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Oil Cooler for 82 GS1100G

GalDemSuga

Forum Apprentice
Past Site Supporter
Guys

Anyone have any info on where to find or who makes the adapters to add an oil cooler? This Texas heat is murderous. I rode my GS yesterday in 104 ?F and after returning home I noticed oil had vented through one of my carb vents. I rode while wearing shorts and I could feel the heat coming off of the engine.

I'm going to pull the air filter today and look at it for oil.
 
Oil in the airbox is completely normal; the crankcase vent atop the valve cover is connected via a tube directly to the airbox, with no PCV valve. There are supposed to be two little metal mesh pads under the breather cover to help crankcase vapors condense, but they can't get it all. So over time, yeah, the airbox gets messy. Just how it is.

These roller bearing crank engines run very, very low oil pressure and opinions vary on whether an oil cooler does much at all.
 
Oil in the airbox is completely normal; the crankcase vent atop the valve cover is connected via a tube directly to the airbox, with no PCV valve. There are supposed to be two little metal mesh pads under the breather cover to help crankcase vapors condense, but they can't get it all. So over time, yeah, the airbox gets messy. Just how it is.

These roller bearing crank engines run very, very low oil pressure and opinions vary on whether an oil cooler does much at all.

Normal? Maybe a frequent occurrence, but it needs investigation. Two very common reasons for oil in the airbox is: too much oil in the crankcase or excessive blowby... both BAD.

I could never wrap my head around the common scheme for adding an oil cooler to a 2 valve. Usually they take the oil off the oil pressure thingme on the case, through the cooler, then just dump the oil back into the crank case. Net result: oil temps drop by a degree or two, and if you don't be careful less oil pressure.
A lot of work for not much result.
What I did was take the oil off the gallery plug on the right side and blocked off the oil passages in the block that go to the head (two set screws in the passage under the cylinders where that teardrop shaped Oring is. You don't even have to drill them, the holes are the right size for a 6mm tap) through the cooler, then back into the head at the rear (drill out the plugs in the oil gallery). Basically eliminated the oil passages up the headbolts and replaced it with a remote oil cooler and some AN6 hose.
That way the cooled oil goes into the head where you NEED the cooled oil.
 
You need an oil cooler adapter for the oil distribution cavity under the carbs. These adapters capture oil coming directly from the pump and send it to a port on the adapter. Then you plumb that line through the cooler, and back to the adapter to a second port, which dumps the oil back into the oil distribution cavity. The distribution cavity feeds oil to the head, and the transmission.

I'd put a WTB ad up here asking for an adapter. They are out there. I wrote tutorial on how to make your own adapter, as hosted on Basscliff's website, also.
 
Ok Guys

To follow up, I pulled the airbox cover and the filter, they were both clean. So the oil just came out of the carb overflow tube. It was not a lot just about 20-30 drops.

bwringer ...I expected that to be the case as I have the factory setup in place. The oil that came out seemed diluted with moisture and reminded me of what comes out of the oil catch cans I have installed on my 2003 Tahoe.

bitzz ... do you have a write up of the system you created?

I'm going to go for a ride again today and see if the issue repeats itself and give feedback.
 
You need an oil cooler adapter for the oil distribution cavity under the carbs. These adapters capture oil coming directly from the pump and send it to a port on the adapter. Then you plumb that line through the cooler, and back to the adapter to a second port, which dumps the oil back into the oil distribution cavity. The distribution cavity feeds oil to the head, and the transmission.

I'd put a WTB ad up here asking for an adapter. They are out there. I wrote tutorial on how to make your own adapter, as hosted on Basscliff's website, also.

I will do this, thanks. I don't have the tools to make parts myself.
 
Still having the issue after a 40 miles ride. This neve happened before but then again I never ride in 100+ F temps.
 
What kind of oil are you running? For 100F, I'd run 20w-50...synthetic. Synthetic has a higher flash temp, so less likely to vaporize.
 
I apologize for not understanding, but carb overflow tube? are you talking the crankcase vent mentioned earlier. I don't remember overflow tubes on those carbs, only 2 vent tubes that vent to open air, not to the air box.
 
Thats the weird thing, it is not venting from crankcase breather tube but from one of the carb overflow tubes. I will pull it apart this week and figure it out.
 
Thats the weird thing, it is not venting from crankcase breather tube but from one of the carb overflow tubes. I will pull it apart this week and figure it out.

There is no way for oil to come out of the carb overflow tube. Actually, those carbs don't have overflow tubes, they have vent hoses. If fuel is coming out of them, you have a massively overflowing carb, or carbs. The float valve isn't closing. If this is the case, then you may have gas in the crankcase oil, leading to a high crankcase level, leading to a huge mess/problem.
 
The cam chain tensioner leaking is common, and that oil splatters everywhere.
Since it's right in there with the carbs it's a prime suspect.
Maybe even a leaking tacho drive, cam cover or head gasket.
It will drip down, and may give the impression oil is leaking from the carbs ?

I'd take a close look for other sources for oil leaking.
 
There is no way for oil to come out of the carb overflow tube. Actually, those carbs don't have overflow tubes, they have vent hoses. If fuel is coming out of them, you have a massively overflowing carb, or carbs. The float valve isn't closing. If this is the case, then you may have gas in the crankcase oil, leading to a high crankcase level, leading to a huge mess/problem.

No fuel in crankcase. What comes out happens while the bike is cooling down and its a quarter size pool on the floor. I will do an oil change tomorrow but today I will drain some oil out of the engine and then observe the level after another ride.
 
The cam chain tensioner leaking is common, and that oil splatters everywhere.
Since it's right in there with the carbs it's a prime suspect.
Maybe even a leaking tacho drive, cam cover or head gasket.
It will drip down, and may give the impression oil is leaking from the carbs ?

I'd take a close look for other sources for oil leaking.

The only oil coming from the bike is at that overflow tube, otherwise its leak free. I will look into it all tomorrow.
 
No fuel in crankcase. What comes out happens while the bike is cooling down and its a quarter size pool on the floor. I will do an oil change tomorrow but today I will drain some oil out of the engine and then observe the level after another ride.


does that mean oil level is too high right now ?
 


does that mean oil level is too high right now ?

I just went out and drained some of the oil. I had it at the top of the sight glass when I did the last oil change, its now right at the F mark. I didn't have a smell of fuel and the oil was clean. There has only been 300 miles ridden since I did the last oil change. I have ridden the bike scarcely since the resto was done but never had this issue and I'll note that it wasn't this hot in Texas. Today is a cooler day so I will try and get a ride in and see if it happens again because on the two days that the ambient temp was 108F-111F, I saw the leak. I rode last Sunday and it was 95F and I didn't have a leak.
 
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This is one of those interesting ones. We see them from time to time. The most interesting part will not be why the oil is coming out through the vent tube, vents are for venting. More puzzling, for me, will be where and how the oil is getting into the carbs.
 
There is no way for oil to come out of the carb overflow tube. Actually, those carbs don't have overflow tubes, they have vent hoses. If fuel is coming out of them, you have a massively overflowing carb, or carbs. The float valve isn't closing. If this is the case, then you may have gas in the crankcase oil, leading to a high crankcase level, leading to a huge mess/problem.

Guys:highly_amused::highly_amused:

I found the issue and you re gonna roast me and I deserve it!!! The hose I used to pipe those overflow tubes, I remembered just now that I had used to put liquid molly in my cars transmission. That is residue that is now coming out after the hose has gotten super hot. OMFG!! DUFUS ME.
 
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