Your bike's powertrain is continually operating under pressure because of how the bike's speed and how well the engine produces power. When the rider shifts gears, the pressure created from the interaction of both parts amounts to both debris and heat generated from the bike's gearbox. This pressure, heat, and interaction create conditions that will determine if the gear will last as expected. The other condition that will determine gearbox durability is gear oil quality and application. 

When you ride, you do so for various reasons, such as commuting, long-distance trips, and work (business) usage. Taking care of the gearbox means you reduce the possibility of significant repair costs and downtime. In this article, we discuss the importance of gear oil for bike safety and durability, and provide some guidelines on how quality gear oils, from reliable oil manufacturers such as NITCO Lubricants, can maximize the life of your gears and help keep your motorcycle running smoothly for many miles to come.

Why the Bike Gearbox Faces High Stress

The bike gearbox experiences high levels of stress because of the repeated loading cycles it undergoes. Motorcycle gearboxes generally share the oil with the clutch and/or are housed tightly (in comparison to a car's transmission). Because of this, they are subjected to very demanding conditions:

• Very high RPMs for each of the components in the gearbox, including the sprockets
• Constantly loaded gear sets that meshed together
  
  
• Rapid temperature changes from hot to cold and vice versa
  
  
• Water and dirt exposure from wet roads or gravel roads

Research conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) shows that poor lubrication can significantly increase gear tooth wear for high-speed applications; research shows a 40% or more increase in tooth wear if the gearbox doesn't have a sufficient supply of oil for lubrication. Because wear from lack of lubrication is built up slowly over time, the operator often has no idea that something is happening until it is too late.

What Gear Oil Actually Does Inside Your Gearbox

Gear oil performs more than simple lubrication. Its role includes several mechanical protections:

• Friction control – Maintains a stable oil film between gear teeth
  
  

• Heat dissipation – Carries heat away from contact points
  
  

• Corrosion resistance – Shields metal surfaces from moisture and oxidation
  
  

• Shock absorption – Cushions sudden torque loads during gear shifts

A study in Tribology International reported that gear oils with proper viscosity grades reduce surface fatigue and micropitting, two leading causes of gearbox failure.

The Appropriate Gear Oil's Role in Increasing the Service Life of the Gearbox

1. Maintaining the Correct Viscosity While Under Load.

The viscosity of the oil is what determines how efficiently it can keep metal particles lubricated. When temperatures rise, oil will become very thin, increasing metal-on-metal contact. An oil that is too thick will create ineffective shifting capabilities.

Premium Gear Oil for bike ensure a balance of viscosity to temperature increases, reducing wear even when riding long distances or during heavy traffic situations. Cyclists find smoother and quicker shifts with prescribed gear oils than with conventional gear oils.

2. Protecting against Shear Breakdown.

The shearing forces generated by gears are very strong. Conventional low-quality oils experience higher shear breakdown rates; therefore, they lose most of their protective film. High-end quality or premium grade transmission oils contain additives designed to withstand shear stress.

Laboratory results generated by ASTM D6278 Shear Stability tests indicate that the highest quality advanced gears retain an average of 90 percent viscosity after long-term shear stress, while lower-grade oils do not.

3. Lower Noise & Vibration in Gears.

Sound from the transmission (occasional noise) could mean that there is surface damage due to poor or insufficient lubrication. The best transmission/gear oils create consistent lubrication coats on your gears, which help to reduce both vibrational and whining noise. Long-term effects of vibration on bearings and shafts may be minimized.

4. Preventing Corrosion from Humidity when a Motor is not Being Used.

Many motorcycles are not put to use during the "off" season because of their geographic location or the winter months. Moisture accumulating inside the transmission/gearbox can cause corrosion to build up. A quality gear oil includes Rust Preventive additives that ensure your internal components remain protected throughout the storage time period.

Manual Gearboxes vs Automatic Transmission Oil Needs

Although many modern scooters and motorcycles have adopted automatic transmissions, many still use a manual gearbox, which requires an oil formulated specifically for manual and not for automatic-type applications. The main differences between manual and automatic oil include the following:

1. Manual gearboxes typically require an oil with greater extreme-pressure protection than does an automatic.

2. Automatic transmission systems use controlled friction to enable better operation of the clutch and enable a smoother shift.

3. Oil formulation will have an impact on how quickly and smoothly an automatic transmission will shift.

If an automatic is used with an inappropriate type of oil, there may be slipping, delayed shifting, or possible overheating of the transmission.

Signs that your gear oil may require some work

Keep an eye out for early signs and symptoms of lubrication being inadequate under normal working conditions for your gearbox.

There are four signs of possible lubrication problems:

1. Hard (or noisy) gear shifting

2. Increasing operating temperature

3. Metallic particles/contaminants found in drained lubricant oil

4. Decreasing fuel efficiency

Mechanical Engineers frequently draw parallels between monitoring the condition and performance of Gearbox Lubricant Oil to that of the concept of Preventive Medicine. The cost of acting early is less than that associated with the replacement of the Gearbox.

Why Oil Quality is More Important than How Often You Change Your Oil

Changing your oil on a regular schedule may be helpful, but the quality of the lubricant oil you use will dictate how much time your gearbox will survive without having to replace the lubricant oil. Inferior quality lubricating Oil is degraded faster than Quality Lubricating Oil, even if regularly scheduled oil changes take place.

NITCO Lubricants is a Lubricant Oil Manufacturer with decades of experience producing lubricant oils of International Standard quality, and our philosophy has always been to produce Quality Lubricant Oil by:

1. Stringently Testing the Raw Materials used to make our Lubricant.

2. Source and produce International Standard Base Oils and Additives.

3. Perform Quality Control Checks from Blending to Packaging.

The NITCO Lubricants Philosophy states:

“Quality is never by chance, it is always a result of Intention, Hard Work, Intelligence, and Skill.”

Why Riders Across India Trust NITCO Lubricants

In India, riders trust NITCO lubricants because they are considered one of the leading manufacturers of lubricants in India due to these reasons:

• Over 25 years of manufacturing experience

• State-of-the-art facilities for the Production of Engine oils, greases, and coolants

• More than 60 distributors in India

• Export to 7 other countries

All products go through a series of extremely stringent quality control processes, including testing and selection of base oils, before being dispatched. In addition to this, this quality commitment ensures that riders have the confidence they need to protect their bikes’ engines and gearboxes from wear and tear during the regular use of their motorcycle.

As you can imagine, the gearbox in your motorcycle is continually working as you ride it. Selecting the correct types of gear oil, transmission oil, or Automatic Transmission Fluid (ATF) will keep your bike running reliably through all the miles and time it has. You can look through NITCO lubricants' product offerings and reach out to any of their trusted distributors for assistance in making the proper selection for your motorcycle.

If you have additional questions or experiences related to bike maintenance, please share them with us. The input you provide allows other riders to make knowledgeable decisions regarding maintaining their motorcycles. Read More - Why Quality Lubricant Engine Oil Matters More Than Ever in Modern Engines

FAQs

1. How frequently should a biker replace the Gear Oil?

Typically, you should have your gear oil checked at every scheduled service and swapped out based on the conditions under which you used it. If you have to deal with heavy traffic or high loads that lead to more frequent use, you will likely have to change the gear oil on a more frequent basis.

2. Can I use Engine Oil in Place of Gear Oil?

No. While engine oil contains some types of extreme pressure additives, the type necessary for protecting a vehicle's gears is not included. So, using engine oil instead of gear oil will accelerate wear on your transmission.

3. Will Automatic Transmission Oil Work in a Manual Bike?

No. Automatic transmission oil is designed to absorb different types of friction. Because they do not have the proper properties to allow the gears to mesh together and support load, you can't use auto trans oil in your manual gearbox.

4. Does Premium Gear Oil Last Longer Than Standard?

Absolutely. Because all of the high-quality premium lubricants last longer under stress and retain their viscosity, they will hold up through more cycles of usage.

5. Who Can I Purchase NITCO Lubricants Products From?

You can purchase NITCO Lubricants Products through authorized distributors in India. For more information about NITCO dealers, visit the NITCO website or call the NITCO Company directly.

A well maintained gearbox will reward you for the care you take and the type of lubricant you use. So make the decision now!