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milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 2:52 pm
by gregslistacct@hotmail.com
Yesterday I changed my oil and filter. I was using automotive GTX 10/40 and a Fram filter. I changed to Spectro 4 10/40 non-synthetic and a new Fram filter (same model). Due to some brain flatulence I wasted a bunch of the first quart I added because I failed to put the drain bolt back in before adding the oil. Doh! To get the oil level just above the top sight line, I had to add about a quarter of a quart of a different oil -- Spectro Golden 10/40 (partial synthetic) -- since I was out of the Spectro 4. After a 30 mile street ride in the rain I checked my oil sight and noticed a bunch of milky, cloudy gunk -- most likely water got in somehow. I rode the 30 miles back home, and the sight glass looks normal now -- although the oil is a little darker than I would expect for having only 60 miles on it.
My concern: is the milky gunk a symptom of leaky or blown seal somewhere? The bike seems to be running fine, but I'd rather not drive it until I'm confident I won't be causing further damage. Could it be the result of mixing a partial synthetic with a non-synthetic oil? Wouldn't seem to make sense, but I'm open to anything.
Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
Thanks!
Greg
Seattle
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 3:39 pm
by Mike Torst
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gregslistacct@... [mailto:gregslistacct@...]
> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 12:53 PM
> To:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com;
Puget_Sound_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [DSN_klr650] Milky gunk in oil sight window
>
> Yesterday I changed my oil and filter. I was using automotive GTX 10/40
> and a Fram filter. I changed to Spectro 4 10/40 non-synthetic and a new
> Fram filter (same model). Due to some brain flatulence I wasted a bunch
> of the first quart I added because I failed to put the drain bolt back in
> before adding the oil. Doh! To get the oil level just above the top
> sight line, I had to add about a quarter of a quart of a different oil --
> Spectro Golden 10/40 (partial synthetic) -- since I was out of the Spectro
> 4. After a 30 mile street ride in the rain I checked my oil sight and
> noticed a bunch of milky, cloudy gunk -- most likely water got in somehow.
> I rode the 30 miles back home, and the sight glass looks normal now --
> although the oil is a little darker than I would expect for having only 60
> miles on it.
>
> My concern: is the milky gunk a symptom of leaky or blown seal somewhere?
> The bike seems to be running fine, but I'd rather not drive it until I'm
> confident I won't be causing further damage. Could it be the result of
> mixing a partial synthetic with a non-synthetic oil? Wouldn't seem to
> make sense, but I'm open to anything.
>
> Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
> Greg
> Seattle
>
How water-emulsified oil could have the water evaporate (assuming a one-time
water introduction) in 30 miles escapes me. The fact the oil color became
darker, not more milky is also odd, if one is to assume the head gasket or
water-pump seal was failing.
Can you post some pictures of the oil on the web and link them to us?
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 5:34 pm
by klr_a4
I had the same dilemma once, changed the oil and the problem came
back. Turns out even though I ran the motor until the oil was good
and hot, water was condensing due to a low dew point.
It occured with me during the winters I spent in the SF Bay area.
Seeing as the weather in San Francisco is pretty much the same as
what you you have in Seattle, I think the issues are the same.
It's nothing to worry about, just normal given that sometimes we
don't run the motor long enough to compensate for the high
enviromental humidity and low temperature.
Run the motor for longer periods if you possibly can.
Conall
--- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> Yesterday I changed my oil and filter. I was using automotive GTX
10/40 and a Fram filter. I changed to Spectro 4 10/40 non-synthetic
and a new Fram filter (same model). Due to some brain flatulence I
wasted a bunch of the first quart I added because I failed to put the
drain bolt back in before adding the oil. Doh! To get the oil level
just above the top sight line, I had to add about a quarter of a
quart of a different oil -- Spectro Golden 10/40 (partial synthetic) -
- since I was out of the Spectro 4. After a 30 mile street ride in
the rain I checked my oil sight and noticed a bunch of milky, cloudy
gunk -- most likely water got in somehow. I rode the 30 miles back
home, and the sight glass looks normal now -- although the oil is a
little darker than I would expect for having only 60 miles on it.
>
> My concern: is the milky gunk a symptom of leaky or blown seal
somewhere? The bike seems to be running fine, but I'd rather not
drive it until I'm confident I won't be causing further damage.
Could it be the result of mixing a partial synthetic with a non-
synthetic oil? Wouldn't seem to make sense, but I'm open to anything.
>
> Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
> Greg
> Seattle
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 6:41 pm
by g716g716
Thanks Conall!
I'll proceed assuming this is the case -- i.e. do nothing. It has
been rather damp in Seattle these past few days, and even though I did
ride the KLR for about 15 mins. before changing the oil, it probably
could've been longer.
thanks,
Greg
--- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "klr_a4" wrote:
>
> I had the same dilemma once, changed the oil and the problem came
> back. Turns out even though I ran the motor until the oil was good
> and hot, water was condensing due to a low dew point.
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 7:30 pm
by Mike Torst
> -----Original Message-----
> From: klr_a4 [mailto:klr650dotcc@...]
> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 3:34 PM
> To:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [DSN_klr650] Re: Milky gunk in oil sight window
>
>
> I had the same dilemma once, changed the oil and the problem came
> back. Turns out even though I ran the motor until the oil was good
> and hot, water was condensing due to a low dew point.
>
> It occured with me during the winters I spent in the SF Bay area.
> Seeing as the weather in San Francisco is pretty much the same as
> what you you have in Seattle, I think the issues are the same.
>
> It's nothing to worry about, just normal given that sometimes we
> don't run the motor long enough to compensate for the high
> enviromental humidity and low temperature.
>
> Run the motor for longer periods if you possibly can.
>
> Conall
>
>
> --- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> > Yesterday I changed my oil and filter. I was using automotive GTX
> 10/40 and a Fram filter. I changed to Spectro 4 10/40 non-synthetic
> and a new Fram filter (same model). Due to some brain flatulence I
> wasted a bunch of the first quart I added because I failed to put the
> drain bolt back in before adding the oil. Doh! To get the oil level
> just above the top sight line, I had to add about a quarter of a
> quart of a different oil -- Spectro Golden 10/40 (partial synthetic) -
> - since I was out of the Spectro 4. After a 30 mile street ride in
> the rain I checked my oil sight and noticed a bunch of milky, cloudy
> gunk -- most likely water got in somehow. I rode the 30 miles back
> home, and the sight glass looks normal now -- although the oil is a
> little darker than I would expect for having only 60 miles on it.
> >
> > My concern: is the milky gunk a symptom of leaky or blown seal
> somewhere? The bike seems to be running fine, but I'd rather not
> drive it until I'm confident I won't be causing further damage.
> Could it be the result of mixing a partial synthetic with a non-
> synthetic oil? Wouldn't seem to make sense, but I'm open to anything.
> >
> > Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
> >
> > Thanks!
> > Greg
> > Seattle
>
SO, persons in high humidity environs experience milky oil- dang. I am
impressed with the ability of motor oil to retain humidity influences.
I lived in Portland, OR - never experienced it (even in non-summer
90+humidity periods). I hope that the condensation issue is the key - WAS
THIS HIS FIRST OIL CHANGE IN SEATTLE? Frisco is moist, Portland and Seattle
more so.
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 8:37 pm
by klr_a4
Conall wrote:
> > I had the same dilemma once, changed the oil and the problem came
> > back. Turns out even though I ran the motor until the oil was good
> > and hot, water was condensing due to a low dew point.
> >
> > It occured with me during the winters I spent in the SF Bay area.
> > Seeing as the weather in San Francisco is pretty much the same as
> > what you you have in Seattle, I think the issues are the same.
> >
> > It's nothing to worry about, just normal given that sometimes we
> > don't run the motor long enough to compensate for the high
> > enviromental humidity and low temperature.
> >
> > Run the motor for longer periods if you possibly can.
> >
> > Conall
> >
> >
> > --- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, wrote:
> > > Yesterday I changed my oil and filter. I was using automotive
GTX
> > 10/40 and a Fram filter. I changed to Spectro 4 10/40 non-
synthetic
> > and a new Fram filter (same model). Due to some brain flatulence
I
> > wasted a bunch of the first quart I added because I failed to put
the
> > drain bolt back in before adding the oil. Doh! To get the oil
level
> > just above the top sight line, I had to add about a quarter of a
> > quart of a different oil -- Spectro Golden 10/40 (partial
synthetic) -
> > - since I was out of the Spectro 4. After a 30 mile street ride
in
> > the rain I checked my oil sight and noticed a bunch of milky,
cloudy
> > gunk -- most likely water got in somehow. I rode the 30 miles
back
> > home, and the sight glass looks normal now -- although the oil is
a
> > little darker than I would expect for having only 60 miles on it.
> > >
> > > My concern: is the milky gunk a symptom of leaky or blown seal
> > somewhere? The bike seems to be running fine, but I'd rather not
> > drive it until I'm confident I won't be causing further damage.
> > Could it be the result of mixing a partial synthetic with a non-
> > synthetic oil? Wouldn't seem to make sense, but I'm open to
anything.
> > >
> > > Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
> > >
> > > Thanks!
> > > Greg
> > > Seattle
> >
>
--- In
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, "Mike Torst" wrote:
> SO, persons in high humidity environs experience milky oil- dang. I
am
> impressed with the ability of motor oil to retain humidity
influences.
>
> I lived in Portland, OR - never experienced it (even in non-summer
> 90+humidity periods). I hope that the condensation issue is the
key - WAS
> THIS HIS FIRST OIL CHANGE IN SEATTLE? Frisco is moist, Portland and
Seattle
> more so.
>
>
> Mike Torst
> Las Vegas
Mike,
My milky oil problem cleared itself up as soon as the weather got
warmer and drier, and after I took it for a long ride. Frown and yell
all you want , that's the way it was. I also used Castrol, and may
have mixed my oils, perhaps those are factors as well. I'm not enough
of an expert to come up with any other theories as to what seal may
or may not be leaky. To the best of my knowledge , the water cooled
system is a closed loop and it's damn near impossible for it to leak
into the crankcase. If somebody can prove me wrong go for it, I'm
always open to learning something new.
Most people in trouble and with questions fail to follow through with
additional info, so I know it's easy to get frustrated, but relax.
Nobody knows all the answers.
Conall-Nobody for President in 2004
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Sun Feb 15, 2004 9:08 pm
by john hickman
I had the same thing happen to me about two years ago. I had forgotten
about it until your post. I'm not a good klr owner and dump whatever oil I
have in the garage in it. I changed oil, rode a short distance (about two
miles) stopped to get gas and checked the sight glass, milky. I was sure
it was water but when I got home it was clear. Never had it happen again.
I think it was the mix of different oils. I left the oil in but since
have not mixed oils. The bike has over ten thousand now and it's fine as
far as I know.
-----Original Message-----
From: Mike Torst [SMTP:vegasklr@...]
Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 3:39 PM
To: gregslistacct@...
Cc:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [DSN_klr650] Milky gunk in oil sight window
> -----Original Message-----
> From: gregslistacct@... [mailto:gregslistacct@...]
> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 12:53 PM
> To:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com;
Puget_Sound_KLR650@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [DSN_klr650] Milky gunk in oil sight window
>
> Yesterday I changed my oil and filter. I was using automotive GTX 10/40
> and a Fram filter. I changed to Spectro 4 10/40 non-synthetic and a new
> Fram filter (same model). Due to some brain flatulence I wasted a bunch
> of the first quart I added because I failed to put the drain bolt back in
> before adding the oil. Doh! To get the oil level just above the top
> sight line, I had to add about a quarter of a quart of a different oil --
> Spectro Golden 10/40 (partial synthetic) -- since I was out of the
Spectro
> 4. After a 30 mile street ride in the rain I checked my oil sight and
> noticed a bunch of milky, cloudy gunk -- most likely water got in
somehow.
> I rode the 30 miles back home, and the sight glass looks normal now --
> although the oil is a little darker than I would expect for having only
60
> miles on it.
>
> My concern: is the milky gunk a symptom of leaky or blown seal somewhere?
> The bike seems to be running fine, but I'd rather not drive it until I'm
> confident I won't be causing further damage. Could it be the result of
> mixing a partial synthetic with a non-synthetic oil? Wouldn't seem to
> make sense, but I'm open to anything.
>
> Anyone have any ideas or suggestions?
>
> Thanks!
> Greg
> Seattle
>
How water-emulsified oil could have the water evaporate (assuming a
one-time
water introduction) in 30 miles escapes me. The fact the oil color became
darker, not more milky is also odd, if one is to assume the head gasket or
water-pump seal was failing.
Can you post some pictures of the oil on the web and link them to us?
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
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milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 1:04 am
by Greg S
I just posted a pic @
http://www.geocities.com/g716g716/oilsight.jpg
Perhaps its not as "dark" as I originally thought -- although I'd expect it
to be a bit more golden than the redish hue is seems to have.
Part of me wants to just flush it and put the GTX 10/40 back in and see what
happens...
-Greg
Seattle
----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Torst"
To:
How water-emulsified oil could have the water evaporate (assuming a one-time
water introduction) in 30 miles escapes me. The fact the oil color became
darker, not more milky is also odd, if one is to assume the head gasket or
water-pump seal was failing.
Can you post some pictures of the oil on the web and link them to us?
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 3:56 am
by Mike Torst
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greg S [mailto:gregslistacct@...]
> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 3:22 PM
> To: Mike Torst
> Cc:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Milky gunk in oil sight window
>
> I just posted a pic @
>
http://www.geocities.com/g716g716/oilsight.jpg
> Perhaps its not as "dark" as I originally thought -- although I'd expect
> it
> to be a bit more golden than the redish hue is seems to have.
>
> Part of me wants to just flush it and put the GTX 10/40 back in and see
> what
> happens...
>
> -Greg
> Seattle
The oil photo looks good.
I do not get your earlier post on 'milky'.
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
milky gunk in oil sight window
Posted: Mon Feb 16, 2004 4:05 am
by Mike Torst
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Greg S [mailto:gregslistacct@...]
> Sent: Sunday, February 15, 2004 3:22 PM
> To: Mike Torst
> Cc:
DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com
> Subject: Re: [DSN_klr650] Milky gunk in oil sight window
>
> I just posted a pic @
>
http://www.geocities.com/g716g716/oilsight.jpg
> Perhaps its not as "dark" as I originally thought -- although I'd expect
> it
> to be a bit more golden than the redish hue is seems to have.
>
> Part of me wants to just flush it and put the GTX 10/40 back in and see
> what
> happens...
>
> -Greg
> Seattle
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Torst"
> To:
>
> How water-emulsified oil could have the water evaporate (assuming a one-
> time
> water introduction) in 30 miles escapes me. The fact the oil color became
> darker, not more milky is also odd, if one is to assume the head gasket or
> water-pump seal was failing.
>
> Can you post some pictures of the oil on the web and link them to us?
>
>
>
> Mike Torst
> Las Vegas
>
--------------------------------------------
Flush - I have heard from several high-humidity environment riders that are
more than comfortable w/ temporary milk
/
I defer to their experience and positive response.
Water in my oil would be an issue.
Mike Torst
Las Vegas
