Formula 4-Stroke® 10W-40 Synthetic Scooter Oil and 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil

With the introduction of new AMSOIL Formula 4-Stroke® Synthetic Scooter Oil (ASO), many have asked if this product is the same as AMSOIL 10W-40 Synthetic Motorcycle Oil (MCF). The answer is no, the two products are not the same. That answer, however, leads to other questions. For example, what is different between the two? Can they be interchanged? Why are two different oils needed anyway?

Though there are a great deal of similarities between scooter and motorcycle applications, there are also many differences. Some of those differences lie in the area of performance, while others are more market driven, such as cost and general consumer perception. In order to provide AMSOIL customers with the best possible product for any given application, all such factors must be considered. In this case, the end result is a separate product for scooter applications with another directed toward their motorcycle brethren.

From the standpoint of performance, the demands and requirements scooters place on engine oil are similar to those found in motorcycle applications, but differences do exist between the two in the level or degree of stress each application places on the oil. For example, the operating speeds of scooters tend to max out around 5-7,000 rpms. Café style motorcycles, on the other hand, can easily redline in the 12-14,000 rpm range. Also, though the state-of-tune of scooters is significantly higher than in the past, it pales in comparison to the horsepower per cc of displacement realized by today’s high powered motorcycles. Needless to say, in order to meet these differences most effectively, some differences in product formulation are required. That is not to say something has been left out of AMSOIL ASO. The formulation of this product, however, has been optimized to more closely match not only the performance levels demanded by scooters, but all other factors important to the application and market as well.

Another difference is in the area of longevity. Both ASO and MCF last longer in service than their competitive counterparts, but to what extent do the two vary? As mentioned, both products are built on a robust platform, a platform capable of providing exceptional durability by itself. MCF Motorcycle Oil is then fortified, however, to offer even greater life expectancy. That is the reason for the difference in the service intervals recommended for the two products. ASO is recommended to be changed at OEM maintenance intervals, and MCF is recommended for change intervals up to twice OEM maintenance intervals.

With these differences in performance requirements comes differences in manufacturing costs. This is important. While everyone wants maximum performance from the oil they use, scooter owners tend to be more concerned about price than their motorcycle counterparts. These differences in manufacturing costs allow AMSOIL to offer ASO at a lower price, making it extremely competitive in a cost conscious market.

Can the two products be interchanged? Yes, to some degree they can. MCF is more than suitable for use in scooter applications, but for the most part it may be considered overkill. It is unlikely that a scooter application will ever present the level of severity for which MCF was designed to handle. Hence, the issue of cost efficiency enters in. Keep in mind, however, that there is a contingent of owners with tricked out scooters looking for maximum performance regardless of cost. For that group, MCF is well worth consideration. On the other hand, ASO will perform satisfactorily in motorcycle applications. In fact, the level of performance and protection offered by ASO exceeds that found in conventional motorcycle oils. ASO, however, was not designed to offer the higher degree of safety margin AMSOIL believes is required by many high performance motorcycle applications. Also, from the standpoint of consumer perception, it is unlikely that an owner of a $20,000 crotch rocket would be inclined to use an oil that is directed toward scooter applications.

ASO may be the little brother of MCF, but don’t sell it short. This little brother is a real scrapper and more than capable of meeting even the most severe needs found in scooter applications. It is the perfect combination of performance and cost effectiveness.