That’s the oil filter from a 10-month-old Vespa GTS…
You know the phrase ‘out of sight, out of mind’. That is probably all the explanation needed for why Vespa and Piaggio products are not protected better against northern European winter roads covered in highly aggressive salt.
The Italians don’t see the same conditions, so they don’t think it’s so important to protect against it.
If you ride through the winter on pretty much any 4-stroke Piaggio, then not only is the salt attacking your chassis, but it’s also attacking your engine.
How?
Most Piaggio dealers (and owners) will fit genuine Piaggio oil filters at a service to ensure the continuation of the warranty, but these are made from very thin steel and not very well painted to protect against rust. A few stones flicked off the front wheel quickly chip the paint off and then the salted water starts to eat through the pressed steel.
What happens if the filter rots through?
It’s pretty simple, all the oil pisses out (dangerous in itself) and your oil light comes on. If you keep riding, you then destroy the engine.
Iggy bought the red Vespa GTS pictured above, it had been used for commuting. The oil filter had rotted right through and had left a pool of oil in the garage where it was parked
How often does this happen?
Often enough for Piaggio workshop, Readspeed, to do something about it.
If you ride through all seasons, then the filters can start to corrode very quickly. The filter shown in the opening image was taken to Readspeed for service – the GTS was only 10 months old.
Readspeed Supersock – essentially a condom for your oil filter
What’s the solution?
Readspeed went to the expense to tool up and produce a dedicated slip-on cover for the oil filter in medical-grade silicone. It’s designed to withstand heat so it can be reused many times. Simply peel off the old filter when you are having an oil change and fit it to the new filter afterwards.
The other alternative for those not tied to the warranty system is to fit a more durable oil filter. A simple test of the durability of the casing is to weigh them. The chances are that if it weighs more, it’s made of thicker metal and carries more paint.
What else is affected?
Anything with a Piaggio layout engine, so it also includes the 300cc Royal Alloys and many older Piaggio-engined scooters from other brands (Aprilia, Gilera, etc)
How can I get one?
You can buy Supersocks directly from Readspeed for £9.99 or from the SLUK Shop here. They’ll fit genuine Piaggio and High Level filters as well as many aftermarket brands.
Sticky
More corrosion protection with SLUK Guard
ScooterLab first started making products to protect our precious metal back in 2016. The SLUK Guard is still our best-selling product (Pyramid Plastics were about four years behind us with their version – we also sell that through the SLUK Shop.
We also make the SLUK Catcher to protect the inside of the GTS frame behind the rear wheel and Chassis Guards to protect your undercarriage. Owners of the latest GTS 310 will be pleased to know that the Chevron SLUK Guard is available to protect your new scooter. That one has detailing to match your horncast, some buyers have colour coded theirs as well.
The full range of SLUK Guard products are available here. We also supply XCP Professional rust protection and cleaning products.
Truly terrible. Never seen anything like it! After having my 2013 Vespa GTS stolen last year, which despite being garaged, regularly washed, SLUK guarded, battery box Dinitro’d, ACF 50d after each wash inside and out and undersealed, still had nasty delamination of steel on the underside and inside due to oxidisation. This was a pampered scoot that had an easy life with just 16 K on the clock over 10 years. Conversely, my 2005 Triumph motorbike of 20 K and similar use is corrosion free apart from a small bubbly bit on the front mudguard. When I went to buy a new GTS from a dealer I asked had Piaggio sorted the rest problem? The dealer said “What rust problem” I then went on to describe my old GTS’s corrosion and regular ACF 50 baths and the dealer replied “Oh, ACF 50 is not enough!” Orwellian Doublethink! A contradiction in the same breath. My new GTS, which is not brilliantly finished underneath, gets cleaned fastidiously and I take photos of the underside every time, as I do every time I check the oil as evidence in case of a disputed warranty claim. I love the GTS but don’t trust Piaggio one bit. It’s like having a beautiful girlfriend who has a history of cheating and you have to keep a watchful eye on her. Due to this new revelation about her behaviour I will now have to buy one of these special Vespa filter condoms, lest I develop an STD! Scooter Tarnish and Delamination!
PS. In the interests of DEI, the gender of the scoot is interchangeable according to whoever floats your boat.
They are not all like that.
I think you are washing it in salt too much.
Get a chemical breakdown of what you are using and you will be surprised what ionises into corrosion.
I have a Leader 125 ET4 with not a hint of corrosion.
Not put ACF-50 or any of those claimed inhibitors anywhere near a steel frame.
Only mugs buy that stuff and believe the tosh magazines write.
Sock for your oil filter. Thought it was an early April Fool joke!
Haven’t read so much nonsense since Performance Bikes ceased publication.
I suppose the only way you are going to learn is ignore them and anything I have to say.
Finding out the hard way is usually the only lessons you will learn.
It’s more likely the modern paint finish on newer scooters. The early GTS models are still the best in terms of bodywork and paint, you can get a 2004 GT 200 with less rust than a 2022 model. It’s the same with oil filters, they never used to be something to worry about, now it seems they’re becoming a ‘thing’.