Modern Vespa

Now just how reliable are the auto lube in PX Vespa can l trust it to deliver oil All the time with out any problems ? is it ok to add a bit of oil to the petrol as well ! Just incase of any kind of problems with the feeder not working properly. Do you know of any one doing both with out any problems if so how much is okay to put in the petrol just as a back up protection against any auto lube failure ?? Best foot forward said Jo on ey mo best regards soulboy74 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🏴‍☠️

Incredibly reliable.

If you're running a kit you could add like 1% to the tank but honestly it's probably not needed.

But must upjet 1% to allow for the displacement of fuel.

nah, let it run it lean. it'll make more power and that extra 1% of oil will prevent the piston from sticking to the well.

The auto lube mechanism on Vespas is rock solid. 99% of problems are caused by people dicking with it.

I'm really disappointed that none of the aftermarket smallframe and lambretta cases have included an oil pump.

keeps me looking at retrofitting one...

you have my ear, good sir. please continue...

Lambretta did try lubematic on the Cometta in the late 60s, for reasons i dont know, maybe it wasnt reliable or added too much expense to production?!?!

https://www.handh.co.uk/auction/lot/112-1969-lambretta-cometa-75-sl/?lot=55623&sd=1#:~:text=A%20lightweight%20scooter%20it%20was,compared%20to%20larger%20engined%20scooters.

Grand to hear about the auto lube is bullet proof ! I have been reading about how if it stopped working you are up sht street with out a scooter and off in a dich !! Spring is here in old Briton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 and I am busy learning every thing vespa doing upgrade one at a time so I can see the difference each one does!! So any help from you guys with more experience is most welcome thanks again Gi Briton 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 thanks you 👍 best foot forward soulboy74

It was exactly the opposite, it was reliable and the engines were bulletproof. they were worried that it would ruin their reputation.

After 38 years and over 42000 miles, the auto-lube in my PX 150E is still doing its duty without problems.
The only "problems" with it are leaks of 2T oil, mostly from the plastic oil level sight glass, and failed gaskets under the air box. The sight glass develops cracks either on its nose, where you notice 2T oil on the left side of the floorboard, or around the threaded portion inside the frame. In this case, you find 2T oil puddling inside on the tunnel, which at some point, will even come out of the rear brake pedal cavity under the floorboard.
When the gasket under the air box breaks, 2T oil seeps at the rear of the transmission and will leave oil spots on the floor.
So, aside from regularly cleaning the mess, and replacing these parts, the system is indestructible, and never fails to provide adequate lubrication at all throttle and speed settings.

Thanks for your heads up on the oil lube ! Wow 40.000 miles plus and working still with just a few repairs alse where is a good good device gives me peace of mind thinking on 👍 my PX Vespa 125 is still a baby compared to yours with only 2000 miles done from new!! No oils spills yet but Hay what I have noticed is a small amount of oil ish residues down the back side of the engine near where the carb is sitting might be coming out of the air mixture screw grommet is that NORMAL ? Thanks for letting me know where to check ✌️ peace and love soulboy74 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

Yes, that is another known seepage point, and could be due to the gasket under the carburetor deteriorating, or less common, the one under the oil pump top cover. Also, the metal pipe that feeds oil into the pump can come loose from vibration where it threads in the pump and leak a little, as well. The oil would eventually pool inside the air box at the rear of the carburetor and, if the level is high enough, will seep through the mixture screw rubber grommet.
None of these leakages will prevent the motor from getting properly lubed, but will make you top off the oil tank more often. BTW, when you top off the oil tank, only top off to the point where you see the sight glass full, NOT all the way to the top under the oil cap. The plastic coupling between the gas tank and oil tank filling tube is known to crack and leak, as well.
I have repeatedly experienced all of these types of leaks in the 38 years I have had this scooter, but they really are only minor annoyances. My engine was overhauled 2000 miles ago, but only because the clutch side seal was allowing gear oil to get burned and make the exhaust smoke; all the mechanical parts were still in fine shape and performance was great.

This often happens bc the oil tank is not threaded high enough on the post coming from the gas tank. If the plastic oil tank is sitting to low, pressure from the frame cracks the sight glass. Easy fix. Pull the tanks and reseat the oil tank properly. Should fix the leak issue.
(Possible... that the sight glass threads in the oil tank are stripped, but I doubt it.)

You can only go so high as the oil filter mechanism is installed on the outside of the oil tank and threaded to a nut on the inside of the oil bar.

The threaded piece on top along with a seal prevents oil leaks; it does not locate the tank.

Choose another plastic tank and see if the site glass sits higher.

Make sure there's still the large thick gasket between the tank and the frame. If it's not there, it will lower the whole tank assembly slightly.

On mine, I have the opposite problem; the oil tank needs to be lower, not higher (about 1/8" would be perfect) in order to center the sight glass in the hole. No matter how I have tried to adjust the oil tank coupling to its filler tube, the oil tank always ends up too high. And I have a good gas tank to frame gasket.