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Condensation in the Oil

J

JMHJ

Forum Mentor
Super Site Supporter
Can't remember which of my old Suzuki's had sight glasses for oil level check, but I know at least one did. I think the 450 was the only one with a dipstick...

Anyway, My Kawi's got one, and I noticed this evening what I'd think is condensation, just a little white stuff in there. I've seen that before, but forgot about it. I think it's got something to do with the cold weather. Prob 40s and after dark when I got home from a 20-25min ride. I ride it in freezing temps or a little below too. It's liquid cooled. T-stat is operational.

Just kind of wondering if that's common. I know it's not there year-round.
 
Mayonnaise always gets the pulse rate up.
I assume you are not losing coolant so that can be crossed off the list?
Is it normal to see some of the white stuff in cold weather or short trips?
In general I would say yes followed by it depends.​
The way I look at it is that exhaust gas has a dewpoint of about 160F. After startup anything the exhaust gas can see that is less than that will condense the water out and it runs down to the sump or collects in the muffler.
As the motor and oil hits 160F and above the condensate will begin to be driven off. How long to clear it all will depend on the starting temperature, ambient, previous journeys, storage location etc etc.
You then have to ask how is this water supposed to get out. In the days of wide open crankcase venting this was fairly obvious, nowadays not so.
You can get blockage in the vent system, sometimes it's more of that mayonnaise and the oil used can have an effect.
I suspect you do not have a problem. Check with the Kawa community. What bike is it?
 
Yeah, I don't think it's gas. It's the ZX-11. I watched the temp gauge this evening, and on the highway it was right between cold and normal, or maybe 20% of the range, and I didn't see it change. It rose some under other conditions. It looks like it's just not getting hot enough.

It was at midrange a few weeks ago when I was in a long line of barely moving traffic; that's about where the fans come on.

​​
 
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If a gauge is at operating temperature in slow traffic and drops at speed you have a strong pointer to a thermostat sticking open.
The stat should nail the needle to the operating temperature give or take a needle width.
 
I was thinking that too, maybe. This one has always run at the very bottom of the "normal" range, come up maybe 1/3 of the entire range, then back down in cycles. On the ride home when I bought it (2 years ago) I noticed it coming up and thought oh shoot... but it was just normal operation.

I've also had the lower fairings off all season, due to an oil leak at the balance shaft seal that I just haven't gotten around to. I put a folded paper towel between that area and the frame every day before I ride it (change it's nappy, lol), and it doesn't leave any drips like that. I wouldn't think that would overcool a liquid cooled bike though, but maybe? I was more worried about the radiator hose and stuff being exposed to UV rays all summer. But not enough to get it done, lol.

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TG - Copy.png​​​
 
Some of the ZX bikes use the thermostat housing as a ground for the temperature sensor. Cases of peculiar temp gauge behaviour have been 'fixed' by running a ground wire from the housing.
Might be worth trying this and a general inspection of the sensor wiring just to eliminate it. This applies more so in cases where the gauge never gets off the C stop or does crazy jumps.
The old school test for thermostat function is to start from cold and monitor the temperature ( with your hand) of the top radiator hose.
This should remain cool until the bike warms up, 85C/185F typically, and the stat opens. The hose should get warm fast. If it seems to get warmish gradually it may be stuck open.
This one of those know it when you see it tests.
 
I'll try that (feeling hose temp) next time I'm warming a bit before I go.

I took the oil cap off tonight to see if it'd dry out a bit in there (prob won't really). And I was thinking this morning, I could put some cardboard in front of (part of) the radiator like the truck drivers do in the winter. Didn't have time to arrange that this morning though.

​TG - Copy.png​
 
Now that's old school :)
Drove an old Volvo once that had a sliding metal plate in front of the rad that you raised and lowered with a chain fed through to the dash, right beside the temperature gauge.
 
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