Engine problem, please advise

deliriousthun... · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Karma :

Got off my bike today, put it on the centre stand and noticed between a couple of the fins there was a liquid boiling and frothing out.. creating little plumes of steam.. It had been raining so I thought at first I had just knocked a drop of water into it when I put it on the centre stand.. but it continued to froth and boil away for at least a full minute..

So I checked the oil level and it has dropped quite significantly, from completely full to somewhere between halfway and three quarters.. Not sure how it could be an oil leak though, as I wouldn't expect it to boil at normal engine temperatures.. and it didn't feel any hotter than normal..

I have a sneaky supsicion it has something to do with dropping it the other day.. I've ridden it a couple of times since then and not had a problem with it.. but I do remember it making a horrible noise before I flicked the engine off..

What's the next step? Is this something I'm going to have to take it to a garage about? I hope not cause I can't afford to Neutral

, totally broke just now Sad

Thanks,
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Tom

---- · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

What kind of bike is it?

Could be a gasket on it's way out.

As for oil being lower,some bike burn oil.

What kind of liquid was it frothing out? (touch it,does it feel like oil or water?smell it)

Could maybe comment more if you can give some more info...
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DRZ-400sm

deliriousthun... · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Karma :

sorry

it's an xj600n.. all I can say is that it didn't smell like petrol.. as it was boiling I wasn't too keen to stick my finger in it.. and it seems to have all boiled off..

as far as I could tell from the froth it was transparent.. but I think most things would appear transparent when frothing and boiling like that, not sure on that..

I mentioned the oil because I've been running the bike for a few months and the oil level hasn't decreased.. (and I've been doing trips of around 90 miles on a regular basis).. I only checked it vey recently, and somehow it decreased to the level it's at now over a few days of hardly being used..

Sorry for the lack of specific info in the first post, if you think of anything else, just ask..

EDIT: and if it helps, the liquid was leaking out of the fins very close to the top of the engine.. the top 2 fins in fact..

Thanks,
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Tom

---- · World Chat Champion Joined: 29 Sep 2006 Karma :

Seems strange that it would be coming from the top of the engine!
I just had a look at a pic of one on google and it looks like the top 2 fins are below the rocker cover,and above the cylinder head Confused

So (as far as i know) theres no where in that area for fluid to be leaking! which makes me think it would have been something you spilt on it.

When you checked the oil last time,was it when the bike was warm/hot or cold?
This could make the oil level differ.

Other than this,is the bike running fine still?
Take it out for a spin again and see if it will do it again.If it does (and froths liquid again)try to grab some of it ,if it's hot you dont have to use you hand.
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DRZ-400sm

deliriousthun... · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Karma :

https://i71.photobucket.com/albums/i126/deliriousthunder/engine.jpg

I know you already looked.. but I didn't see any harm in showing you specifically where it appeared to be coming from.. the 2 little bits circled in red.. but on the left side of the bike..

I always check the oil level when it's warm..

I'll take it for a ride later, got stuff to get done just now Sad

Thanks for your help btw Wink

coming your way
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Tom

MaybeGuy · Super Spammer Joined: 12 Mar 2007 Karma :

i wouldnt worry. chances are a load of water rolled off the tank and just collected there.

only worry if it does it on a fully dry day.
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Blue_SV650S wrote: it was a sh1te wheelie, but it proves that he can get it up in 3rd and can do angles. In summery, mattsprattuk is a gobby little sh1tebag, dopehead tw4t, but sadly for all of us, he probably isn't THAT full of sh1te!! Mr. Green

Kickstart wrote: Hi I tend to agree with Matt. All the best Keith

Cigaro · World Chat Champion Joined: 28 Mar 2007 Karma :

Burning oil has a very distinctive smell. It smells like the bike's going to set on fire and emits blue smoke.

It was probably water. I wouldn't worry.

deliriousthun... · Spanner Monkey Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Karma :

Ok.. I'll just ignore it, ride anyway, and keep an eye on the oil level.. and those little slots where it was frothing..

Thanks much for your help guys Karma

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Tom