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Hi All. I have a 2013 RKC, 15,5xx, FP3 tuner, K&N filter and at the beginning of this season, I installed an external breather system, post below with pictures. I have noticed a build up of oil dripping from my EBS filter and the smell of oil but brushed it off as many have said that would happen. This past weekend, I went for a 35 minute ride, 2-up at 60mph and when I stopped the bike, I noticed the fluid from the EBS filter. Pics 1-3 are after 35 minute. Pic 4 was after the return 35 min trip home, I put a pan under the filter to catch it. Weather was beautiful, mid 70s, sun shining.
Any thoughts what might be causing this amount of fluid to be dripping out? It smells like oil. Is it oil and gas. Oil and water/condensation? Short trips don't seem to have this issue. Should I stop riding??
Looks like oil and water. Condensation in the motor leads to this. Check your oil fill. Do you make a lot of short trips, or do start it just to make sure it runs and then shut it off? Usually takes about an hour at 220⁰ to burn condensation out of your oil. I'd change the oil and filter and go from there. And that catch filter is junk. Just get rid of it and vent to atmosphere.
Last edited by brakeless; Oct 6, 2022 at 07:10 PM.
Like @brakeless said, those short 3 mile trips are NOT burning off the moisture in your oil and it's getting mixed at your vent filter making that milk shake. Those 3 mile trips may be doing more harm than good my friend. You need to get that bike out on the road for some good length day trips....... for more than burning moisture too. Like a burger and a beer in the next county over just for the ride!
You need to put a new one on. It's only going to hold so much gunk before it's going to do what you have. It's working just like it should but if you're going to use a filter it requires maintenance. How much maintenance depends on the condition of your motor and the breather system. Also important...oil level but it sounds like you have that dialed in. I use the same exact filter and swap mine monthly whether it needs it or not. The filters are around 13 bucks at any auto parts store. I have about a half dozen that keep ready to go. After a few get dirty I drop them in a jug with some dawn dish soap and hot water. Let them soak awhile then I wash them out rinse them clean...yes your wife will think this is great when you do it in the kitchen sink lol. I give them little shot of compressed air and then put them on a shelf on a rag to catch any water while they dry...I always have a few clean and ready to go.
It's oil/water condensate that makes a watery/oily foam. If you filling your oil up to full that plays a part and short trips allowing water vapor to condensate mixing with oil to your breather. I had a catch can on my 17SGS, but when I installed the external breather tubes, I did not connect the can on my 20RGL. It just vents to atmosphere, right under my right footboard. I don't see long oily trails going down my footboard or anything. When I stop I will get a couple drops after a few minutes, which I don't worry about except when I park in my garage or somebody elses garage then I will just put a paper towel under it or plug the can in the hose temporarily.
This summer my motorcycle rides have been more commuter based, 3 miles to work 1 way, 4 trips a day.
I've checked the oil and it looks like there a safe amount, it's at the half way mark, both before and after a ride.
Is the filter catching the oil causing it to pool and then drip?
If I stayed with a filter, is there a better one out there?
When I said "Check your oil fill" I meant look at the underside of the cap and around the top of the tank. In a lot of cases the milky residue will appear there too. My guess is your breathers are getting stiff and probably need replacing. A good running motor with properly operating breathers won't blow oil. Maybe just a slight mist at high speeds. There's a great debate on whether to use a catch can or a filter like you have. Since the breathers only allow crankcase pressure out and don't breathe back in some wonder why the need for a filter. After all, look what yours is doing now. It's finally filled up enough to drip. Several just leave the hose end open. And that brings me to a very easy way to test your breathers. From the backing plate, disconnect each individual line and if needed use another tube to lengthen it. Then blow! You should be able to suck air but not blow. Old school bikers love the taste!
That's a lot of water to get what is in the pictures, normal condensation won't get that thick. Warm the bike change the oil & filter, clean or replace the mini and that hose if practicail. Then go for a good 20-50 ride with some highways to blow out any leftovers. Keeps up you have environmental issues to address concerning the bikes storage and exposure.
Had a couple do that if they got ridden or sat out in the rain a lot.
No need for a filter on the crank vent line. Just let it hang down somewhere and forget about it.
I wouldn't worry about a little milkshake dribble either, not enough moisture to worry about. Try to take the bike for a decent ride more often too get the oil up to temp. Figure 20 miles.
Your engine produces 1 gallon of water for every gallon of gasoline it burns in the cylinder. A small bit of those gasses blows by the rings and
into the crank where it mixes with oil. Then gets ejected thru the breather. Since the engine is hot, any water in the oil evaporates quickly. But
the breather hose is cooler. So, the vapors in there condense into a water/oil mixture which looks like cream. It's perfectly normal. Nothing wrong.
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Cream colored fluid from external breather
