Hi I noticed I have some milky stuff in my oil:


I put a little bit of oil in a cap:



What should I do know? I have heard this can be condensation that can be removed by getting the oil hot.

I have only been riding short trips for the last few months , use the choke for about 80% of the time and its really cold.

Maybe get the engine up to a good hot running speed first? If it's caused by condensation then getting the engine hot will cause any water to burn off.

Chris

Milky/creamy looking oil is an indication of water or coolant contamination as far as I know. However, since these are air cooled bikes and thus do not have coolant, I would think it has to to be water in your oil.

Question is, how did the water get in there? Maybe you have a failing gasket somewhere or the dipstick isn't sealing right? Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can list some other possible ways the water got in there...

I would do an oil change and see if the oil gets like this again.

Too many short rides, oil not getting up to temp 

EDIT: Ride ON! (just ride longer)

Yeah, would be interesting to see how it looks like after a good hour of spirited riding

Quote from: qcbaker on January 20, 2017, 08:39:14 AM
Milky/creamy looking oil is an indication of water or coolant contamination as far as I know. However, since these are air cooled bikes and thus do not have coolant, I would think it has to to be water in your oil.

Question is, how did the water get in there? Maybe you have a failing gasket somewhere or the dipstick isn't sealing right? Maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can list some other possible ways the water got in there...

I would do an oil change and see if the oil gets like this again.

It gets in through the the crankcase breather. Normal this time of year if you don't go on a long ride.
Most people don't realize how cool air-cooled engines run most of the time. They are designed not to overheat in stop and go traffic in the middle of summer. Unlike a water-cooled engine, there's no way to regulate the temp, so it's like a water-cooled engine with the thermostat stuck open. In the winter, it takes a loooooong ride to drive off all the condensation that's accumulated in the oil.

You should not leave any water/condensation in the oil as it will promote rusting internally and it will also cause the clutch plates to either stick together and then tear apart or start to swell/dissolve the friction material.
Water is death for clutch plates. 

Macka

Quote from: RichDesmond on January 23, 2017, 07:42:31 PM
It gets in through the the crankcase breather. Normal this time of year if you don't go on a long ride.
Most people don't realize how cool air-cooled engines run most of the time. They are designed not to overheat in stop and go traffic in the middle of summer. Unlike a water-cooled engine, there's no way to regulate the temp, so it's like a water-cooled engine with the thermostat stuck open. In the winter, it takes a loooooong ride to drive off all the condensation that's accumulated in the oil.

Interesting... Maybe I should check my oil and see if it is also like this. My bike is kept outside since I don't have a garage (under a cover, of course), and its been pretty cool and rainy since I was last able to ride for a long while. So maybe my bike is in a similar situation and I don't even know it.

Hopefully the weather tomorrow is decent so I can go for a ride.

Quote from: qcbaker on January 24, 2017, 09:13:15 AM

Quote from: RichDesmond on January 23, 2017, 07:42:31 PM
It gets in through the the crankcase breather. Normal this time of year if you don't go on a long ride.
Most people don't realize how cool air-cooled engines run most of the time. They are designed not to overheat in stop and go traffic in the middle of summer. Unlike a water-cooled engine, there's no way to regulate the temp, so it's like a water-cooled engine with the thermostat stuck open. In the winter, it takes a loooooong ride to drive off all the condensation that's accumulated in the oil.

Interesting... Maybe I should check my oil and see if it is also like this. My bike is kept outside since I don't have a garage (under a cover, of course), and its been pretty cool and rainy since I was last able to ride for a long while. So maybe my bike is in a similar situation and I don't even know it.

Hopefully the weather tomorrow is decent so I can go for a ride.

If the bike hasn't been run it should be ok. When it's running air is being pumped in and out of the crankcase, and then when it cools you get the condensation. Short rides are the worst because the oil never gets hot enough to drive off the moisture.If you can take the bike for a 40-45 minute ride, or more, then definitely do so, but if you would be limited to less than that just leave the bike parked.

Quote from: RichDesmond on January 24, 2017, 06:34:31 PM
If the bike hasn't been run it should be ok. When it's running air is being pumped in and out of the crankcase, and then when it cools you get the condensation. Short rides are the worst because the oil never gets hot enough to drive off the moisture.If you can take the bike for a 40-45 minute ride, or more, then definitely do so, but if you would be limited to less than that just leave the bike parked.

Well, I got my bike over my lunch break at work, and right before starting it up, I checked the oil. I do not have any milkiness at all, so I must be running my bike often/long enough that it isnt a problem. Or perhaps the fact that I keep it under a cover has some effect. Either way, no problems for me.

Quote from: qcbaker on January 25, 2017, 10:45:12 AM
Well, I got my bike over my lunch break at work, and right before starting it up, I checked the oil. I do not have any milkiness at all, so I must be running my bike often/long enough that it isnt a problem. Or perhaps the fact that I keep it under a cover has some effect. Either way, no problems for me.