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Author Topic: Coolant in my oil?  (Read 2239 times)

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Offline widelyunknown

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Coolant in my oil?
« on: April 13, 2011, 06:35:39 PM »
Normally when I see something like this I start thinking blown headgasket. But.... Our bikes are
air cooled. Your guy's thoughts?


There's probably two weeks on this oil, with a fresh filter too. I think I've put maybe 100 miles on it.
I switched to Castrol Walmart oil after reading somewhere on here that it had some additive that was good
for older engines, but not for catalytic converters. I can  be more specific when I get home. It ran fine
but today the tranny was shifting with more clunking than is usual. I also parked it in front of my house
last night, so I'm also thinking someone put something in the oil tank. I'm thinking I may just change it
out this weekend as a form of cheap insurance.

The oil in the tank is a dark oil looking color. I'm still new to motos that are older than me, so maybe this
is normal?
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Offline lone*X

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Re: Coolant in my oil?
« Reply #1 on: April 13, 2011, 06:40:06 PM »
One word.  Condensation. 
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Lone*X  ( Don )

75 CB550K1  
VTX1800C for two up cruisin.
Several others have come and gone but whose keeping track.
52 years on two wheels and counting.....
"The best safety feature of any motorcycle is the one God put between your ears.  It's also the least utilized"

Offline TwoTired

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Re: Coolant in my oil?
« Reply #2 on: April 13, 2011, 06:40:45 PM »
It's called an emulsion (which is what mayonaise is, btw).
In your case, it is a mixture/froth of water and oil.
My guess is that you aren't running the bike long enough to get all the oil good and hot and then maintain that heat until the condensation (from humid air) has boiled off.  So, it built up in your engine and/or oil tank.

If you have an oil cooler added, block it off so the oil will get hot.

Get in a long hot ride and it should go away.

Cheers,
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Lloyd... (SOHC4 #11 Original Mail List)
72 500, 74 550, 75 550K, 75 550F, 76 550F, 77 550F X2, 78 550K, 77 750F X2, 78 750F, 79CX500, 85 700SC, GL1100

Those that learn from history are doomed to repeat it by those that don't learn from history.

Offline hyde7278

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Re: Coolant in my oil?
« Reply #3 on: April 13, 2011, 06:44:48 PM »
I work on Audi's for a living and I See this all the time. Its condensation. Happens when you take shorter trips and don't get the oil hot enough to burn off the water(condensation) or when the temp drops outside far enough to have the moister in the air to condensate from the hot engine. Nothing to worry about, the shifting issue may just be a coincidence.
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78 CB550 (FOR PARTS)
76 CB550F

Offline widelyunknown

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Re: Coolant in my oil?
« Reply #4 on: April 13, 2011, 07:11:54 PM »
That makes perfect sense. Thanks.
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Offline VRodPete

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Re: Coolant in my oil?
« Reply #5 on: April 14, 2011, 05:35:59 AM »
If that oil isn't a motorcycle specific oil, you should probably get it out of there.  The wet clutch needs a different additive package and most modern auto oils will cause the clutch to slip eventually.   I'd suggest you put in a motorcycle specific oil or Rotella-T, which is also fine in MC engines with wet clutches.
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