exol oil - gumming up rings and big end lubrication - update

[gaz_powell]

Its been a while but I thought this was a useful update for those interested

There were some related topics on here last year regarding gummed up rings, a possible lack of lubrication to gudgeon pin and exol oil - started around a vespa p range 200 motor.

I was involved as I had the same issues on the same vespa motor as the original author.

As a comparison I said I was going to strip my lambretta top end to replace a few parts and have finally done it yesterday. Having ran the lambretta at 3% on exol ss for more miles than the vespa .

Stripped my TS1 SX top end to replace piston (if required) but definitely change rings and reeds - piston was good, rings were free, gudgeon pin and small end bearing had no signs of wear as found on both vespas. Only real issue was a knackered engine mount !

For the record the bike was rebuild with new reeds, rings, base and head gasket, small end bearing - then a chain adjustment check/inspection was done, fresh oil, new plug etc - and some new mounts.

this makes me believe that the vespa problems in my case - gumming up around the rings was due to excessive bore/piston/ring wear and the gudgeon pin was a crap pin.

this season I will be sticking to exol ss on my vespa, 2x nicosil TS1s and 1x steel lined TS1

[mick1]

Good to hear as I've just bought 20L (£4 a L delivered) of the fully synthetic. I've used the Exol for the last couple of years on my Avanti (2%ish) and had no problems.

[ArmandTanzarian]

It was my PX motor that had the problems. The gudgeon pin was probably faulty case hardening. The rings gumming up, who knows. I used the same oil (different scooter) on a trip to Italy and back without any problems.

[gaz_powell]

i was always happy with the performance of the oil as my bikes (both lam and vep) are used under hard riding with no ill effects and I did not consider my vespa problems were associated with it.

people were quick to jump to blaming the oil

[ArmandTanzarian]

i was always happy with the performance of the oil as my bikes (both lam and vep) are used under hard riding with no ill effects and I did not consider my vespa problems were associated with it.

people were quick to jump to blaming the oil

That could be the point. When mine gummed up it had spent the last 7 days on a gentle 1200 mile, 50mph pootle around the minor roads of Britain and Ireland