Servicing bike, made a dumb mistake...
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 1,053
Likes: 982
From: Kansas
Servicing bike, made a dumb mistake...
It was time to get my 2015 EG ready for riding season. I went to the dealer and bought oil and fluids for the engine, primary, and transmission. I also got new spark plugs, air filter and fuel filter. I started yesterday by changing the air filter. Next was oil change. I rode the bike about 10 miles to get it warmed up and pulled it into the garage. With the catch pan under the bike, I pulled the plug. Much to my surprise, when I pulled the plug out, hot oil puked out with a loud "WHOOSH" and splattered a good 2-3 feet forward. It sprayed everything under the front half of bike and a good portion of my garage floor. "That was odd," I thought to myself as I wiped hot oil from my hands, arms and face. Once I quit cursing and yelling, I finished changing the oil and took it out to warm it up again. I noticed that the oil pressure was unusually high. About 42 PSI. The bike historically runs in the low to mid 30s. When I returned home and unscrewed the dip stick to check the oil level, there was apparently pressure inside because I heard air whoosh out of the opening. Hmmmmmm. Very curious indeed.
Bewildered with it all, I began researching the problem which means I called my riding friend who works on bikes all the time. He said it sounded like the tubes from the heads that go into the air filter element were plugged causing pressure to build up. Since I had just replaced the air filter element it seemed like a logical place to start. I took off the air cleaner cover. Lo and behold, I didn't get the tube poked into the element properly. It was kinked shut. Took it apart and got it inserted correctly and buttoned it back up. During the subsequent test ride the pressure was back to normal and no air puffed out when I unscrewed the dip stick to check the oil level.
Now I need to clean up about 3 quarts of used oil and continue servicing the bike. Fingers crossed for no more surprises.
Bewildered with it all, I began researching the problem which means I called my riding friend who works on bikes all the time. He said it sounded like the tubes from the heads that go into the air filter element were plugged causing pressure to build up. Since I had just replaced the air filter element it seemed like a logical place to start. I took off the air cleaner cover. Lo and behold, I didn't get the tube poked into the element properly. It was kinked shut. Took it apart and got it inserted correctly and buttoned it back up. During the subsequent test ride the pressure was back to normal and no air puffed out when I unscrewed the dip stick to check the oil level.
Now I need to clean up about 3 quarts of used oil and continue servicing the bike. Fingers crossed for no more surprises.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,540
Likes: 30,870
From: Pennsylvania
Good that it was a simple fix.
Always good to open the oil (remove the dip stick) on any engine when changing the oil as it will allow it to drain normally if there is pressure or vacuum.
Always good to open the oil (remove the dip stick) on any engine when changing the oil as it will allow it to drain normally if there is pressure or vacuum.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 35,239
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From: 40.2444° N, 75.6419° W
I figured you were going to tell us "springs fllew across the garage..." that reminds me of auto tech school a guy at the bench across the shop was disassembling cylinder heads with the valve spring compressor and a valve spring came flying toward me and hit the wall behind me...
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 38,623
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From: Honah Lee
Good to know. Thank you. I always with things warm, open the fill especially on cars and then close it.
That prevents so much gushing out to help me get out of the way. Then I open the fill.
Your experience will remind me to always remember to open it.
That prevents so much gushing out to help me get out of the way. Then I open the fill.
Your experience will remind me to always remember to open it.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 11,476
Likes: 3,004
From: Charleston, SC
I unknowingly did the same thing once (blocked the breather tubes) the day before heading out to Sturgis from Charleston.
Took about a day and 600 miles to get a low oil pressure light and a HUGE amount of lifter clatter.
Checked the oil level, none. No oil.... Thankfully a really killer tech at Appleton HD figured it out and we were back on our way.
So where did the oil go? The pressure pushed it into the primary.
Took about a day and 600 miles to get a low oil pressure light and a HUGE amount of lifter clatter.
Checked the oil level, none. No oil.... Thankfully a really killer tech at Appleton HD figured it out and we were back on our way.
So where did the oil go? The pressure pushed it into the primary.
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2,437
Likes: 2,883
From: Southeast
Wow! Would not have thought of that!
Thanks for the information, and fessing up to what was the issue.
Thanks for the information, and fessing up to what was the issue.
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Road Master
Joined: Apr 2014
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From: Kansas
I generally do remove the dip stick before an oil change, but of course THIS time I forgot.
Last edited by Frank the Real Biker; Apr 13, 2025 at 10:10 AM.
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From: NoVA
I guess it was a blessing in disguise - otherwise the problem would have been masked.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2008
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From: San Diego, CA
Much to my surprise, when I pulled the plug out, hot oil puked out with a loud "WHOOSH" and splattered a good 2-3 feet forward. It sprayed everything under the front half of bike and a good portion of my garage floor. "That was odd," I thought to myself as I wiped hot oil from my hands, arms and face.
When I returned home and unscrewed the dip stick to check the oil level, there was apparently pressure inside because I heard air whoosh out of the opening. Hmmmmmm. Very curious indeed.
Bewildered with it all, I began researching the problem…which means I called my riding friend who works on bikes all the time. He said it sounded like the tubes from the heads that go into the air filter element were plugged causing pressure to build up..
When you blocked those hoses to the air filter, you were not allowing the Breather Valves in the heads to vent crank case pressure as designed.
Luckily, your fix was just an easy thing. Fix the vent hoses.
For future reference,
If you had those same symptoms, and the hoses are all properly attached and not blocked, that would mean one, or both of the Breather Assemblies in the head malfunctioned. They get blocked when the rubber umbrella valves, for whatever reason, become "stuck" to the assemblies and don't allow venting. To fix those is easy too, but you need to remove the fuel tank and rocker covers to get access.
