HOW WELL OILED IS your machine?
Engine oil is one of the most crucial ‘parts’ of any motorcycle. With so many key roles to play, not least of which is to keep all the moving parts lubricated, engine oil determines a motor’s reliability, performance, cooling, noise, economy and emissions. It’s a hugely complex, scientific component. Yet it’s generally taken for granted, sometimes ignored, often misunderstood, and largely not given anywhere near the sort of attention it deserves.
To gain a better understanding of engine oil, we visited the HQ of leading oil manufacturer, Motorex. At its base in Langenthal, Switzerland, we got the chance to learn more about this fascinating product and just what goes into making it as special and effective as it is.
MIXOLOGY
You don’t have to be at the factory for long to realise producing top-quality oil is a highly intensive and involved business. As one of the world’s leading bike engine oil firms, it’s obvious Motorex puts a massive amount of time, energy and investment into creating the premium standard of product it does.
In the trade since 1917, the family-owned firm has grown to become one of the industry’s most highly respected players.
Our guided tour of key parts of the HQ quickly reveals it to be very modern, well-equipped, technically advanced and highly automated. Switzerland is not an oil producing nation, so the Motorex factory is not a refinery, but a blending plant. Think of its engine oil as a mix of top-quality ingredients, blended together in precisely measured quantities to make a product best suited to its role within a motorcycle engine. Depending on key factors, such as the age and type of engine and the way it will be
