Oil Coming up through carb?

[Ventureless]

Just as title says. I pulled the tank to change plugs and noticed lots of oil all over around air box on top of carbs. It is the back left side (sitting on bike) carb. There is oil all over the box, oil all over that carb. It is so bad, it is draining oil through the drain tube in the air box to the ground. So I guess I need to know why. How is oil getting from the motor up through the carb. I am assuming that my rings might be bad. I have no intention of pulling the motor apart and will sell the bike before doing that. How bad is it to ride like that and how long could I ride like that before having troubles. Bike runs perfectly fine and I have never had to add oil so it probably looks worse than it really is.

[Prairiehammer]

The engine "blows-by" oil from the crankcase into the air box if the crankcase is overly full of engine oil. Get the bike level and seek an oil level on the sight glass to be middle of the sight glass. No higher or it will blow by into the air box and then find it's way on to the carbs.

[steamer]

Slow down, don't blow a gasket. Nothing wrong with your motor. This is common. As has already been stated, you probably have to much oil in the crank case. Next oil change just make sure you stop filling when you show half a sight glass. Problem solved.

[djh3]

I agree with Mike. Take a look at oil level first. I have been a victom of the "more is good" syndrome and had same result. Severety depends on level from my experience. My 900 vulcan was really picky. First time I changed oil on it I figured I should top it up like on car. WRONG It pushed oil out the breather hose, filled the bottom of the breather/air box then leaked all over the motor. I have accidently put more in my RSV on an ocasion and had simular results. Pushed oil out and I had oil dripping from the left hand air box area where I have hoses behind the leg fairing.

I sort of use th metal star looking thing in the sight glass. The bottom part of the star is where I fill to. Its just a tic lower than half.

[M61A1MECH]

Just to be clear, the oil should be just below the half way mark in the window, WHEN THE BIKE IS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN, not on the side stand.

 

If you are checking oil on the side stand and you can see oil in the window, it is over full.

 

If you had rings bad enough to blow oil thru the valves back into the carbs, you would be blowing blue smoke out the exhaust so bad everyone would think you were part of mosquito control crew.

[Ventureless]

Ok so I am feeling a little better. I am past the half way mark, but not to the top of the site glass. Next oil change I will add less. The only thing is that is weird, is that the blow bu would come from the tube attached to the front of the airbox correct? Well that line is perfectly dry and I still have oil filling into the airbox and on carbs. Or I should say 1 carb. It is only on the left side back of the airbox and the carb under it. No where else in that box.

[Yammer Dan]

Overfull....

[billmac]

Over full. put kickstand on a 2x4 to get it straight up and have someone hold it so it don't fall over and check the site glass. Can do it by yourself, just keep your hand holding the bike on the right grip and bend down to look at the glass. first time I changed the oil in my 650 I overfilled and blew a 1/2 quart of oil thru the breather and soaked my right pant leg with oil.

[Kirby]

Ok so I am feeling a little better. I am past the half way mark, but not to the top of the site glass. Next oil change I will add less. The only thing is that is weird, is that the blow bu would come from the tube attached to the front of the airbox correct? Well that line is perfectly dry and I still have oil filling into the airbox and on carbs. Or I should say 1 carb. It is only on the left side back of the airbox and the carb under it. No where else in that box.

 

This is because when you put the bike on the side stand, guess where the oil that's in the air box puddles? You guessed it. In the left rear corner of the air box. Just above the #1 carb.

[Ventureless]

This is because when you put the bike on the side stand, guess where the oil that's in the air box puddles? You guessed it. In the left rear corner of the air box. Just above the #1 carb.

 

And now I feel dumb that that did not come to mind.

 

Thanks everybody. I might try to drain a little oil from the bike while it is ripped apart and see what happens.

[vzuden]

Don't feel dumb. Many of us have been there

[playboy]

This is because when you put the bike on the side stand, guess where the oil that's in the air box puddles? You guessed it. In the left rear corner of the air box. Just above the #1 carb.

 

 

Not sure how many miles is on your bike but the oil will build up over time and many oil changes. Just clean it up and you will be good to go.

[Guest]

Next time you change the oil use 3.5 qts (no more)and you will be good.

[MarvelMan]

Just to be clear, the oil should be just below the half way mark in the window, WHEN THE BIKE IS STRAIGHT UP AND DOWN, not on the side stand.

 

If you are checking oil on the side stand and you can see oil in the window, it is over full.

 

If you had rings bad enough to blow oil thru the valves back into the carbs, you would be blowing blue smoke out the exhaust so bad everyone would think you were part of mosquito control crew.

 

 

This is a great post. I am new to the bike. checked the oil window on a slanted drive while on kickstand and freaked cause I saw no oil. No problem. just add three quarts to an already full crankcase. well, she started spotting and so I realized I had screwed the pooch. Drained all five quarts of oil and refilled to 3.5 per the owners manual. The bike still has a fuel odor and I bet it is the left air box and filter. I checked the right and it was clean and dry. do you guys agree that I should check the left and when doing so would you guess that it might need a new air filter. When you talk about air boxes I am assuming those things above our feet where the air filters for both sides of the engine are? Correct. Thanks for helping the old dawg out in oklhoma.