Head Gasket Leak or just Condensation?

[rjmalizia]

Hello All,

 

I'm just a little curious if any of you have seen this too?

 

This morning I decided to finally get around to swapping out my OEM air filter a K&N. But to my surprise, when I opened up the air box there was a fair amount of moisture in the box and some gray foam around what i assume to be the crankcase breather tube. Now I just changed the oil and filter last month, and the oil looked good then. so the first thing i did now, was to peer through the oil level window--again the oil looked right...it looked like fairly new oil (it was not gray or white) and it had NO layering. Next i checked the coolant reservoir...it was right in the middle.

 

So...i went for a ride anyway. Sixty miles later...the oil this looks right, neither gray nor foamy white.

 

Now of late, I've been taking cold rides, air temp of around 40 or so degrees. I guess my question is: is this moisture a sign of these cold rides or do I had a problem growing here?

 

I've had several water cooled bikes and have never seen this before. And last Spring when I last cleaned the original air filter, there was no sign of moisture/water then.

 

Any Thoughts?

 

As always, thanks in advance for your advice.

[BuddyRich]

I would guess its just condensation. Much like the inside of the exhaust. It always blows out water when you start it.

[bill p]

Sounds like you are watching the right things. You will get condensation in the air box on short runs . I would think after 60 miles it should be gone. If your not loosing coolant, dont worry about it. Riding in the cold will produce moisture. You just need to ride it more.

 

Bill P

[rjmalizia]

... You just need to ride it more.

 

Bill P

 

Amen to that.

 

thanks all

[rjmalizia]

Because I need to know...I decided to right the bike and drain a small amount of oil.

 

I pulled the plug and drained a couple ounces of normal looking oil. WHOO HOO! I would think, if there was in fact water in the oil, it should have been in the bottom of the pan and therefore, first to drain. Right?

 

Anyway...i'm feeling a little better about life, the universe and everything.

 

Side note: up here in the Pacific NW, yesterday was SUNNY,SUNNY, SUNNY. 50+ degrees and 60 miles of bliss. Springs a coming!

 

Later all

 

[tazmocycle]

if you overfill the oil it will be sucked into the breather thru the little tubes coming off the crankcase and mixing with the water vapor. if the oil is in the upper part of the site glass it may have been doing this, just keep a watch on it.

[BuddyRich]

Water in the oil will produce a milky looking oil. Which you should be able to see in the sight glass.

[rjmalizia]

if you overfill the oil it will be sucked into the breather thru the little tubes coming off the crankcase and mixing with the water vapor. if the oil is in the upper part of the site glass it may have been doing this, just keep a watch on it.

 

Hey Taz good point. Which brings me to another question/observation that might be related tomy previous question.

 

Last summer I switched to a Full Synthetic oil, Mobil 1. Anyway, ever since, following a ride, I'll notice a drip of oil under the bike. Apparently, it's coming from what i can only assume to be another crank case breather. So, Question: Does our RS engine have some sort of PCV value and if so, are my observations signs of a bad PCV value, filter or what ever?

 

Oh...forgot to mention that the oil level is in the upper 2/3's of the check window.

 

Any thoughts?