Help foam oil !
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Help foam oil !
Hello,
Im having really strange problem with the oil in my shovelhead.
Yesterday I took a ride on my shovel. About 10 miles. I stopped because I noticed that when I was sitting at a stop lite a bunch of smoke was coming up between my seat and gas tanks. I couldnt find anything that had burned and the motor was running fine. I pulled the dip stick out to chec the oil and it was covered with a wierd yellow colored foam. I looked in the oil tank and it was all yellow and foamy. So i had my buddy come with his trailer and we hauled it home.
So today i removed the oil tank and cleaned it out. I cleaned out most of my oil lines also. I couldnt find anything wrong so i put it back together with new oil and filter. I rode to the store about 5 blocks. I pulled the dipstick out to check it out and it was all foamy again. So i brought it home and changed the oil again.
I started the motor and ideled it for about 45 seconds ,shut it down and found the new oil had foamed in that short time. I pulled up my drop in oil filter and discovered that that foamy stuff was not draining through the filter. The filter was full and not 1 drop of it was coming through the filter. I fired up the motor to make sure my oil was returning to the oil tank and it was, very well.
I am really stumped. Has anyone had an experance like this? If it was a car i would think blown head gasket and water in the oil.
It dosent look like water to me. Its just a very dense concentration of air bubbles.
I took some pics of the gunk and they are posted on this site in my album 1. Or you could use these links to check it out.
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709739/1_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/1_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/2_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/3_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/4_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/5_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/6_t.jpg
I have no idea what could cause this. I sure would apreciate any help i can get
Thanks.Dave
Im having really strange problem with the oil in my shovelhead.
Yesterday I took a ride on my shovel. About 10 miles. I stopped because I noticed that when I was sitting at a stop lite a bunch of smoke was coming up between my seat and gas tanks. I couldnt find anything that had burned and the motor was running fine. I pulled the dip stick out to chec the oil and it was covered with a wierd yellow colored foam. I looked in the oil tank and it was all yellow and foamy. So i had my buddy come with his trailer and we hauled it home.
So today i removed the oil tank and cleaned it out. I cleaned out most of my oil lines also. I couldnt find anything wrong so i put it back together with new oil and filter. I rode to the store about 5 blocks. I pulled the dipstick out to check it out and it was all foamy again. So i brought it home and changed the oil again.
I started the motor and ideled it for about 45 seconds ,shut it down and found the new oil had foamed in that short time. I pulled up my drop in oil filter and discovered that that foamy stuff was not draining through the filter. The filter was full and not 1 drop of it was coming through the filter. I fired up the motor to make sure my oil was returning to the oil tank and it was, very well.
I am really stumped. Has anyone had an experance like this? If it was a car i would think blown head gasket and water in the oil.
It dosent look like water to me. Its just a very dense concentration of air bubbles.
I took some pics of the gunk and they are posted on this site in my album 1. Or you could use these links to check it out.
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709739/1_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/1_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/2_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/3_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/4_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/5_t.jpg
http://img1.jpegbay.com/gallery/000709729/6_t.jpg
I have no idea what could cause this. I sure would apreciate any help i can get
Thanks.Dave
Last edited by 3357; Nov 3, 2010 at 02:02 AM.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
Above there is a tool bar that has "SEARCH".
I plugged in "Foaming Oil." and did some re-search of past discussions on the topic.
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/softai...g-bubbles.html
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/sports...-dipstick.html
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/tourin...es-in-oil.html
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/sports...l-foaming.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...ing-oil-2.html
Most indicate it is normal.
I plugged in "Foaming Oil." and did some re-search of past discussions on the topic.
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/softai...g-bubbles.html
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/sports...-dipstick.html
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/tourin...es-in-oil.html
Http://www.hdforums.com/forum/sports...l-foaming.html
https://www.hdforums.com/forum/sport...ing-oil-2.html
Most indicate it is normal.
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
Thanks Johnny for your time. I checked out the links you had for me. Most say its normal but i dont know. This is more than a little foam.
What worries me most is like i said i pulled my drop in filter (new) out of the tank and it was full of that foamy oil. And stayed full, that foamy stuff would not even drip through the filter, it pluged it. Although oil is returning to the tank just fine. I guess the oil pump has enough pull to suck the foam through the filter when the motor is running. I hope. It just dosent look right to me. I have had this bike for 25 years and i never noticed this before. Im gonna do a vacume check and a couple of other tests today. I dont want to burn my motor. Thanks again Johnny.....Dave
What worries me most is like i said i pulled my drop in filter (new) out of the tank and it was full of that foamy oil. And stayed full, that foamy stuff would not even drip through the filter, it pluged it. Although oil is returning to the tank just fine. I guess the oil pump has enough pull to suck the foam through the filter when the motor is running. I hope. It just dosent look right to me. I have had this bike for 25 years and i never noticed this before. Im gonna do a vacume check and a couple of other tests today. I dont want to burn my motor. Thanks again Johnny.....Dave
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
3357
PM me and I can send you a link to a tech site with lots of very knowlegable Shovel guys. I did not want to post the link to another site publically, but would be happy to send it to you in a PM or email. Just keep in mind - these are a bunch of old shovel guys and they can be a little rough, but it is all in fun, so don't be thin skinned when you get a little razzing from them. they will help you.
PM me and I can send you a link to a tech site with lots of very knowlegable Shovel guys. I did not want to post the link to another site publically, but would be happy to send it to you in a PM or email. Just keep in mind - these are a bunch of old shovel guys and they can be a little rough, but it is all in fun, so don't be thin skinned when you get a little razzing from them. they will help you.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 2,706
Likes: 14
From: Near Frankenmuth, MI
I read through all of those links just to learn some more for myself too.
I've noticed my oil being foaming when I checked the oil right after riding but it does return to non foamy after a period of setting.
Years ago there was an oil or gasoline that advertised a "detergent" ingredient. I think of foamy when I think of detergent additives.
I've noticed my oil being foaming when I checked the oil right after riding but it does return to non foamy after a period of setting.
Years ago there was an oil or gasoline that advertised a "detergent" ingredient. I think of foamy when I think of detergent additives.
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
5th Gear
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
rh8234
I shure would appreciate that link. I also checked my bike for vacume and there is none. That and the foam oil really has me worried man. Thanks.......Dave................PS didnt have time to figure out how to PM you. Had to go to work. Maybe you could just send it in a private message to me. Thanks.
I shure would appreciate that link. I also checked my bike for vacume and there is none. That and the foam oil really has me worried man. Thanks.......Dave................PS didnt have time to figure out how to PM you. Had to go to work. Maybe you could just send it in a private message to me. Thanks.
Last edited by 3357; Nov 5, 2010 at 12:07 AM.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Club Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 45,429
Likes: 2,898
From: Bedford UK
3357, have you recently used this oil for the first time? If so change back to the one you previously used!
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 3,968
Likes: 34
From: Lockport Township, IL
rh8234
I shure would appreciate that link. I also checked my bike for vacume and there is none. That and the foam oil really has me worried man. Thanks.......Dave................PS didnt have time to figure out how to PM you. Had to go to work. Maybe you could just send it in a private message to me. Thanks.
I shure would appreciate that link. I also checked my bike for vacume and there is none. That and the foam oil really has me worried man. Thanks.......Dave................PS didnt have time to figure out how to PM you. Had to go to work. Maybe you could just send it in a private message to me. Thanks.
If you don't get it, click on my username and send me PM and I will reply.