliability
• Reduced oil consumption – Fuel economy
• Longer life Span for both engine and lubricant oil used.
• Detergency (the ability to clean the engine and keeping it clean)
Definitely worth buying a synthetic product. The price might be higher but for sure to have all these benefits and decreasing the cost of your vehicle’s maintenance which could be much higher than buying regularly a fully synthetic oil.
If the oil is stored under nominal conditions then the lubricant should be ok till usage.
The oil filter is recommended to be changed with every change of the oil to keep your engine as clean as possible from any particles that can damage the surface of the pistons.
If you add extra pressure on your tires, the tires can burst. Here can be applied the same theory as an increase in quantity can exert extra pressure on the lubricant circuit causing undesirable results.
In any lubricants, there are some additives that give a certain property for the intended application.
There are certain qualities when talking about additives in lubricants:
• Has a detergent and dispersant effect (meaning that it keeps the surface of the engine clean and neutralizes acids. Also minimizes the agglomeration of deposits).
• Good anti-oxidation: where the additive helps in slowing down the oxidation process and aging of the lubricant.
• Good Anti-wear: They reduce the wear between the moving parts of the engine.
• They are friction modifiers where they reduce the surface friction of lubricated parts thus saving energy and decrease fuel consumption.
Due to all the points mentioned above, one can understand why the color of the oil might change.
The cooling circuit from the radiator always passes by the circuit of the lubricants.
If the oil seal is overheated the rubber from the oil seal would deteriorate and could be damaged, thus giving the possibility of some coolants to be mixed with the lubricant causing undesirable results and could harm the environment. If so please check the circuit of the lubricant and cooler with a professional.
Motul is dedicated in its research to deal with the best lubricants for all moving parts. This is the specialty of the company. It doesn’t get involved in other processes. Motul is a leader when talking about synthetic technologies.
There should be two types of answers a) in case one buys the oil or b) one has already bought the oil.
• Check all the international standards and specifications.
• Check the OEM specifications in general. IF there is any confusion please ask a professional.
• Check if the base stock oil is synthetic or mineral.
• Check that the right viscosity is added.
The second part of the answer can be checked if you already have used the oil then:
• Check if the oil inside the vehicle or application decreased significantly, this could also happen if the wrong oil is used.
• Check if the viscosity changed this could also be an indication that the oil used is not compatible with the application.
• Also, check if the sound of the engine increased, If the sound increased or vibration increased more than normal when the engine is turned on it means that the moving parts are behaving uncommonly and the moving parts are in more contact with one another. Then try to check if you added the right oil. If so the reader can deduce that the lubricant oil for the engine added is of low quality.
• Also, check with the main Motul distributer in Egypt.
It is not always a good solution, you might need the help of a professional as it depends according to the situation. If the vehicle is brand new, it might not be that advisable as the moving parts have accommodated a certain amount of pressure. If the vehicle is old and the vehicle starts producing more noise than ordinary or more vibration then it is advisable to take it slightly to a higher viscosity as the gap between the moving parts and their parameters might have increased slightly during that period.
Motul is an expert when it comes to racing cars or vehicle applications. They are in demand high viscosity index (stability at the change of temperature). One of the highlighted qualities of these types of oils is the ability to resist permanent viscosity loss. (High-Temperature/High shear) meaning when severe mechanical stress at a high temperature can cause permanent reductions in oil viscosity and viscosity index. That’s why they are highly dedicated to race purposes.
CARS - TRANSMISSION OIL
There are many types of gears according to their applications. Transmission gears could be divided mainly into two categories Manual transmission gears such as (Sliding mesh, Synchromesh, Transaxle, Sequential) gearboxes and Automatic transmission gears such as (Automatic (Epi-Cyclic), Continuous Variable Transmission (C.V.T), Electronically automated standard transmissions such as (Auto-shift, Ultra-shift, freedom line (ZF), Mercedes Benz AGS Two pedal automated transmission, Direct shift gears (DSG) also known as Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT)).
To know exactly which type of lubricant to be used in your gearbox check the part number in the car or the manual book of the car. The manual book specifies what type of gear you have and you could decide comfortably what kind of lubricant you need from our company’s portfolio.
Respect exactly the OEM recommendations in the manual book. Recommendations could be given according to the type of gearbox and number of Km and type of gear oil used before. Also, according to the driving style of the driver.
This provides a smooth transmission from one gear to another having a pleasant, safe, economical, and smooth drive.
It would be advisable in general. MOTULEVO is a perfect match when it comes to transmission flush and transmission fluid change. There are numerous practical reasons why you should combine your transmission service with a transmission flush:
In a clean transmission, the fluid can develop its full performance and helps protect the transmission against premature wear and failure. Optimum lubrication makes gear shifting highly effective and comfortable.
If the shifting performance has deteriorated, a professional transmission service can solve or head off the following problems:
• Delayed shifting
• Improper transmission shifting
• Vehicle shaking under load
• Jerking during stopping and parking maneuvers
Also, is advisable if the gearbox is in good condition. Note the gearbox should be automatic transmission gearboxes, not manual gearboxes.
For further information ask our technical assistance in MTrade Egypt.
Please do not look at the color as different producers might have different competitive technologies to serve the desired function for a certain gearbox.
It is more important to know the type of transmission gearbox you have in your vehicle.
CARS - POWER STEERING OIL
It is possible, if you look at the power steering lid a small description is imprinted on the hood.
Also, always try to look at your car’s manual book. Do also make sure you have one as most new models use electrical power steering for the vehicles.
If the manual book isn’t clear enough about the interval of replacing power steering oil, then always try to be on the safe side by changing the hydraulic oil when you change the lubricants in your vehicle for safekeeping. Also, check the OEM recommendation.
In general, do change every [100,000 – 11,5000] km or when you clearly feel that the power steering isn’t responding smoothly to your command. Also, check with a professional.
CARS - BRAKE FLUID
It is advisable to check the manual book of your vehicle or check the manufacturer’s recommendation. Also, please note that the power steering hydraulic oil shouldn’t be used as a reference for your hydraulic brake fluids as they have different chemical compositions especially when it comes to hydraulic brake fluids.
100% synthetic brake fluid on the poly-glycol basis for all types of hydraulic actuated brake and clutch systems meeting DOT 4 and DOT 3 manufacturers’ recommendations.
For example DOT 3/ DOT4/ DOT 5.1 have very good thermal resistance and stability.
Brake fluids have the property to absorb humidity in the air, which reduces their boiling points and consequently security. The wet boiling point is representative of the fluid after one year of use. Perfectly neutral with seals used in braking systems. Anti-corrosion.
This can be according to the recommendation of the manufacturer or according to the information on your handbook. If no recommendations are made, always check when you change the lubricant oil in your engine. Also, check with a professional.
CARS - COOLANTS
There is no difference in the colors. They are just different dyes as brands want to be differCan I just add distilled or tap water to my radiator?ent than others. Each OEM chose a color to be differentiated. French OEMs chose green except for Dacia and Renault they chose yellow. As for the Japanese and Germany have chosen blue and pink respectively.
No, this can be harmful to your car. It can cause corrosion and a lot of rust can mix with the coolant. Also in the long run if there is rust in the system it can damage the engine. Please use a suitable coolant for your vehicle, and so avoiding unnecessary problems.
The main difference between a ready to use and a concentrated coolant is that for ready to use you can safely add the coolant without adding any distilled water while for concentrated coolant you should add distilled water. Usually, for one liter of coolant, you should use 1 liter of distilled water.
The coolant liquid is an anti-coolant and an anti-boil liquid. This means that these types of liquids should have a very high specific heat capacity (thermal isolator). Thus depending on weather conditions, coolants can vary in alcohol (anti-heat) and glycol (anti-freeze) percentages. According to the percentage we have we have certain protection.
Motul line of products offers different technologies, from conventional or classic technology to hybrid and OAT – Organic Acid Technology – that meets most OEM’s requirements on coolants, including the latest specification “G13” from VW. It is recommended to check the manufacturer’s choice or simply look at the manufacturer’s name on the package.
A traditional coolant contains mineral/inorganic inhibitors, such as phosphate, borate, silicate, nitrite, and nitrate, with some regional preference with regard to different combinations.
An organic additive technology (OAT) coolant contains only organic corrosion inhibitors, such as carboxylates.
Combinations of mineral and organic inhibitors can be divided into two other categories: lobrid for coolants with an OAT-backbone with some mineral additives added, and hybrid coolants for any other combination.
In general, OATs are better as they have additives for anti-corrosion.
Simply, don’t ever try to surpass the max level. This can be very dangerous as it can produce excess pressure that could cause a burst in the coolant system thus creating excess temperature in your engine and permanently damage your vehicle.
MOTORBIKES - MOTOR OIL
The main difference might be the size of the engine. In a motorcycle, the engine is packed and there are fewer frictional modifiers. It is known that when the size of the engine is smaller but highly performant, even higher than a regular vehicle, the moving elements in the engine are easily subjected to wear and tear. For most oil producers it might be difficult to keep the engine safe for a longer period without causing different types of wear (Impact wear, abrasive wear, fatigue, etc..). Another, specific constraint for the lubricant in motorbike is the wet clutch…
Indeed, in a motorbike, as the gearbox is integrated, it contains also the clutch. Due to its location, the clutch is working in the oil, and therefore, this will require the use of special oil compatible with the wet clutch.
Of course, it is easy to understand that the clutch must not slip within the oil sump, and therefore to guarantee the non-slippage of the clutch you need to use a lubricant having JASO MA performance specific constraint for the lubricant in motorbike now is the integrated gearbox.
Indeed, in a motorbike, you don’t have so much room to fit the engine and the gearbox as in cars for example.
Then, motorbike engines have their gearbox integrated which means the engine oil will be lubricating the engine and also the gearbox.
Therefore, the dedicated lubricant must be used to protect all the gears against wear.
In Motul the scientists have studied the best blend and the best viscosity for the various engine, transmission, and clutches ranges, to protect the engine for longer periods.
This depends on the type of motorcycle. In some cases, one can just use a dipstick like in a car to check the oil. In other cases, motorcycles (mostly Japanese) have a bull eye which simply indicates the level of lubricant oil. When it comes to 2-stroke engines, there might be a screw and one could check the oil by seeing the amount of oil covering the threads of the screw. In all cases, one should keep the motorcycle vertical to the ground try not to slightly tilt it as it might not give a correct reading and should be measured at working temperature (leave the engine working for 10 mins).
After warming the motorcycle for a while, please do the following steps:
• Release the nut under the lubricant oil container. You can find it near the oil filter in general.
• After the old oil has been drained and the oil filter changed please return the nut back in its place.
• Do not over squeeze it so as not to tear the oil seal.
• Add the oil from the top of the oil lubricant tank in an upright position (the two wheels are on a vertical plane to the ground).
• If the oil is at the maximum position, please run the bike for a few cycles and check the oil again.
• Repeat the process for a few times till the oil is at the desirable level.
This can happen due to the thin viscosity of the oil that could penetrate the air filter. If so please check if you have changed regularly your oil with the right viscosity grade. Also, check if the air filter was changed regularly or according to your maintenance book.
According to the OEM of the manufacturer and handbook, this should be your primary advice or the advice of a professional. It is recommended to change the oil every 3000 km – 5000 km or every 6 months.
When it comes to 4-T motorcycle engines, Motul has a large range in its portfolio. The right oil should always be according to your motorcycle’s handbook. Please check the desired viscosity grade and the standards whether API (American Standards) or JASO (Japanese standards) and also OEM specifications.