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#1 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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milky/yellow oil after a valve job
So I had the bike parked and I was working(valve job) on it on and off for about 2 weeks.
This is my first valve job and I am wondering if I messed something up. After putting the whole thing back together, I filled the fluids back up and ran it for a bit. Looked at the oil again and ..... I never split the head from the block so I doubt water is getting in the oil...but at this point I am scared... I am suspecting 2 things 1) Moly grease that I used as assembly lube but that was mixed 10:1 as per the Kawi SM is being washed off into the oil and hence the change in color 2) Some condensation ?? since the bike sat without fluids for about 2 weeks? I am buying a new oil filter tomorrow and gonna put in fresh oil and hope for the best. Any advice or possible leads would be awesome right about now .. |
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#2 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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I should probably also add that when I started the job the weather was +20C(68F) and now it's hovering around 0C(32F)
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#3 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bob
Location: CA
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.
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Yikes! That looks like retrograde ejaculation to me. You'll need to have your prostate checked.
As far as your bike, could you have gotten coolant in there?
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Honda Interceptor VFR800 DLX (2014, 8th gen) Honda CBR500r (2014) - FOR SALE Kawi Ninja 250r (2008) - Restored and passed-down within family, only to be abandoned |
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#4 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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Quote:
EDIT: hmm "Small amounts of water can give an oil a caramel color while more water will give it a milky, Irish-cream appearance." http://www.machinerylubrication.com/...103/cloudy-oil |
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#6 |
Jigglin' your Jiglets
Name: Sean
Location: San Jose, Ca
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2009 K1300S, 2013 Ninja 300, 2011 Ninja 250R, Faster than Unregistered's ninjette Posts: Too much.
Blog Entries: 1
MOTM - Apr '13
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I LOL'd in my pants
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If the Ninja 250 doesn't have enough power for you, then you don't know how to ride it. AFM #676 ![]() Supersports are for n00bs |
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#7 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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:P no I didn't stick anything into anything :P
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#8 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Charlie
Location: Wylie, TX
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 650R Posts: 317
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When you say 'valve job', what are you referring to? Valve clearance? Any 'valve job' I'm familiar with requires that you take the head off.
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#9 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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Sorry yeah, valve clearance and adjustment. I just removed the cams, removed the buckets, replaced the shims and put everything back together.
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#10 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Charlie
Location: Wylie, TX
Join Date: Nov 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2007 Ninja 650R Posts: 317
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Well, I've never seen condensation produce that much slimy oil, and condensation usually produces white goo. The fact that it's yellow-green tells me that quite a quantity of coolant got into your oilpan, but the question is how.
What I would do: Fill the radiator to the top, and fill the overflow bottle to the full line. While you're in the radiator, check to see if you see anything oily floating on top. Go buy 4 bottles of Pennzoil, or some other cheap dino 10W-40, and 2 filters. Change the oil, ride it around the block, and change it again. After a short ride, if the yellow goo re-appears, you have a problem. I just don't know if its with your water pump, or your head gasket. A compression test will normally tell you if the head gasket is bad. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if the shaft seal in the water pump fails, this can also introduce coolant into the oil, and vice-versa. |
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#11 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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Thanks cbdallas!!
It seems like my best option at the current point in time is to get some some oil and filters like you said and see if the condition persists... I sincerely hope it's just condensation that somehow got washed into the oil and mixed up ! |
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#12 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: Carl
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 250 Green+Black Special Edition Posts: 19
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Quote:
My bet would be condensation- but I'd be very cautious about it. Looks like you're on the right path, GL! |
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#13 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
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#14 |
ninjette.org sage
Name: Steve
Location: Valdosta GA, US
Join Date: Jul 2011 Motorcycle(s): 2012 Ninja 250, 2006 Ninja ZX6R-636 Posts: 661
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Another way to determine coolant leak is to pressure test the system.
Very common method to check for coolant leaks in any sealed cooling system. Similar to what drvr5 describes but not requiring the bike to start. |
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#15 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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I filled her up with fresh oil and a new oil filter and let her idle for a bit. I didn't see any change in the color of the oil. I let her come up to temp and all seemed fine and dandy.
I revved her up on the stand but wasn't able to take her out because it was quite late by that point ... I have high hopes at this point ! no more probes in funny places ![]() Last futzed with by quanttrom; March 29th, 2012 at 09:11 PM. Reason: added attachment |
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#16 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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Took her out for a short spin around the neighborhood today. I started with some moderate slow riding, then checked the oil and it seemed fine.
I then went for a bit harsher acceleration running her to redline on first gear a couple of times. I didn't take her for a long highway ride or anything. When I stopped right after my second ride the oil had some bubbles in it. 10-20 seconds later they were all gone and the oil was good. No discoloration , no milkyness, no bubbles. Should I be worried about the bubbles shorty after shutting off the engine? |
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#17 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Carl
Location: Phoenix, AZ
Join Date: Apr 2011 Motorcycle(s): '09 250 Green+Black Special Edition Posts: 19
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I'm not bold enough to say no problem without seeing it with my own eyes, but some bubbling is normal. The oil gets aerated during normal use, so some bubbles are expected. If it is truly worrisome to you, take it to a mechanic and have it final checked. Shouldn't bee hardly any cost, if they bother to charge at all.
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#18 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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Quote:
I feel reasonably at ease right now. I will do another oil flush, just because I have the extra oil and will closely monitor it after every ride! I will also flush the coolant just in case. Thanks to everybody who replied with tips and suggestions !!! Thank you for the support ! |
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#19 |
ninjette.org guru
Name: Calvin
Location: Quesnel, B.C
Join Date: Aug 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 250R (sold), 2013 300SE Posts: 276
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I'd say your fine. Your motor was open for 2wks with huge temperature swings, high humidity(melting snow) you would get lots of condensation in your motor, unless it was in a heated shop. Then I would think a little about a leak.
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#20 |
ninjette.org member
Name: Justin
Location: Ewa Beach, HI
Join Date: Feb 2010 Motorcycle(s): 2009 CT Blue 250R(Sold), 2008 Black & Silver Honda CBR600RR(Current) Posts: 201
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you had coolant mixed in with your oil
When you take off the valve cover, you have the coolant pipe on the rear side of the cover. And when you take the pipe off it'll leak some coolant into your head and if you dont clean it all out you'll taint your oil with it. Thats why you should change oil after your valve clearance check. |
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#21 |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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The thing is... I never took that coolant pipe off...
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#22 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bob
Location: CA
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.
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You may not have, but you MAY have accidentally pulled it up a bit when you were manipulating the valve cover. That is how I got coolant in mine. Mine was obvious, as it came all the way off. But I wonder if yours just came a little unseated and coolant may have seeped.
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#23 |
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You can replace the o-ring on the coolant pipe with the little o-ring that comes with an oil filter. I read that somewhere on faq.ninja250.org, but can't remember which page it was...
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#24 | |
ninjette.org member
Name: QUANT
Location: Canada
Join Date: Jun 2011 Motorcycle(s): 250r Posts: 176
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Quote:
Either way, I just did another flush, took her our for a rip. Did another 6km. The oil still has some small bubbles after stopping but it definitely does not get milky and it's all fine and dandy ![]() |
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#25 |
ninjette.org certified postwhore
Name: Bob
Location: CA
Join Date: Dec 2008 Motorcycle(s): '08 Ninja 250r, '14 CBR500r Posts: A lot.
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Yup, your probably good.
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Honda Interceptor VFR800 DLX (2014, 8th gen) Honda CBR500r (2014) - FOR SALE Kawi Ninja 250r (2008) - Restored and passed-down within family, only to be abandoned |
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