black oil

[roadrunner]

hey all... :yes: i believe im approaching a repair of some sort. my bike has starting blacking up oil pretty fast. usually itd be between 2k and 4k but this last time it did it in just 800!! ack! the bike is an 02 with 62k and two seasons of drag racing. i ride the thing fairly hard as often as i can. i have been meticulous in my maintenance. the only thing that has ever gone away with this bike is the headlight bulb and the horn. the oil doesnt have any extras of any kind in it, its just black like dirty used way past time for an oil change oil. i looked through my manuals and couldnt find any mention of anything that would lead me in the right direction. id love it if any of you in the know could make some type of suggestion as to which way i should go. what might i need to do and what special tools might i need to do it with... thanks in advance for any help or ideas..

jennifer

[Redline]

Hey Road Runner : Beep Beep Zip Bang.

The only thing I could think of is that maybe the clutch is starting to deteriorate and darken the oil with clutch dust - but if you where drag racing I would assume it’s been replaced or checked?



Another thing is - what type of oil are you using? Is it motorcycle grade?

Car engine oil is not made to run through a gear box and it can break down quickly in a motorcycle.



But the most possible thing could be a fine layer of sludge build up in the bottom of the case. (normal for a bike with 62K) and when it mixes with the clean oil it could discolor it some. :thinking:



Best of luck on that.:p:


Here's a stunt clown Pic for good luck.

[roadrunner]

hehehe stunt clown... so the last racing of this bike was more than two years ago. never been into it at all. the only thing that changed after that was in 4th gear at hard roll on it would sorta slip off. id just roll off or gear up and itd be fine. the oil ive always used is the castrol 10-40. and the other thing reminded me...using the wrong torque wrench, i ate the threads of the oil drain bolt hole and had to replace the pan. when i did(about a couple years ago now) there pan looked new inside. could this be a simple clutch replace even though im having no trouble with it?? in the entire time ive owned the bike from new ive not once adjusted the cable even...
so what does the stunt clown have to say?? i cant believe that outta 25 look ats, only one put out any talk of this. i figured with all the expertise round here that thered be more.. anyways... i do appreciate your help redline.
now from the clown....

[Rex Raider]

could be you rings, 62k at a full gallup most of her life thats sounds about right
when gas and smoke get past the rings it called blow-by, check your compression :thumbup:

[Rex Raider]

if you do replace the rings don't forgot to swap out the barrings, hone out the cylinders and check the timing chain. and might as well throw in a valve job too.
:2cents:

[Rex Raider]

and a new clutch to go with all that new power :yes:

[Flyte Risk]

If it helps I have the adapter to go from the standard automotive sparkplug thread to bike size (10mm) I can mail it down if you want to borow it. Heck, I can send the whole tester.

[Rashmaster13]

I dont see the issue, if it runs good and is not using oil, RUN IT!
You could always flush the motor out next oil change I guess.

[roadrunner]

If it helps I have the adapter to go from the standard automotive sparkplug thread to bike size (10mm) I can mail it down if you want to borow it. Heck, I can send the whole tester.
is that the deal to do the compression test? if so thatd be cool.. :thumbup:

[roadrunner]

I dont see the issue, if it runs good and is not using oil, RUN IT!
You could always flush the motor out next oil change I guess.


hehehe.. i suppose youre right. maybe im just over thinking things, i dont know. whats the worst that could happen anyways??

[Flyte Risk]

is that the deal to do the compression test? if so thatd be cool.. :thumbup:Yeah, it's the whole deal. I'll get ready in the next few days and get it down to bobby or somebody. I don't forsee needing it in the next few months. It's small enough if we get a nice weekend soon I may use it as an excuse to ride down that way.

[roadrunner]

Yeah, it's the whole deal. I'll get ready in the next few days and get it down to bobby or somebody. I don't forsee needing it in the next few months. It's small enough if we get a nice weekend soon I may use it as an excuse to ride down that way.
well that rules! thank you.. is it pretty self explanatory? plug the thing in crank the motor and get a reading kinda deal? ive never had one in hand....

[Flyte Risk]

Yeah, pull all the spark plugs, thread into one cylinder crank 4 revolutions and check/write don the reading. Repeat on next cylinder/s until done. Compare reading to eachother and to specs from manual.

[rickster]

Jennifer, in my humble opinion your most likely means of figuring this out are A, getting your oil analyzed and B, getting a leakdown test done. Any diesel repair shop should be able to put you onto someone who does oil analysis. You can find out a lot from this, i.e., contamination by fuel, coolant, etc., metal content, as in bearing, ring or cylinder wear. The leakdown test will tell you precisely how much compression (%) leakage you have, and where the leakage is. The blackness you describe sounds like some sort of contamination. And, as previously mentioned, your clutch could be starting to come apart.

[roadrunner]

previously mentioned, your clutch could be starting to come apart.
interesting.. so the clutch could be going south with no signs of it doing so? i mean theres been no change in the thing. the second race season we had a particularly hot day and i cooked it pretty good and after that was when it started slipping off in top roll on. thats been a while now. i do have an aftermarket back up clutch and its assorted parts in the bin that i got during race season just in case but if thats the case ud rather go oem.

[roadrunner]

Yeah, pull all the spark plugs, thread into one cylinder crank 4 revolutions and check/write don the reading. Repeat on next cylinder/s until done. Compare reading to eachother and to specs from manual.
would that be hit the starter button just briefly?

[Flyte Risk]

Yup, unless your jedi mind control can get the engine to turn over. If so I'd go that route, it leaves a free hand for your lightsabre.

[roadrunner]

Yup, unless your jedi mind control can get the engine to turn over. If so I'd go that route, it leaves a free hand for your lightsabre.

lol got it

[Rex Raider]

3-4 sec's is plenty
you will see the gage move each time she hits a compression stroke :thumbup:

[Kelbor]

Well, I really have nothing to add but I am interested to know what the final conclussion is so keep us posted. Good luck.

[Redline]

Be sure to open the throttle when cranking the bike so it can breath fully.

:yes:

[tlrmike99]

Maybe I am just not that observant, but it seems like oil just gets dark fast after an oil change cause of all the crap thats still in the motor, yuou never get all the oil and stuff out. It tends to get dark perty quick on all three of my bikes? Just my :2cents: .....

[roadrunner]

so hold the throttle open while cranking the motor for a reading right?

[roadrunner]

Well, I really have nothing to add but I am interested to know what the final conclussion is so keep us posted. Good luck.

danke. :thumbup:

[dansrc51]

Maybe I am just not that observant, but it seems like oil just gets dark fast after an oil change cause of all the crap thats still in the motor, yuou never get all the oil and stuff out. It tends to get dark perty quick on all three of my bikes? Just my :2cents: .....


that's partially true. What Mike said is more likely though. If you have rings that aren't holding compression, they will leak burnt gases past the piston and into the crank case / oil. another place to check Jennifer is the clutch. if it's on it's way out, it could be fragmenting and contributing to your black oil problem. I would check three places first.

1. compression like Mike said

2. fuel ratio / mixture

3. clutch engagement, service-ability

with fresh oil and a fresh oil filter, you might darken the oil a little after an oil change, but when you look in the sight glass it should not be black....my
:2cents:

[dansrc51]

make sure the motor is disconnected from the ignition. in other words, disconnect all the cylinders. bad things can happen when you try to fire a motor on three cylinders with a hot spark and a compression tester in an empty chamber....... :soapbox:

ok, I'm done now.

[Rex Raider]

or you could pull all the spark plugs when you do the test. :yes:

[Flyte Risk]

The comp tester has been delivered to Bobby. If someone was able to cart it the rest of the way I'm sure Jennifer would be thankful.

[TAT2D]

Yup, I have it now. I'll take it down next time I head south. Or feel free to pick it up. Or if someone is heading down that way.......whateverhttp://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/newsmilies/idunno.gifhttp://eugenesportbike.com/forum/images/smilies/newsmilies/yes.gif


B

[roadrunner]

most excellent.. here before too long well ride or ill meet up with you some place if someone doesnt beat me to it. thanks to the both of you!

[MikeG]

so hold the throttle open while cranking the motor for a reading right?

That's correct.

What does the oil smell like?

[roadrunner]

What does the oil smell like?
dirty. not foul or anything from the usual, just dirty...