Engine Oil Aging

But I'm not selling my VFR....

 

In uk.rec.motorcycles, Beav belched forth and ejected the following:

I've only just recently noticed it when I last checked the oil level.
There is what appears to be coolant leaking from the head because
there's a yellowy hue to the exhaust paint which I sprayed the engine
in. That's been like that for at least the last 10,000 miles, I reckon
and I have been using it for very short journies to work and back when
there's still a bit of a nip in the air.

The oil needs changing anyway so I'll keep an eye on it after that.

It isn't really bad, btw but it's reassuring to know the ratbike has a
bit of life left in it yet.

 

Actually I was intimidated with DIY fitting, but now I have one, I'm
actually impressed with how relatively easy to fit it appears to be.
They include enough options for connection to make it a piece of piss
really. I imagine it will still take me a while though, and the photo
suggesting
"cut the vaccum here" is a bit vague for an illiterate like me.

 

If there's a leak to the outside world, it's possible an amount is leaking
into the motor too causing the discolouration of your oil.

That's been like that for at least the last 10,000 miles, I reckon

And short trips rarely (if ever) get the engine hot enough to boil off the
water in the oil. Well not unless there's not enough coolant to keep the
temp under control. When it's cold weather, it's not a bad idea to
occasionally let an engine run hot enough to fire up the fan (104c on the
Zed) so you *know* the water is removed. The Zed will reach 104 in traffic
now the temps have come out of the depths of hell, but over winter, NO
fucking chance, and I make sure it's at that temp when I change the oil, to
make sure any water id gone and the oil is as thin as possible.

Never a bad idea.

I've got to get a tuit for my VN sofa. I've been "doing the engine" all
winter and I've yet to turn a fucking spanner. I think I'm getting lazy as
well as old.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Ditto. However I mustered some effort, and managed to extrude the old oil,
did a few other things like hook up the optimate to condition the battery
(again).
Also had a poke around to see how difficult other jobs would be, and
subsequently got quite depressed about it.

Warmed the engine up, aside from being a bit smokier than I hoped as it
always is after a while (which subsided - probably excess fuel/choke to the
engine) it seemed to idle out ok, but is a bit too tappity sounding for my
liking.
Surprisingly black, it was but no sign of contaminates I could see.
Maybe I have done closer to 1000 x miles instead of 500 from the last change
after all.
Even wiuth the oil mesh thing or whatever its called - which I did go to the
effort of checking over as a proper approach to servicing - was definitely
showing no signs of wear to the engine so that is a good thing, surely.

On the bad side, it seems that fork oil replacement and fitting the
Scottoiler (given I have other accessories) is going to be a real ballache.
Not from the point of view of fitting the Scottoiler which technically is
quite simple - its just there SO much to come off like the luggage rear
rack, mudguards and such. And there ain't any point doing that until I also
get a MityVac for the brakes bleedin side of things.
The lack of centre stand, fork drain bolts, & easy access to brakes, chain
etc is duly noted. Part of the reason I am getting the Scottoiler TBH.

 

Air cooled engines can also get mayo - my Quota gets rockerboxes lined
with the stuff in winter and that's even with moderately regular
50-miles-per-day use.

I think in that case though it's prolly condensation from blow-by etc.
and the rocker boxes are like angular cathedral domes that stick out
in the cold wind.

 

My Zephyr has had a fairly cloudy sight glass all winter, although
yesterday's inspection of the camshaft revealed it to be very clean indeed,
no signs of any sludge or other crap in there, and cams as smooth as very
smooth things, plus very shiny shims.

--
Dan L (Oldbloke)

My bike 1996 Kawasaki ZR1100 Zephyr
Space in shed where NSR125 used to be
Spare Bike 1990 Suzuki TS50X (Patio Ornament)
BOTAFOT #140 (KotL 2005/6), X-FOT#000, DIAABTCOD #26, BOMB#18 (slow), OMF#11

 

Pip Luscher wrote

My (red) GS doesn't and it has been very neglected this winter.

 

The Ducati's the same - the only time the sight glass hasn't been
streaked has been on many-hundred-mile thrashes in French summers.

 

I *did* say "superb" VFR.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Yeah, that's me. I know I've got to get the motor out and stripped and I
know it'll only take me a day and a half (the whole bike seems to need
ripping apart to get the engine out) and I've got all the new parts except a
pair of pistons & rings. I could have everything done within a week, even if
I piss about, but ......

Could just as easily been oil weeping past the valve seals as anything else
(choke) too, but the tappity sound is why I'm "about" to rip mine out. I
hate noises that shouldn't be, in engines.

Thats one of my pet hates with bikes. They're full of bits that need
removing to do the simplest jobs.



--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Yeah, but it's a Guzzi Actually, other than condensation, I can't
understand why it'd get mayo-ed on an aircooled motor, and it'd need quite a
bit. I used to see a smattering on my VW years ago but never gave it a
thought and that was used every day.

And rain.


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19

 

Try "vacuum" (pipe) and it may well come easier to you.

 

I'd rather change the spark plugs on my Drifter than on my V6 Mondeo.

The Ford's engine compartment is a tightly-packed nightmare, and I'd
have to strip off some of the inlet manifold before I could even see
the rear bank of plugs.

The Drifter's plugs are all visible and accessible. I'll admit that
you do have to pull off the HT leads before you can undo the plugs,
but it's easy.

 

Well yeah, but that's a given. The Drifter's plugs are accessible after all.

I looked at doing the plugs on the Zed and decided to leave it until it's
service (this Wednesday) and get the man to do it. Too much electrickery and
other gubbins under the tank for me to piss about with.

Easy, but time consuming


--
Beav

VN 750
Zed 1000
OMF# 19