Without the right Oil, a Honda won’t last either.

Honda Basics – oil gauge and refresh.

Block oil
Although Honda has made reliable mopeds, your plofpony needs some maintenance once in a while. In this article we explain how and when to gauge and change your oil.

Need:
-Key 14 mm
-Bottle of four-stroke motorcycle oil

What?
An engine block consists almost entirely of metal parts that move along or against each other. Without lubrication, of course, this wears out very hard and gets very hot, which is why all engines actually have a lubrication system with engine oil. If everything does not work completely optimally, and yes, that is often the case, then an engine consumes a little oil. That’s okay, as long as you make sure there’s enough in it. There is also a bit of dirt, but you don’t have to worry about this either. In terms of types of oil, there are many different possibilities, because the oil is now of much better quality than for which the cubes are designed, but in principle you can use an oil with a thickness of around 10W40. Most of the oil contained in cars contains anti-friction agents, which can cause your clutch to slip. That doesn’t drive well. Some cheap oil, for example aldi’s, doesn’t have this. If you want to make sure you have the right one, take four-stroke motorcycle oil suitable for a wet plate clutch, such as Valvoline or Castrol.

When?
Oil levels are best every week. According to the booklets, refresh should be every thousand kilometres, but every 1500 or even 2000 should not be a problem.

How?
Oil gauge is simple: unscrew the oil filling plug, wipe it and insert it into the hole without turning it in. Now you can read the position of the oil. He must be in the checkered area. If he’s under there, it’s best to throw in some.
When you are going to refresh, it is useful to let the engine heat up just as well. All oil is then thin and can easily get out of the block. First, you need to unscrew the oil drain plug. This is at the bottom of your engine block and with a 14 mm key and a little force you can turn it out in no time. Make sure there’s a container underneath, or it’ll seep in all directions. Wait until no more oil comes out and check that the threads and the ring on the plug are still good. If not, you’d better replace them. Now new oil can be put in. Turn the drain plug back into place and start gently pouring fresh oil at the filling plug. Check the level from time to time, until it’s all right.

Fork oil (only for forks where oil can enter)
In addition to the engine block, there is also oil in the fork. Once in a while you will have to supplement these.

Need:
– Key 19 mm
– Key 14 mm
– Bottle of fork oil

What?
To ensure that your moped drives comfortably and stable, most Hondas have a suspension fork. In some types there is only a spring in it, for example the C50 or Monkey, but for other types, think SS50 or CD, there is also oil in it for optimal cushioning.

When?
Changing fork oil is in principle almost never necessary. Dirt can hardly get to it, so the oil contained in it usually continues to work fine. Unfortunately, sometimes there are people who put old engine oil in their fork, for example. This causes the fork legs to corrode and you can throw them away a lot earlier. When purchasing a moped, it is always wise to replace the fork oil and maybe even to look at the fork legs or have them still neat. To replace the oil, unscrew the bolts at the bottom of your fork and, if it is good, the waste oil will flow out. The oil must also be replenished from time to time. A little oil can seep away over time. Replenishment is necessary when the front feels soft and limp or when it says click-clack when springing in and out. Another reason to fill the fork may be that you took it apart for revision. After assuring, of course, new oil has to be put in.

How?
Unscrew the bolts at the top of the fork. Then press the fork completely and top it up until it is full. Let the fork spring up again and turn the bolts back on. It is best to do this with two people; one presses the fork and the other does the oil.