oil foaming in sight glass

[TORQUEMONSTER]

Anyone have this problem. Warmed the engine up and drained oil. It came out all frothy. Put the new oil in started it up and watched it whip up in the sight window.

R1150GSA 2004

[vagueout]

The foaming is likely due to water moisture in the oil. Prior to dumping the oil it needs to warm up from a ride not just a rev up in the driveway. Others may disagree.

[def]

I drain engine oil cold. No chance of fresh condensation and all the junk is sitting in the sump with the help of gravity. Even after a ten minute ride, there is a greater volume of oil dispersed throughout the engine than if you just drop the drain plug on the cold engine.

Also, a cold engine is a pleasure to work on as opposed to a hot one.

[def]

If your engine oil is entraining air, you may have a leak on the suction side of one of the oil pumps requiring engine teardown.

Or, you may be overfilling and whipping air into the oil.

Or, you may have a crankcase ventilation issue.

But, air in oil is not good because the film strength is severely compromised by the air (air is a lousy lubricant).

How much oil are you putting into the engine during the oil change?

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by vagueout

The foaming is likely due to water moisture in the oil. Prior to dumping the oil it needs to warm up from a ride not just a rev up in the driveway. Others may disagree.

I agree!

Jim

[def]

Then the question is, where is all that water coming from?

[TORQUEMONSTER]

I fill it to the 3/4 up the sight glass. Checked it tonight and the bubbles are gone. I will fire it up and see what happends.

[TORQUEMONSTER]

How common is it to have oil pump issues?

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by def

Then the question is, where is all that water coming from?

Generally multiple short trips where condensation doesn't have a chance to burn off. This is why you should do one trip a week of at least half an hour.

Jim

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by TORQUEMONSTER

How common is it to have oil pump issues?

Virtually never!

Jim

[scooteraug02]

Originally Posted by def

I drain engine oil cold. No chance of fresh condensation and all the junk is sitting in the sump with the help of gravity. Even after a ten minute ride, there is a greater volume of oil dispersed throughout the engine than if you just drop the drain plug on the cold engine.

Also, a cold engine is a pleasure to work on as opposed to a hot one.

I thought this was true too. You ride the bike hard and park it all the gunk and hot oil should be at the bottom ready to drain out. Just won't come out as quickly when cold but heavy gunk should be the first thing out.

[everycredit]

Water in the oil can be caused by a cracked engine and coolant getting into the oil.

You should drain the coolant and check for oil.

[DDT Rider]

Originally Posted by everycredit

Water in the oil can be caused by a cracked engine and coolant getting into the oil.

You should drain the coolant and check for oil.

What coolant...?

[wario]

Originally Posted by DDT Rider

What coolant...?

eggzactly!

But, not to start a "oil" thread - but, a warm engine is a warm engine. I do not believe that the motor knows the difference in temps between when its hot from riding, and hot from idling.

I do believe the key is to get the motor hot - period. If its idling, then it needs to idle until the temp gauge reaches normal operating temperature. Otherwise, you will not bake/cause evaporation of the condensation out of the oil and the muffler/exhaust...

[billdonna]

Originally Posted by TORQUEMONSTER

Anyone have this problem. Warmed the engine up and drained oil. It came out all frothy. Put the new oil in started it up and watched it whip up in the sight window.

R1150GSA 2004

Never mind the foam, what colour was the oil when it settled? If the oil is contaminated with water it will ALWAYS be a milky shade. If it aint off white, start looking for air entry in the pump .