The eternal blackness of my oil!

[DanceLikeAMon...]

I was checking the oil level on my SR125 this morning, and all I could see through the window was blackness.

Assuming that there was a leak somewhere, I poured about 1/2 liter of oil in, ran the engine then checked again - still nothing but black!

With the enging running, I shone a torch in and had a look. This time I could make out some really dark, gritty looking fluiding floating past. It was above the level, so it didn't need the top up.

Is this just a really dirty oil filter / oil, or could it be something more serious has gotten in there?

I have emailed the guy I bought it from (Dodsi) to see when he last changed them, but is there something else I should be looking out for?

Cheers!

[Flip]

If it's gritty change it and filter. Don't forget, you only see the oil when the engine is warm

[DanceLikeAMon...]

[Kickstart]

Hi

Small 4 strokes only have a tiny amount of oil in them and often being air cooled as well give it a hard time. 1000 mile oil changes would not surprise me.

The procedure for checking the oil level varies from bike to bike, but rarely should you check it with the engine running as that will result in you thinking it is low on oil.

All the best

Keith
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Traxpics, track day and racing photographs - Bimota Forum - Bike performance / thrust graphs for choosing gearing

[DanceLikeAMon...]

Accoring to Mr Haynes, it should be changed every 1000 km . Good job it only takes a litre of oil each time!

If the engine hadn't been running, I wouldn't have made out a thing, it was only because of the little gritty bits I could see moving that I knew there was anything in there! Even when using the torch I couldn't see anything.

I take it that the oil should be changed waaaay before it goes black? Otherwise it would get a bit tricky to view it in the window bitty.

[dodsi]

The oil and filter was changed (there are 2 filters)

Both have been changed, they are a fine mesh and a more course mesh

I changed the oil not long before you bought it!

[Guest]

As Keith said, oil gets a really hard time in a small engine. That's why they tell you to change it more often. £3 worth of oil can stop £500 worth of engine damage.

All engines use oil to some extent, that's why they tell you to check the level regularly. It's no good putting a litre in and assuming it'll all still be there 1000 miles later.

If you've got a level window there's no excuse - with the bike upright the level should be near the top of the window with the engine cold. Top up as required and if you're using the bike every day check it each morning. Over time you'll notice that the level is going down slowly and be able to keep it correctly set.

[DanceLikeAMon...]

[Bomberman]

[ZRX61]

[Bomberman]

[Flip]

@ ZXR61 or whatever the hell your name is. According to my Haynes for a Gixxer 750, you warm the bike to operating temp on a centre or paddock stand allow it to cool for a min before checking the oil. That'll be a warm engine. The same works on my ZXR400.

Wasn't saying the bike should be running

[tatters]

warming the oil up for a few mins is for when you drain it, checking cold is best beacuse the oil has setled to the bottom of the sump
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Past:NRG50,AF1125(x2),NSR125RR,ZZR250,CX500,VFR400,KR1S,ZZR600(x2),CB400N,YZF1000(x2),KH125,Z200,FX400R,CBR954RR(x2)GPZ500S,GT550,VFR750F(x2),RD350N,XR650R,CBR600F,CB250,KDX250,YZF750R,CRM250,400EXC,KLR650,TTR600RE,DR350S,R100GSPD,RGV250,VMAX1200,DL650,KZ750 Present:G650XC,C12,CRF450X,1190ADV

[Flip]

Maybe I'm getting confused then. Haven't even seen my bike for nearly two months

[Flip]

Just checked the Gixxer Haynes book and that what it says to do. So I'll carry on doing it

[Kickstart]

[DanceLikeAMon...]

According to my Yamaha manual, it is best to check the oil after running the engine for a few minutes, and it holds 1 litre of 10w/40w oil.

It's overfilled now so it has to be drained anyway. If the refill doesn't help, I will be back for more advice - you have been warned!

Cheers for the help everyone!

[kasandrich]

Black oil just means its dirty, so change it. a small engine with only a litre in it will dirty the oil quickly.
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Richard

CBR1000FM

[mchaggis]

[kasandrich]

With a 4 stroke the oil is lubricating and cooling the engine and gearbox, and there will be some combustion gunk, (carbon etc) get past the piston and into the oil, with a 2 stroke the oil is only lubricating the gearbox and not subjected to the same dirt /crap.

Find a source that is reasonable priced and change it regularly.

I have heard of people using diesel as a flushing agent, by draining the old oil out, refilling with diesel instea of oil, running it around the bloke, then draining that, but I don't like the sound of it

But you can buy flushing agents you add to the old oil, drive for a bit and then drain, but you wouldn't need a whole can for a little bike.
____________________
Richard

CBR1000FM

[Bomberman]

[Kickstart]

[pipnet11]

[Git]

Diesel is ace at flushing the shit out of the cases and the smell is fantastic , if I have ever run out of engine flush I use a dash of diesel, the amount depends on sump capacity so I usually end up leaving 3/4 of oil in there and just topping up 1/4 the volume with diesel.

If the engine is really that mucky do you really want to disturb all that muck inside the engine and risk blocking an oil way or similar?

I think flushing an engine is best done bit by bit, instead of adding shit loads of flushing agent and loosening all the muck that will get spread all over just add a small amount of the flush to the oil over a few oil changes and try and move it over time and not in one hit.

NB I have only ever used diesel to flush the cases on diesel engines, not sure I would do it on a petrol lump.

[ZRX61]