For: Bike owners, mechanics
Bike engine heats up and sounds rough
What you notice: Engine feels hot in traffic, tappet noise, pickup drops after 20–30 minutes of riding.
Why it usually happens
- Oil change overdue — oil has thinned out and lost its film strength.
- Oil level below minimum; most 100–125cc bikes need only 800–1000 ml, so even 150 ml loss matters.
- A thin grade (like 10W-30) used in an air-cooled engine in Delhi summers.
What we recommend
- Use a 20W-40 semi-synthetic 4T oil — it holds viscosity at 45°C+ ambient temperature.
- Check level on the dipstick every 2 weeks, bike upright on centre stand, engine cold.
- Change every 2,500–3,000 km in city stop-go traffic, not the 5,000 km printed for ideal conditions.

