Engine Condensation

[FROG MAN]

OK so I live beside a creek. My scoots are stored in a open shed enviroment. Today was 65 degrees and the engines were covered with heavy condensation. I don't think the water would bead heavier on the blocks if I sprayed them with a hose. This occurs quiet often in the winter and the scoots are harder to start when wet. The 84 failed to start this evening and thats a first at 65 degrees. I normally let the scoots idle for 15 - 20 minutes starting about every two weeks. I'm thinking this condensation is not good for the motor. Does the moisture also form inside the engine? What about the carbs and fuel tank? I have a mixture of seafoam in the fuel but this may help. I guess I should cover the scoots even in the shed.Rust a little every year because of this.

[Marcarl]

Do you have a dirt floor

What was the temp there in the last few days

Was \ Is there high humidity in the air

Do you have any way of heating that shed

What amount of ventilation is there

What is used for ventilation

Just some questions to keep you busy,,,,,,,,,,,

[FROG MAN]

Carl it has rained for 3 days. Yes that is a dirt floor with no heat. The front of the shed is open. I was going to fully enclose it with heat but I may be moving it in a few years so no plans to finish it.

[cecdoo]

I would guess once winter sets in and its cold day and nite, the chance of condensation will be alot less. The ground is cold, the bikes are cold, and then a blast of warm moist air, and you get condensation. A fan moving the air over the bikes mite help some, but I doubt there is much else you can do in an open shed. I always keep the gas tanks full, you mite spray the bikes with a coat of lite oil, or you could ask Ramona if you can park them in the living room:rotf: Tell her you were only thinking of her, and how it would be easier for her to shine them:rotf: Craig:whistling:

[Marcarl]

Ok so I'm assuming that it has been colder there than the present temp. All that is metal will be cold and with the high humidity with the rain and all, moisture will collect on all those cold items, scoots, tools, lawn mowers, jacks, you name it. Nothing you can do but try to keep the metal the same temp as the air, which is hard to do in your case. The best defense that I can think of is to spray all the surfaces with a wax or WD40, but then that leaves the problem as to how to remove it later. Even an osculating fan might be of help, just to try to equalize the temp (air and metal).

As for the inside of the engine? My guess is that would see moisture as well. Best to plug the carbs and exhaust with an oiled rag when it's still warm, not hot, just a little warmer than the outside air.

[pegscraper]

Put a cover on each scoot, and put a light bulb under each cover near the bottom. The heat will keep water from condensing on the metal parts.

[BuddyRich]

Put a tarp over the front like a roll up garage door.

[hipshot]

send me a couple of them, "mk2's", and i'll keep 'em warm and dry , for you, all winter long! no charge!

i'll guarantee, no condensation.

lol

just jt

[Midrsv]

I would doubt that the inside of the tank and engine would see that type of moisture. There shouldn't be any air flow into those cavities to bring in the unusually moist air to cause the condensation.

 

Just an opinion.

 

Dennis

[RedRider]

I would think you would have more problems by putting a tarp over them with a dirt floor. It would trap the moisture under it. My thinking is the same as using a tent. You put a groundcloth under you to prevent moisture from the ground making you uncomfortable.

 

If you are going to use a tarp, put it under the bike. Perhaps cover it with another or use a bike cover.

 

As an alternative, I saw a motorcycle 'bubble' at a dealer recently. Don't recall the name or where it was. It was essentially a big zipped up plastic bag you put around the bike. It has a fan to keep the bag inflated. Nothing will get on your bike, including condensation.

 

RR

[Guest tx2sturgis]

OK so I live beside a creek. My scoots are stored in a open shed enviroment. Today was 65 degrees and the engines were covered with heavy condensation. .......... I normally let the scoots idle for 15 - 20 minutes starting about every two weeks. I'm thinking this condensation is not good for the motor. Does the moisture also form inside the engine? What about the carbs and fuel tank? I have a mixture of seafoam in the fuel but this may help. I guess I should cover the scoots even in the shed.Rust a little every year because of this.

 

 

You are killing the metal.

 

You want to stop that right away. First, do NOT start the bikes and let them idle for 15-20 minutes every two weeks. Those heat/cool cycles are murder on the engine, because the engine, transmission, exhaust, and oil, NEVER REACH OPERATING TEMPERATURE, so the moisture you drag in thru the air intake never gets burned off! Crankcase oil has to reach around 212 degrees, and stay there for awhile, to burn off water vapors. Thats why an hour or so on the highway is GOOD for all engines.

 

Alltho its not adressed by Yamaha in my manual, most vehicle manufacturers consider winter time 'short tripping' to be SEVERE duty, and recommend very frequent oil changes, due to the acids that accumulate in the oil during these brief intermitent uses. We've all seen cars in the cold winter mornings putting out water vapors from the exhaust. As long as you run the engine long enough to burn off the moisture, your engine will be happy.

 

Now...after a ride, and after the bike has warmed up completely, park it and put on a battery tender. If the bike will be sitting for a month or more, put in Stabil (or Seafoam) WHEN THE BIKE IS STILL WARM and run it through. Do not cover the bikes with a tarp. Do not heat them with a bulb. You have a moist environment there and anything you do to cause multiple temperature changes (and temperature differences) will accelerate condensation.

 

A fan blowing across the bikes is the only thing you should think about. It will cause more dust to stick to the bikes, but dust wont hurt, as long as you dont tarp them. Tarps TRAP moisture! Anyone who tarps (or covers) a bike right after a run is ASKING for rust!

 

Sorry to sound a bit edgy, but hey, whatever it takes to get the message across...

 

 

 

 

 

[FROG MAN]

You want to stop that right away. First, do NOT start the bikes and let them idle for 15-20 minutes every two weeks. Those heat/cool cycles are murder on the engine, because the engine, transmission, exhaust, and oil, NEVER REACH OPERATING TEMPERATURE, so the moisture you drag in thru the air intake never gets burned off! Crankcase oil has to reach around 212 degrees, and stay there for awhile, to burn off water vapors. Thats why an hour or so on the highway is GOOD for all engines.

 

Now that makes since. No way to go for a 1 hour ride from here till spring. I may have to tarp the front of the building and install a forced air gas heater. Also let the scoots idle for 1 hour maybe the engine will reach operating temp.Now all I need is :mo money:.

[Condor]

Go get a couple of 4x8 sheets of CDX ply for flooring and park the bikes on them. Cover the bikes with a good MC cover and your condensation problem will disappear.

[Guest tx2sturgis]

Now that makes since. No way to go for a 1 hour ride from here till spring. I may have to tarp the front of the building and install a forced air gas heater. Also let the scoots idle for 1 hour maybe the engine will reach operating temp.Now all I need is :mo money:.

 

 

In your post you mentioned it was 65 degrees, and I know that its winter and all...but still, starting and idling the bikes is BAD for them...fu-get-about-it! Wear and tear on the starter, battery and electrical. When the temps drop to 40 and below, that oil is cold, sluggish, and you end up with top end wear before the cylinders and moving parts can get some lube...plus the drag on the battery, that never gets replaced when just idling...batteries will NOT accept a charge when the temps are below freezing.

 

I could go on and on...really...just let the bike sit until you can actually ride it. If you DO cover them, only do it when they have completely cooled off...other wise the rust is just gonna happen.

 

Actually, the tarp across the opening on the shed may make matters worse...it will trap in moisture...you want air circulation in that dirt floor shed!

 

If you think the bikes will sit for say, 3 months without being ridden, then we can start talking about winter storage...which is more involved, and probably not really necessary where you live.

 

Ok...I've said enough...no more postings from me on this subject!

 

 

 

 

[Orrin]

Pegscraper told you the right way to do it. That man knows his bikes.

[Kidh2]

I live in southern Louisiana where the humidity averages about 100% and my 02 midnight lives outside since I do not have a garage. I use a good quality cover that allows moisture to escape but not penetrate from rain, etc. and so far have not had any corrosion, oil or fuel issues.

[BOO]

I use to store my bikes in a Pole Barn at a farm before I had room to keep them at home and in the springtime they would just be soaked with moisture. Didn't seem to bother much of anything but I sure didn't like it.

My 65 BSA would get some corrosion on the cooling fins but they are bare aluminum, mostly just a white powder that wiped off.

One wonders what's going on inside the engine though but it should be coated with oil.

Jerry

[cmiles3]

Your engine and gear box are vented. The air in them expands & contracts as the air temp changes. So you're sucking in moist air, where some of it condenses inside the block or case, adding a few micro drops of water to your oil. If you drive them daily, no problem. If you let them sit for weeks, these microdrops add up- you might notice the water if you change the oil.

 

Yeah, the oil should protect the case, but it's not perfect. Over time, you'll see some rust where it shouldn't be. The longer the oil sits, the less it protects the engine. And if you get sludge (oil, water & dirt mixed) it can be really bad.

 

A vapor barrier on the floor would help by stopping the humidity coming from the ground, but wouldn't dry the air. If you have heat, or the sun warms your shed, this will help dry it. Enclosing the shed would also help.

 

Best is to park it in your bedroom. Your wife won't mind; really, she won't.