If you’re a Moto2 fan, you know the so-called Liqui Moly. Decorate the fairing of GP Liqui Moly Intact motorcycles driven through Tom Lathi and Marcel Schrutter. Germany’s best-selling petrochemical manufacturer, Liqui Moly, is led by the open CEO Ernst Prost. Although not a big call in the United States, Liqui Moly sells in 150 countries with over $1 billion in annual sales, and has been in business since 1957.
The selection of motor oil for motorcycles, mineral, semi artificial or completely artificial, harms motorcyclists around the world. Oliver Kuhn, Deputy Director of Moly’s Liqui Oil Laboratory, shared his perspectives on this highly technical factor in this Q&A session.
Q: What about the oils out there?
Oliver Kuhn: Motor oils can be more or less divided into two categories: mineral and artificial oils. Mineral oils are becoming less and less vital for motorcycles because they do not offer that performance. Modern engines require much more oil than older engines. Only artificial oils can meet those requirements.
Q: So artificial oils are oils?
OK: Yes, but you can also combine a mineral oil with an artificial oil. However, these semi-artificial oils play a small role in the market because their functionality is not high enough due to their mineral content.
Q: Are all oils similar?
OK: unfortunately not. There are two other tactics for producing artificial oils. By one of these methods, an oil called PAO (poly-alpha-olefin) is received at the end. This is the vintage artificial oil that came to market in the 1970s. It is chemically very natural and therefore very effective, but also very expensive to produce. With the other approach, the oil is produced by hydrocracking, which is why these oils are also called HC oils in technical jargon. HC oils are more fashionable and gave the impression in the 1990s. Today, they offer the most productive functionality imaginable for all fashion engines.
Q: Should an OAP or HC oil be used?
OK: This selection is not even available. Today, almost all oil progression is based on HC oils. Many oil specifications can only be met with HC oils.
Q: How do I know what artificial oil is?
OK: It’s not that easy, because there are no uniform terms here. In the United States, for example, PAO and HC oils can be described as completely artificial, however, in Germany, only PAO oils can be called artificial. That’s why we give our HC oils the Synthesis Technology label. Other brands of oil use terms such as one hundred percent artificial or artificial mixing, where what this means is not transparent.
Oliver Kuhn, Deputy Director, Liqui Moly Oil Laboratory
Q: This can be confusing.
OK: That’s true, however, the question of what artificial oil is addressed in a specific case doesn’t matter to drivers and workshops. It’s not a consultation about which oil is meant to be better. The crucial factor is that the oil meets the specifications that the motorcycle manufacturer has set for this model. This is indicated in the motorcycle manual, or you can use our loose oil consultant on the Liqui Moly website.
Q: So, if the specification is correct, doesn’t it matter if it’s an OAP oil or an HC oil?
OK: Correct. In any case, additive packages are increasingly adjusted. Today, they are the maximum component of engine oil, in addition to the oil itself. They provide much of the functionality of engine oil. With some very modern engine oils, the base oil is little more than the fluid that carries additive packs.
Q: So why are there discussions about which artificial oil is best?
OK: it’s an echo of the past. When the first HC oils gave the impression 30 years ago, the difference in the quality of OAP oils was even greater, but that was a long time ago. No expert would have such a discussion today.
Editor’s note: In addition to engine oil, Liqui Moly manufactures transmission oil, coolant fluids, hydraulic fluid, suspension fluid, chain lubricant, grease and cleaning products.