Scottoiler E-System - Review
Scottoilers latest creation utilising microprocessor technology and accelerometers to meter out the lube instead of a physical connection to the engine.
Its oil only cleverer!
Initial Thoughts
After having previously reviewed a competitors model to the Scottoiler and my colleague putting the V-System through its paces it is nice to see Scottoiler bring a more gadgety product to the market in the shape of the Scottoiler E-System Chain Oiler. On paper it looks pretty nifty and in the box even more so with its large readout and natty blue backlight displaying not just your oil level but also temperature and G-Force - yep you read right, G-Force! As it turns out the G meter is not just for show but with the oil metering being controlled by the accelerometer it ensures that at a standstill you are not having bucketloads of excess lube applied.
Construction
If we first go over the benefit of the E-System compared to the V-System we can delve more into how well it works, first up the older model Scottoiler worked by utilising the engine to meter out the oil which while no doubt effective also put off a few people from buying as it sounded (actually wasn't that bad but its how it comes across) pretty technical. One of the things that people did feed back on was the priming could take a while or that oil was dispensed on tick over which is clearly not needed. The E-System does away with any physical connection to the engine and uses a more plug n play approach to fitting as well as current technology which puts it pack to the top of the pile.
First up the fitting is so simple a monkey with one hand could do it with little or no instruction, you need a battery connection for power and to route the display unit cable which in my case went behind the frame and over my airbox - 4 bolts and 2 battery terminal connectors in total. Routing the applicator tubing was actually the most difficult part to fitting in that on my model of ZX636 it is easier to route via the battery box and down to the swingarm, no real issue as the seat is off already.
The way the system works is the the display unit offers custom metering on the fly, you can increase or decrease the level of oil being sent through from the RMV, this is simply the fancy oil container that pumps out the oil via the tubing down to the applicator that drips on to the sprocket and chain, the RMV is easy enough to find a place for and comes with ehough different connectors and cable ties to attach to any frame or simply hide away - you can also upgrade the RMV using Scottoilers existing touring options and whats more is that the eSystem has a menu option for you to add the upgrades and still know how much your system has left.
Fitting out of the way - all 30 minutes of it - and its time to have fun, follow the step by step guide included in the box and you soon get a feel for the simplified menu system, priming the system is all done via the control unit and is preset for you to hit prime, and the accept and in practice this works exceptionally well. Once the system is primed and ready to go you need to set the flow rate which is actually the only thing you have to control on the unit. The E-System then does it all for you and after setting my unit for the first time I have not had to readjust it since.
Out on the road the control unit is a nice little addition if you do not have a temperature readout on your bike and I challenge anyone to not be interested in the G-Meter when setting off and cornering, in real terms though you can easily hide the control unit if you are not in to gadgets - personally I love them and on my race rep I have GPS mounts, lighter sockets and more so my E-System display unit takes pride of place, one thing it could have come with is a little clock but that really is a minor niggle.
I have kept the E-System on my bike now for a couple of months and can happily report that the oil fling (minor) that was reported with the Cameleoon oiler is not apparent with the Esystem, Of course you are going to get a little bit as with any regularly lubed chain but certainly nothing worse than a quick wipe down to clean off and certainly nothing getting on to the tyre - another think I have found with the E-System is my chain has stayed cleaner than I anticipated and where manual lubing built up gunk very quickly and automatic oilers a little less so the chain on my bike after 2 months is still pretty clean in comparison, there is no extra wear on my chain and sprocket as far as I can see so to me it seems the Scottoiler ESystem does its job very well indeed.
The E System has numerous features and benefits:
Furthermore, the E System captures the accustomed core benefits of chain oiling and presents various additional benefits and features specific to the E System:
When the engine is off the E System draws less than 1 milli-amp of power This is significantly less than the current drawn by a modern alarm so riders don�t need to worry about power drainage The Graphical digital multifunction display allows the rider to adapt the flow rate of the oil whilst riding, to suit the riding conditions The reservoir holds 60ml of Scottoil, which equates to an extra 6 hours of riding before refills compared to the vacuum operated Scottoiler system, meaning more time can be spent riding rather than maintaining your bike Helps your chain provide efficient power transfer and gives a cleaner, quieter, smoother running transmission Increase time between chain adjustments and minimise maintenance and can increase the life of your chain and sprockets by up to 7 times the perfect way to save money and add value to your bikeHow it works:The E System differs from the existing Scottoiler vSystem and Mark7 Touring Kit as it is a pumped system
The electronics involved in the eSystem have come from Moto GP technology where a triple axis accelerometer senses the motion of the bike allowing the system to know when to lubricate the chain To install, simply attach the wiring loom of the E System to the positive and negative terminals on the battery, and plug into the reservoir pump unit This means there is no complicated wiring or tapping into speedometers or switches Constant flow rate (independent of temperature) Motion Sensitive (only oils when the bike is in motion)Image Gallery
Editor reviews
Reviewed by Leigh Godson January 06, 2010
Last updated: May 29, 2010
Top 10 Reviewer - View all my reviews
Conclusion
In use the Esystem was flawless and out of the chain oiling products we have tested at Bikechatter it is the one we would all pick if we had the choice, fitting is simple and non-technical and overall it appears to be a very convenient product.
Price wise we are starting to see deals pop up over the net which is good, at £210.00 RRP it is quite costly if you have not used one and have no first hand experience of the hassle it will save, that said for everyone who has used it the cost seemed to dwindle into a moot point.
Some people will be staunchly against spending above £150 for a lazy way to lube their chain but when you factor in the time it save you for both oiling the chain manually and also cleaning up the fling from your wheel and then base that on a number of years using the Esystem it surely pays for itself - we are all sold on it and it seems across the intertubes a lot of other journo's are too!
