| Author | Message | ||
     Too_tall_todd |
A little while ago I started a thread about hard starting (its cold in california) to get opinions about a better oil. I just went to change the oil and I noticed white thin paste in my oil. It looks like water to me. I as you could predict have a few questions... First, how much damage could this have done, I changed the oil 600 miles ago so it does not have a lot of miles with the bad stuff. Second, how do I clear it out? I am thinking about putting some really thin oil(10-40, 5-30) in just long enough to mix it up and then drain and repeat it a few times. Does this sound like a reasonable idea? Third, where could water have come from, it's an air cooled engine. I ride it to work in the rain and do park it there outside, in the rain but this is California, we are not talking about real weather. if any of you have any ideas I would really appreciate your help. thanks T3 | ||
| Bructer |
If it's real bad you can fill it up with diesel run it a few minutes and drain it. Do it a second time and add your regular oil as normal. Should look after the water in the crank case. Cheers, | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
Thank you, I am looking at the primary oil next. T3 | ||
| Davo |
It is not uncommon for Harley's to pick up condensation in the oil during colder weather. The remedy is to change the oil more often during cold weather operation. Your engine is fine. I have had less problems using AMS oil MCV than when I used HD 360. Synthetic oil will also give you less wear during cold starts. I ride more in the winter than the summer so I have seen the white film as well. Another solution is to make sure you get the engine hot and avoid short trips. | ||
| Superglide |
With shorter rides of less than 20 minutes you will have this happen in colder climates/weather. The engine is not getting hot enough to boil away the condensate (moisture) therefore the whiteish muck. The shorter the ride the worse this will get. Ride the bike longer in cold weather and change the oil more often and use a synthetic based oil for less of a problem. | ||
| Davegess |
Superglide has it nailed. Up here in the frozen north my air cooled car takes a good 435 minutes n the highway before it is fully hot, hot enough to boil the water out of the oil. Water gets in the oil because a lot of water vapor gets pumped through an engine. | ||
| Reepicheep |
It's water... just run the bike until it is good and hot for a while. | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
I have a mechanic at McGuire hd in Walnut Creek who is a Buell guy, he suggested that the water might have gotten in when I used the pressure washer at work. He said that they have seen that before. and like you guys they said that it isn't a real big deal. By the by there was no water in the primary. I like the suggestions that I got here, Oh No I am going to have to ride my bike more often and longer. Poor me, what shall I do. heh heh. Once again thanks for all your advice guys. T3 | ||
| Etennuly |
If you want to see where it can come from just put a piece of bare steel 1/16" thick or so, outside where you park your bike for a night. The steel will look dry. Take a small propane torch and heat a corner of the steel. You can literally chase the water out of the steel with the heat from the flame. Look at the other side, the same thing is happening there. About a month ago I got my Uly out on a cold humid day and as the engine warmed up I watched as the heat from the cylinders pushed the moisture off the colling fins. Steel, iron, aluminum, magnesium, all porous metals that our bikes engine and components are made from attract and transfer moisture when cold. Like they said you need full operating temperature for some time to boil off that moisture. | ||
| Too_tall_todd |
I did not know that the metals were porous. would you think that using a cover would help to isolate the bike from the moisture? | ||
| Etennuly |
No, if it is not in a heat controlled environment that is just a natural phenomenon. I park my Uly in a wooden sealed shed and it does it. A cover over it outside will actually make it worse. It will hold in more moisture. | ||
| Jlnance |
would you think that using a cover would help to isolate the bike from the moisture? Most of that moisture is comming from inside the engine. When gasoline burns, it makes carbon dioxide and water. Not all of this burnt fuel goes out the exhaust. Some blows by the rings. When your engine is cold, this water will "rain" inside your engine. It's not a big deal. Your oil is designed to protect against damage from this water, thats what an oils "total base number" refers to. As others have said, change the oil more frequently when it is cold, particularly if you take short rides. | ||
| Thelumox |
i've heard some folks are getting water coming past the stator wire plug on the rhs. i think this water ends up in the primary, but i'm going to shoot some hitemp silicone in there. |
