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What are the 5 Main Functions of Engine Oil?

The first thing that comes to mind when engine oil is mentioned is lubrication, keeping moving parts from grinding each other into dust. Part of that image is reinforced by ads that show oil circulating around the pistons and cylinders, and nowhere else.

However, the engine oil plays other equally important roles, like the amazing co-stars of a movie that were overlooked.

So, here are the 5 main functions of engine oil.

#1: Lubrication

Okay, this is the main use for engine oil. As we mentioned earlier, the oil film separates two surfaces, to keep them from coming into contact. Without oil, the surfaces, especially moving surfaces such as bearings, cam lobes, piston rings, etc. will scrape against each other, create intense heat, and seize.

#2: Cooling

Oil was the cooling medium before liquid-cooling became the in-thing. Oil has the capacity to absorb heat, lots of it. However, the liquid used for cooling an engine only circulates around the engine block and head, but does not reach the nether regions of an engine such as the crankshaft, camshaft, transmission, clutch (for motorcycles). These are moving parts and they are exposed to the heat from fuel combustion. So, it is the oil’s job to lubricate and cool them.

#3: Cleaning

How do you clean soot on the cylinder walls that resulted from fuel combustion? You cannot design a piston with brushes on its side. So, it is the oil’s job to carry this soot away and into the sump. This is one reason why an oil turns darker.

#4: Preventing oxidation and rust

Oil keeps parts from rusting which is a layman word for oxydation. The oil film keeps oxygen and water vapour away from the metal’s surface.

#5: Sealing

The oil film plays an important role in sealing gaps among certain engine components, such as between the piston rings and the cylinder wall. Without this 1 molecule thick oil film, combustion gases will blow straight through into the crankcase, resulting in power loss.

Oil is also a great seal for gaskets so that the oil itself does not leak out.

BONUS: Lubricating the clutch

This only applies to motorcycles, the majority of which uses the “wet” clutch. The engine oil is circulated around the clutch pack to keep the plates from having too much friction, therefore making them cooler and lasting longer.

No Plan to Make Dashcams Compulsory Yet

Transport Minister Anthony Loke said there is yet a plan to make dashcams or dashboard cameras compulsory for all vehicles in the country.

He said his ministry needs to consider various aspects including the costs that the people will have to bear if it is made mandatory.

“However, we encourage the installation of dashcams especially on new vehicles directly from the manufacturer. If they can install (dashcams) together with new cars, we highly encourage that, but so far we have not made it mandatory.”

Loke also encouraged bus operators to install the device so that it can recorded and the footage used as evidence if the vehicle is involved in a road accident.

“The installation of a dashcam and its footage can be used as proof in the event of an accident to find out who is at fault or who should be held responsible,” he said.

Meanwhile, Loke said last year’s road accident statistics recorded 600,000 accidents resulting in the death of more than 6,500 people.

“If we look at the statistics, the average is 15 to 17 people die every day and this number is a big number.

“Every person who died, for us this is a tragedy that does not need to happen because this road accident can be avoided if every driver takes a cautious attitude and obeys the rules of the road,” he said.

Therefore, Loke hopes that the public can be prudent drivers, always aware and careful to reduce the risk of road accidents.

Police Investigates Group Cooking at Petrol Station

The police have opened investigation papers on a group of individuals cooking at a Petron petrol station in Genting Highlands. A video showing their actions has gone viral which drew criticism from many quarters.

Bentong District Police Chief, Superintendent Zaiham Mohd Kahar said the police received a complaint regarding the matter at 12.35 yesterday at the Bentong Police Station.

He said that the police report was based on a viral video where the act of cooking at the gas station caused concern and anger in the community because it was dangerous.

“The result of the police investigation found that the video recording was uploaded in the X (formerly Twitter) social media site.”

In relation to that, he said the police opened investigation papers and the case will be investigated according to Section 268 of the Penal Code, for the offence of causing general annoyance to the public. The investigation is also conducted in accordance with Section 336 of the Penal Code, for acts endangering the life or safety of others and oneself.”

In the meantime, Zaiham said his party will carry out integrated operations around the location of the gas station, especially on weekends and public holidays.

“This is because the police received information and complaints about the location often being the focus of vehicle owners gatherings and activities that disturb public order and other road users who pass through the location,” he said.

The approximately 50-second video clip features a group of Honda Jazz owners consisting of men and women hanging out while cooking instant noodles using a portable gas stove and dining at the gas station.

Do You Change the Engine Oil Filter at Every Service?

Every four-stroke engine is equipped with an engine oil filter. Question is, do you change it during every oil service?

We brought this up as there are owners who say they only do so during every alternate service or it depends on the type of use oil they use i.e. mineral, semi-synthetic, fully-synthetic.

Let us take a look at what the oil filter does before we proceed further.

The functions of the engine oil filter:

As its name suggests, the filter traps impurities and foreign agents in the engine oil. It does so that these foreign objects are not circulated around the engine together with the oil.

Oil is pumped through the filter and the filtered oil exits it to continue circulating around the engine.

The sources of impurities and foreign objects include:

Metal shavings due to surface interactions of moving parts. Some of these shavings may be very fine or even microscopic for the eyes to detect.
Carbon, soot, acidic compounds resulting from combustion of fuel. This is one reason why the oil turns dark.
Fine dust that made its way through the air filter.

What happens if the filter is not replaced?

An old filter will get clogged from too much dirt, impurities, and foreign objects.
Consequently, oil flow gets blocked from flowing through the filter.
Loss of engine power since there is not enough lubrication.
Some of the impurities end up being sent around the engine, resulting in accelerated wear.

When to replace the filter?

It is best to adhere to the recommended intervals set by your vehicle’s manufacturer. Besides, the old oil left in the old filter will corrupt the new oil, resulting in less protection for your engine and the new oil breaking down quicker.

Conversely, the oil and filter must be changed regardless of mileage if you take your bike out for an extreme excursion, such as a race, trackday, or off-road riding.

Do not overlook the importance of the oil filter. And do use a genuine filter. It does not cost as much as an engine rebuild.

Diesel Price Expected to Increase 71% after Subsidy Removal

The price of diesel fuel is expected to increase by 71% when the government removes its subsidy completely.

A simulation by SME Bank shows that diesel price could be between RM3.25 to RM 3.67 per litre as the global price of petroleum remains high, when the government reverts to a free-float mechanism based on global oil prices. The current price is RM2.15 per litre.

They also said that an increase of 1% in diesel price contributes to a 0.1% rise in Consumer Price Index (CPI), hence elevating inflation by another 7.1%. Producer Price Index (PPI) is also expected to rise sharply, although it was not mentioned in the report.

Both CPI and PPI constitute domestic retail prices affected by inflation.

All these fancy words mean that businesses and industries will find higher operating costs across all sectors and industries especially transportation, construction, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing.

While some companies are expected to absorb some of this rise, it is more realistic to expect them passing the costs down to consumers.

SME Bank, in their conclusion, expects the removal of diesel subsidies to be partial to allow the M40 and B40 groups to continue using subsidised fuel, that the total removal only affects diesel users for now as it accounts for 44% of fuel subsidies, and that Sabah and Sarawak are excluded from the removal.

Brembo Hypure Caliper to Debut

The new Brembo Hypure caliper is set to debut later this year.

What is there to say about the brand, Brembo? Even non-motorcycle enthusiasts already know the brand, so much so that some even refer to ANY brake caliper as “Brembo.” So, we might as well just skip the brand introduction and go right to this product.

The Brembo Hypure is fully intended for high-end supersport bikes. Conversely the earlier Stylema had been used on all types of bikes from supersports to even dual-purpose bikes. As such, what the Hypure delivers is a combination braking power, better feel at the lever, and light weight.

Highlights of the Brembo Hypure:

10% lighter weight than the competition. Weight savings in this area means your bike has less unsprung mass, hence less inertia to contend with, resulting in better handling.
Brembo says this was achieved by their experience and new design tools to distribute aluminium in the right places.
Consequently, stiffness remains the same despite lower weight, and improved cooling.
Reduces pad wear through a new spring, pad, and pin system, besides a specially crafted bearing surface between the caliper and pads.
The company says that with this system, the pads move without resistance toward the disc at the start of braking. When the lever is released, the pads move away quickly from the disc to reduce friction.

The Brembo Hypure was teased at EICMA last year and will be fitted as original equipment to a new and upcoming supersport motorcycle. Speculation is it will either be on the 2025 KTM 990 RC R or Yamaha YZF-R9, or even both.

Anyhow, our advice is to use special locking bolts for your motorcycle’s brake calipers.

KTM 990 RC R Incoming!

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Latest News

What are the 5 Main Functions of Engine Oil?

#1: Lubrication

#2: Cooling

#3: Cleaning

#4: Preventing oxidation and rust

#5: Sealing

BONUS: Lubricating the clutch

No Plan to Make Dashcams Compulsory Yet

Police Investigates Group Cooking at Petrol Station

Do You Change the Engine Oil Filter at Every Service?

The functions of the engine oil filter:

The sources of impurities and foreign objects include:

What happens if the filter is not replaced?

When to replace the filter?

Diesel Price Expected to Increase 71% after Subsidy Removal

Brembo Hypure Caliper to Debut

Highlights of the Brembo Hypure:

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