A n00b question about oil

[yambabe]

I've changed the oil on my bike all by myself today for the first time ever.

Now I know most of you are already having a good old at me for being proud of doing something so easy but meh, we all have to start somewhere eh?

Anyway, what I wanted to ask was, I noticed as I dropped the old oil out that it started off really thick and black like treacle, but got cleaner as more came out. This suggests to me that all the crap settles to the bottom once the bike is parked up.

Being that oil is so thick by nature and often holds stuff in suspension I'm just wondering if anyone can explain to me in laymans terms why this is, why it doesn't just stay where it is? What is the dirty stuff made up of and where does it come from?

Sorry for the odd question but the OH is out this afternoon.......
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[Hetzer]

Did you let it out while it was still warm/hot?
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"There's the horizon! Ride hard, ride fast and cut down all who stand in your way!"

[T0MMY]

Are you sure it wasn't just that the stream got thinner so less opaque? When you first pull the sump plug (and drop it accidentally into the washing up bowl) you have a thick stream of oil so it looks black. When it's down to a dribble it will look more golden as you can see through it.

I always drop the oil immediately after stopping the engine so if you did the same it should be pretty well mixed I'd have thought.
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ZX6R + CBR600RR

[jay12329]

The crap is basically bits of engine and stuff from where the structure of the oil breaks down with heat/mechanical pressure.

The bits of metal and crap are heaver than the rest of the oil so over time they sink. They will sink slower in oil than water but they still sink (just like the glass in your house windows is flowing down the pane!)

It could also be as the oil level is getting lower you get a slower flow rate so the oil can look lighter in colour even if it isn't.

Was the engine warm when you emptied the oil? Flows much better if it is

J

[yambabe]

The engine was stone cold and the bike has been stood for a week.

I only dropped the spanner into the bowl, not the nut or the washer as well!

So do it warm next time? *makes note*
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Sod falling in love, I wanna fall in chocolate.

[yen_powell]

[keggyhander]

[RhynoCZ]

Do NOT remove the filter, if you don't have a new one as a replacement. Just drain it (warm engine helps, oil viscosity decreases with higher temperature), then change the filter (lube it if needed), don't forget to put the screw back and fill it up.
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'87 Honda XBR 500, '96 Kawasaki ZX7R P1, '90 Honda CB-1, '88 Kawasaki GPz550, MZ 150 ETZ
'95 Mercedes-Benz w202 C200 CGI, '98 Mercedes-Benz w210 E200 Kompressor

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