[quebbeck]

Hi,

I just got a new Royal Enfield Himalayan and someone told me to add 50ml of two-stroke oil when tanking 10l of fuel (to break-in the engine or so). It sounds very weird to me and I am scared of breaking my first bike if I would follow this advice. The person keeps insisting that I should do that, but I would like to ask some people familiar with the bike about their opinion on that.

 I googled and apparently people do that on diesel cars and with old bikes and motor scooters, as well as in the sports sector. Any experience on a Royal Enfield?

[Stanley]

That's a bad idea for many reasons. Read and follow the manual so you won't end up with no warranty coverage. Your bike just needs gentle riding to break it in.

[Richard230]

I guess you could add top cylinder oil to your gas if you want.   

[Bilgemaster]

As you say, lots of guys pushing around older air-cooled iron (think old Triumphs, Nortons, BSAs and such) swear by routinely adding a splash of 2-stroke to their fuel, and it seems to do them the power of good. It's also just the ticket for older fixer-upper bikes or other vehicles being resurrected after not having run in a long while.  I myself run an ounce or so (about 30 ml) of something called Marvel Mystery Oil per tankful of fuel in my primitivo-design "Iron Belly" Bullet. I premix it in 89 octane (as per R+N/2 measurement used in USA) ethanol-free with some StaBil 360 fuel stabilizer as well. Unlike my other more humdrum vehicles that just get that regular 10% ethanol spew at the pump, my Bullet's on a steady diet of the good stuff from fuel cans, as are my outboards, generators, mower and other small engines.

Now, whether adding 2-stroke or anything else to the fuel of a more modern engine like yours is a good idea, what with its finicky  catalytic knick-knacks and electronic fripperies is debatable. My 2005 Bullet is actually the newest vehicle I own, so I don't know how much solid guidance I could offer anybody with a vehicle warranty. I frankly doubt I'll ever have one. I guess I'm just not a "new car smell" kinda guy.

[gizzo]

I wouldn't. If it needed it,  the manual would say to do it.  The rings and bore need a small amount of friction to bed in in any case. The oil might stop that happening.  It's why brand new engines use mineral break-in oil and swapfor synthetic at the first oil change. 

I use an upper cylinder lubricant additive on my classic Ducati. It was made in the leaded fuel era. But same as bilgemaster, I don't bother with it in newer bikes.

[olhogrider]

It will foul your spark plug but it will smell good and smoke like it's the 1960s

[tooseevee]

Hi,

I just got a new Royal Enfield Himalayan and someone told me to add 50ml of two-stroke oil when tanking 10l of fuel (to break-in the engine or so). It sounds very weird to me and I am scared of breaking my first bike if I would follow this advice. The person keeps insisting that I should do that, but I would like to ask some people familiar with the bike about their opinion on that.

                  No.

[heloego]

Tell that person he's an idiot.

[Freddy1]

I am a bit of an idiot  because, from 20.000 km, I put about 20 ml of oil for 2t at each refueling (it becomes  0.2% about oil-fuel mixture). Sometimes the petrol pump, in the morning when it was turned on, meowed like a kitten for 1/2 second. Now it doesn't meow anymore. I also believe that this little oil is useful for lubricating the moving part of the injector. However, 0.2% of oil is very low and does not hurt, no problems have been encountered.

[Richard230]

Well, there is always "top cylinder oil". I have been using that stuff in my gas off and on for about 50 years. While I have never had a problem with the additive, I am not sure that it does much of anything at all, other than deplete your pocketbook.  Most modern motorcycle manufacturers always say not to use any gasoline or oil additives in their vehicles.   

[tooseevee]

Well, there is always "top cylinder oil". I have been using that stuff in my gas off and on for about 50 years. While I have never had a problem with the additive, I am not sure that it does much of anything at all, other than deplete your pocketbook.  Most modern motorcycle manufacturers always say not to use any gasoline or oil additives in their vehicles.   

         I used top oil faithfully in everything through the whole '60s and a lot of the '70s because I used Amoco White that whole time until finally the last station near me closed its doors.  Never had any valve issues from unleaded. Tore down one Volvo 1.6 L (PV544) with 80K on it, clean as a whistle inside. Punched it out to 1.8 and put it back together. Lovely until I was almost killed in it. '68. Headon. My own lane. 6 weeks in hospital. Totalled.

[AzCal Retred]

Here's just the ticket:

Blendzall #460 Racing Castor Lube
The finest race-proven racing castor oil available in the world today. Unsurpassed in quality & performance.
* For use in all 2 cycle engines.
* Cleanest burning degummed castor lubricants available.
* Will not foul plugs.
* Eliminates engine wear.
* Designed for extreme temperatures.
* Blends with all fuels.
* Contains a seal conditioner, preservative and rust inhibitor.
* Contains no acids, nitrates, or rust promoting synthetics.
* Race proven since 1959.

I can't say it'll make your Bullet faster, but any old racer standing downwind will break into a big smile...     - ACR -

[cyrusb]

And so the never ending search goes on for "Miracle in a can".No one knows for sure but I think it began when the first shaft rotated in its first bushing. Now that's not to say there isn't some logic here. For instance four stroke inboard boat engines benefit from Mystery Oil injectors since there is never any vacuum in their upper ends. In effect they are always pulling uphill, never coasting, and the mystery oil provides much needed upper cylinder lube. But I have seen many Super Oils, Super Additives, come and go. Nothing beats proper maintenance and a little mechanical sympathy.  But, when Miracle in a can is recommended by car/bike manufacturers I'll take a six pack

[Richard230]

I love the smell of burnt castor oil in the morning. It smells like victory!    (Especially when being burned by a big British racing single.    )

[cyrusb]

I love the smell of burnt castor oil in the morning. It smells like victory!    (Especially when being burned by a big British racing single.    )

Loved the aroma in my old 2 stroke dirt bikes. I was never sure if that premix was actually burning the castor. At the end of the day I could pour it out of the exspansion chamber. What looked like smoke may have been vapor .