Hi all,

Just changed the oil and filter on the new to me 14, have ridden maybe 40 km since. Washed the bike yesterday and noticed quite milky oil in the crankcase glass while drying it off. It has been very humid here with all the snow melting and I have had several short run times to move the bike around and test things. I have experienced this on dirt-bikes in the past several times for obvious reasons, but not my road bikes. I do know that water can find it's way in to the oil through condensation when running the bike short times and while washing. Too dry things out I ran the bike for 10-20 minutes just above idle, right up to full temp bars and now the oil looks great again.

My question is if this is more common on the 14s because of the ram air riding in rain or washing or if you suspect that the humidy and short runs are responsible for this situation?

same thing happened to mine, I just changed oil.

Mad, you answered it... The latter.

Jeffo,

Are we following Mad's short heat sync of wasting hours idling/cooking more water than baking it out like a good half hour of hard riding on a cold day?

FI:

1. Drain- All fuel [lines/tank/everything].
2. Electrically clean - Injectors manually.
3. Change oil; the last day you know you'll never ride it again till next season, roll in and dump it hot. Fill with fresh.
4. Since everything is dry with brake or contact or carb clean, you licked the rubber o-ring at the fuel line, back in place does everything go.
5. Now you just fill and fire because you kept the battery charged with a tender or knew it was time with the old charger with correct output or buckle my plates with way too much amp boiling out the energy stored.

Sounds more like you are doing more harm than thinking this is the way to keep it in storage for that short a time? Gas will go bad but fire. What you don't want is for the varnish to set in and close/lock everything down. Either chemical up with that sta-bullshit or shut her down dry, use the bike's gas for the snow blower.

It's yer water vapor from combustion going on,and not allowing the engine to achieve operating temp.I'll go out on a limb here.Mine did that as well.Once or twice.From starting it,letting it warm somewhat,then shutting down.The oil wasn't milky...it was the unheated oil IN THE SIGHT GLASS(moisture)and the outside temp against the glass.If you read your owner's manual(not the service manual)...you'll notice they say "do not let your engine 'idle' for more than 5 minutes...something like that.They're saying(I THINK) that shutting off a premature heated engine will cause this thing.MAYBE???IDK for sure.Could be they're speaking about "overheating"(which it shouldn't in a 5 minute idle).I know sometimes they mean one thing,and it sounds like something else entirely.Looks to me they're meaning...do not partially heat your oil/engine,then shut off in around a 5 minute period of time.I could be totally KOO KOO about this however.I didn't change my oil...just took er out for a good romp.No problems with mine.

Ya, I did several short start ups in my heated garage due to servicing / checking things and then moved it outside to wash it in 5C temps. Sounds like a logical reason to me.

I have heard that it is better to cook the moisture out at low RPM rather than higher?? Maybe so the moisture isn't churned in with the butter quite as much. Either way works.

Probably happens more than we know, at least my issue is solved. 40km is a pricey oil change interval!

I DON'T put my bike up ever. I ride year round. Yeah, I do a lot of 20-30 minute rides when it is cold out.

* Last updated by: Jeff01ss on 4/5/2011 @ 2:17 PM *

If you wash your bike and then immediately start it up and don't let it get up to a good temp, you'll get condensation in it and that causes the milky look through the sight glass.

When I wash mine I blow dry it then let it sit a couple of hours before firing it up. No issues

That couldn't be my problem, I have only washed mine 3-4 times in the two years I've owned it. lol

That couldn't be my problem, I have only washed mine 3-4 times in the two years I've owned it. lol

Yea but even with extreme temp changes you'll still get a little condensation. It should disappear after the engine gets good and warm.

Book says, "Ya know, I got a boot covered over so I can keep the heat in an make gobs of power.' 'I have a fairing that covers over the engine.''Yeah, I have a radiator and if you think I am water cooled kind of gal, you let me cook for 5 minutes or more, I'm going to melt your world, fell ear." Is what the book is saying. Move me in the hair like this split second... Leave the pads on the cement... We ain't got timesay waste'inn.

EYE DUE EGG Clear? Are weeeeeeee Clear?

Oh, let me rev motor a lot so it makes even more heat... Sitting still...

Let me look for my foot... Oh, there it is. Inn my mouf.

Yea but even with extreme temp changes you'll still get a little condensation. It should disappear after the engine gets good and warm.

+1 if you ride or change your oil in cold weather, it is hard to avoid this. I see it in late fall. it clears itself.

I usually have my oil black with a few sugar cubes....