Oil puking and "backing up".
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Joined: Nov 2007
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Oil puking and "backing up".
Hi everyone. I signed up here quite awhile ago, and lurked a lot, and learned some things. I never really posted, though.
Now, I have a problem. Went for a ride Friday evening (or tried to) and only got a few blocks before I smelled oil on the exhaust. Oil was dripping out of the air cleaner, and all over the right side of the bike ('88 Heritage). When I pulled the filler cap with the bike idling, oil spurted out all over! When I shut down, the tank was filled right to the neck. It's as if the oil pump is pumping backwards, or something. The bike did not sound any different, I was afraid it would start knocking or something if it wasn't getting oil.
After sitting all night, the tank is STILL filled to the neck, and blew all over again when I started it.
This has not happened before. I did not overfill the tank, or even add any oil recently. Also, the level has not changed at all. With all that has leaked out, it should be lower.
Any idea what's wrong?
THANKS for any help or advice anyone can give.
Now, I have a problem. Went for a ride Friday evening (or tried to) and only got a few blocks before I smelled oil on the exhaust. Oil was dripping out of the air cleaner, and all over the right side of the bike ('88 Heritage). When I pulled the filler cap with the bike idling, oil spurted out all over! When I shut down, the tank was filled right to the neck. It's as if the oil pump is pumping backwards, or something. The bike did not sound any different, I was afraid it would start knocking or something if it wasn't getting oil.
After sitting all night, the tank is STILL filled to the neck, and blew all over again when I started it.
This has not happened before. I did not overfill the tank, or even add any oil recently. Also, the level has not changed at all. With all that has leaked out, it should be lower.
Any idea what's wrong?
THANKS for any help or advice anyone can give.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 267
Likes: 8
Hi everyone. I signed up here quite awhile ago, and lurked a lot, and learned some things. I never really posted, though.
Now, I have a problem. Went for a ride Friday evening (or tried to) and only got a few blocks before I smelled oil on the exhaust. Oil was dripping out of the air cleaner, and all over the right side of the bike ('88 Heritage). When I pulled the filler cap with the bike idling, oil spurted out all over! When I shut down, the tank was filled right to the neck. It's as if the oil pump is pumping backwards, or something. The bike did not sound any different, I was afraid it would start knocking or something if it wasn't getting oil.
After sitting all night, the tank is STILL filled to the neck, and blew all over again when I started it.
This has not happened before. I did not overfill the tank, or even add any oil recently. Also, the level has not changed at all. With all that has leaked out, it should be lower.
Any idea what's wrong?
THANKS for any help or advice anyone can give.
Now, I have a problem. Went for a ride Friday evening (or tried to) and only got a few blocks before I smelled oil on the exhaust. Oil was dripping out of the air cleaner, and all over the right side of the bike ('88 Heritage). When I pulled the filler cap with the bike idling, oil spurted out all over! When I shut down, the tank was filled right to the neck. It's as if the oil pump is pumping backwards, or something. The bike did not sound any different, I was afraid it would start knocking or something if it wasn't getting oil.
After sitting all night, the tank is STILL filled to the neck, and blew all over again when I started it.
This has not happened before. I did not overfill the tank, or even add any oil recently. Also, the level has not changed at all. With all that has leaked out, it should be lower.
Any idea what's wrong?
THANKS for any help or advice anyone can give.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,856
Likes: 127
From: Middle of Kansas
Somewhere on this forum I read that the crank seal can go bad and leak oil from the primary into the crankase, and pump up to the tank, which makes it over full. I would check your primary oil level to see if it is down.
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Jim, thanks for the tip, I was not aware of that possibility. The primary oil looks fine, though.
Well, I drained about 2 quarts out, and started it. Seemed OK. Gradually added almost a quart and test rode it. It seems to be fine.
I don't have a pressure gauge, but the oil light goes off instantly when I start the bike.
Ya, it's "mystery" oil, alright.
Any thoughts? Should I just ride it? I think I'll bring it somewhere soon, and have someone take a look.
Where the %#@! could the "extra" oil have come from? Even if some whack job put oil or something in the tank, I don't think they could have put 1+ quarts in. No sign of water, either.
Well, I drained about 2 quarts out, and started it. Seemed OK. Gradually added almost a quart and test rode it. It seems to be fine.
I don't have a pressure gauge, but the oil light goes off instantly when I start the bike.
Ya, it's "mystery" oil, alright.
Any thoughts? Should I just ride it? I think I'll bring it somewhere soon, and have someone take a look.
Where the %#@! could the "extra" oil have come from? Even if some whack job put oil or something in the tank, I don't think they could have put 1+ quarts in. No sign of water, either.
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Joined: May 2008
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When was the last time the oil was changed? It sounds like it could be over filled. Check the level after the bike is warm. I know some who have experienced this. They are running their oil level between 1/4 and 1/2 above the add level mark. This has helped them. If that doesn't work, there are other things to check. Check the backing plate for any cracks and the crank case breather lines that feed into the carb/throttle body. Make sure they are not kinked. You may want to check the umbrella valves and o rings as well. In a worst case scenario, the oil pump may be out of alignment. All of these can cause what you are describing. If you are unsure about doing these checks, have a wrench look at it. Good luck.
Tourer
Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 421
Likes: 2
From: United Socialist Republic of Massachusetts
smell the oil, make sure it doesn't smell like gas!!
your "mystery oil" could be gas from your carb ?
your "mystery oil" could be gas from your carb ?
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Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 267
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Had that happen on a garden tiller once...had to install an in line shutoff valve between the fuel tank and carb so the fuel would'nt run into the engine case while it was sitting for a week or so.....
Last edited by BlackDenimBob; Aug 2, 2009 at 08:35 PM.
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Road Warrior
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 1,733
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From: Linden, NC
I was having a couple tires mounted on the work truck and picked up the February 2008 Riders magazine and in the Tech Q&A section someone asked a question about oil leaking out of the air filter, and I remembered Motorcycle Mikes' question on the forum. This is the response to the question from the author of that section (and please, I'm just quoting what is written, and am in no way, shape, or form an expert);
"The dry-sump oiling system (and for that matter every other dry-sump system) works with two sections of the oil pump. One side feeds oil to the engine and keeps things happy. The other side pumps the oil that drains down to the crankcase back to the oil tank. The return side pumps a slightly higher volume than the feed side and thus, the engine stays lubricated without the drag of all those lower-end parts splashing around in the oil.
A common problem with nearly all dry-sump systems is oil seeping back down to the crankcase past a worn one-way check valve when the bike sits for a while. In that case there will be a little oil breathing when the bike is first started up. A $10 part (26263-80) should fix the problem here. After that, the only oil getting into the air filter should be from normal venting. If you're getting too much venting, it's more likely coming from a worn top-end, allowing pressure past the rings into the crankcase. Have your mechanic perform a leakdown test. This is like a compression test but backward. The cylinder is set to TDC and pressurized by an outside source. The amount and location of leakage can be determined by simply listening to the air leaking out of the muffler, carb, or in your case, the breather hose."
Hope this helps out.
"The dry-sump oiling system (and for that matter every other dry-sump system) works with two sections of the oil pump. One side feeds oil to the engine and keeps things happy. The other side pumps the oil that drains down to the crankcase back to the oil tank. The return side pumps a slightly higher volume than the feed side and thus, the engine stays lubricated without the drag of all those lower-end parts splashing around in the oil.
A common problem with nearly all dry-sump systems is oil seeping back down to the crankcase past a worn one-way check valve when the bike sits for a while. In that case there will be a little oil breathing when the bike is first started up. A $10 part (26263-80) should fix the problem here. After that, the only oil getting into the air filter should be from normal venting. If you're getting too much venting, it's more likely coming from a worn top-end, allowing pressure past the rings into the crankcase. Have your mechanic perform a leakdown test. This is like a compression test but backward. The cylinder is set to TDC and pressurized by an outside source. The amount and location of leakage can be determined by simply listening to the air leaking out of the muffler, carb, or in your case, the breather hose."
Hope this helps out.
Tourer
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 442
Likes: 0
From: High Desert of So Cal
My 91 fxrp does this every now and then especially when it's sat for awhile. It's exactly as DD&Weevil quoted from that article. If you start it and it happens again, just let it go til it stops blowing its nose, check the oil level, then ride. I try to run the old girl at least every other week, but if she sits for longer it might happen again. Now if it happens twice in the same day, I would start looking at some of the other things already mentioned. The older bikes are kinda quircky.
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