At 20000 km service of my RE Himalayan, I decided to change the engine oil myself and use the highly praised Motul 15W 50 Semi synthetic engine oil. After 4000 kms of riding, here’s my honest opinion of the oil. Spoilers – It’s good, not great.
Pros of Motul 15W 50 Semi Synthetic Engine Oil
There are 2 main pros I noticed with Motul 15W 50 Semi Synthetic Engine oil compared to the RE’s liquid gun engine oil.
1. Better engine heat management
The engine heat noticeably reduced with Motul’s engine oil. I rode the same stretch in Bangalore’s bumper to bumper traffic with the stock oil and Motul’s oil while wearing shorts.
The engine heat in traffic reduced to a point where it was not severely uncomfortable anymore but manageable. It’s not something very significant but helpful in daily commute.
2. Easier gear shifts
The usual clunky and hard gear shifts became slicker and smoother with Motul’s oil. Again it doesn’t make a world of a difference but it’s definitely noticeable and enjoyable. Anything that reduces the Himalayan’s notoriously difficult gear shifts are a welcome.
Cons of Motul 15W 50 Semi Synthetic Engine Oil
Now here are 2 main cons I thought of Motul 15W 50 Semi Synthetic Engine oil compared to the RE’s liquid gun engine oil.
1. Lower oil life
RE’s liquid gun performs well upto 7000 km after which the engine starts showing signs of burnt out oil. With Motul, it starts at 4000 km. Even though it outperforms the liquid gun, it wears faster.
2. Higher cost
Oil change with Liquid gun costs around 800 rs at the service center. Motul comes in 1L bottles of which each costs near to 600 rs and you’ll need 2 bottles at once.
Conclusion
Motul 15W 50 semi synthetic oil is better than RE Liquid in terms of engine cooling and gear shifts. It lacks the life of Liquid gun oil. There’s no other added benefits in performance or maintenance.
If you are someone who changes oil every 5000 km and is willing to spend few extra bucks, go for the Motul. If you want the maximum life out of the oil and don’t care about the better performance, stick to the Liquid gun oil.
As for me, I’d go with Motul from now on. Watch the video review below.
Watch and learn how to change the engine oil of the RE Himalayan below
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Is Motul 5100 15w50 fully synthetic?
Motul 15w 50 5100 engine oil is semi synthetic.
How long does Motul oil last?
Motul 15w 50 5100 engine oil lasts around 4000 Kms in the RE Himalayan.
Which engine oil is used in Royal Enfield?
15W 50 Semi synthetic engine oils are recommended for most of the Royal Enfield motorcycles including the Himalayan.
Can we use 20w50 instead of 15w50?
Yes you can use 20w 50 instead of 15w50 but it’s better to follow the company recommended grade for better life of the engine.
Can I use 15w40 instead of 15w50?
It’s ideal not to use 15W 40 in place of 15W 50 as the former is not good for high performance or high heat generating engines as it is less viscous than the latter.
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