| Author | Message | ||
     Pontlee77 |
Hello Guys and Gals, Yesterday when checking the oil level i noticed at the top of the dip stick some white looking grease, the oil level was fine and the oil was fine but i'm wondering whit this like grease came from, any one has any idea? Thanks, Miguel. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
That's water condensation. Change your oil as soon as you can. | ||
| Electraglider_1997 |
It's condensation caused by short engine runs. You need to ride the bike long enough to cook off the condensate created during the combustion process. Short runs shorten engine life because of the acids that form with the presence of water in the oil. If the fan doesn't come on during riding or at least at shutdown then the oil hasn't gotten hot enough to cook off the condensate. The rear cylinder temp is what governs whether or not the fan comes on, but the oil temp also rises with it. | ||
| Etennuly |
If you have it forming in the engine oil, I would be checking the primary too. It will also collect condensate water and make the oil into a foamy mocca mix. | ||
| Arcticktm |
Foamy mocha mix? Is this a bike or an espresso machine? Ducati owners will be jealous. | ||
| Etennuly |
Ducati owners will be jealous. Just another day.  | ||
| Tginnh |
I just checked my oil the other day and found the same thing. I just changed all my fluids a couple weeks back. It's been cold. The rides have been short. The fan has not been coming on. | ||
| Froggy |
I don't think I have heard my fan turn on once in January or February. Even riding 40 mile trips didn't help. Needless to say my last oil change was sploogey. | ||
| Thetable |
Water is one of the products of burning gas. If the engine is cold, it will tend to condense and collect in places where you don't want it. If you are making short trips, the engine never gets up to a temp where it will cook off. | ||
| Thetable |
I guess that is why the owners manual recommends going to the stupid short drain intervals during the cold weather. 1500 miles IIRC. And after my last change in the primary, I think I may adopt that short change strategy for the primary too. | ||
| Florida_lime |
I don't think I have heard my fan turn on once in January or February Much warmer here during those months, but even down into the low 40s and high 30s -- my fan will still come on. | ||
| Thunderbox |
I wouldn't be overly concerned folks. The people who make the oil have put additives into the oil to do exactly what it is doing. This ensures adaquate lubrication between long rides. When it gets good and hot the oil will revert to it's original state after all the water is vaporized off. If it is excessive, change the oil but if you use a quality oil it need not be a real source of worry. The water vapor is a byproduct of combustion. For every gallon of gas you burn you produce about a gallon of water. When the engine is running at operating temps it is passed fully in the exhaust as invisible vapors. The primary should not have this symptom unless water is getting in by some other method. There is no combustion and therefore no source of water in the primary and if this is showing up in your case then find the leak. Mine was the breather in my M2. When it rained the tire sprayed water in the breather hose, situated in the rear wheel well area. I moved it and never had a reoccurance. Sometimes the bellows on the clutch cable at the front of the bike has a hole in it and when it rains it allows water into the primary case. I had this on my Uly. Replaced the bellows and it never reoccured. (Message edited by Thunderbox on April 22, 2009) | ||
| Pontlee77 |
Thanks folks i'll have to get a small scooter for my short runs to work. and the uly for my fun rides. | ||
| Thetable |
No need for all that, just take the Uly for more fun rides, she'll thank you and you'll thank you. (Message edited by thetable on April 22, 2009) | ||
| Froggy |
It takes me about 2 hours to get to work, its 32 KM by car, 177 KM by Uly. I can't figure out why.  | ||
| Skinstains |
Every ride, 20 miles or 20 minutes. I was told this many moons ago and it seems to work in every vehicle I ever had. |
