Post by: Kalen on March 01, 2023, 12:50:50 PM
I finally feel pressured to write my first post, as i have hit an issue that i for the first time cannot solve myself with the guidance of my Clymer manual and the posts on this forum. I humbly seek your guidance.
The bike:
K1100LT
The problem:
Streaks of yellow appearing in my sight glass on my last few rides in October before winter storage (Denmark it is 3 months, december-april), i decided to now drain the oil, and have a look at where the water could be coming from. As you can see in the attached picture, the water amount isn't crazy (there is picture of first drain and second drain where it drained for 2 days), but it has me worrying if i have an internal coolant leak/crack.
IMG20230217194743.jpg (23.3 kB . 432x576 - viewed 409 times) IMG20230217194755.jpg (30.56 kB . 432x576 - viewed 393 times) IMG20230301181756.jpg (32.19 kB . 432x576 - viewed 359 times) IMG20230301185429.jpg (53.25 kB . 432x576 - viewed 409 times)Could this just be condensation from the last few trips? (They weren't long) or being stored for 3 months? Or am I looking at a serious problem?
What i have already done;
Complete rebuild (not head or pistons), all gaskets, seals, o-rings, water pump, you name it, i have changed it, last winter 2022.
Compression test 140-138-139-140, so no cylinder leaks
Weep hole check, no blockage as i made sure to do it properly when rebuilding pump and checked just now.
Coolant system pressure test @16 psi for 6 seconds and 15psi for 1h +, no apparent loss of pressure, and no leaking coolant when I view the block from below with oil pan removed.
IMG20230301181833.jpg (46.28 kB . 432x576 - viewed 406 times)I am stumped as to what to do next, am i being overly worried about condensation? Any tips or opinions will be appreciated dearly.
Sincerely Kalen
Post by: Laitch on March 01, 2023, 02:37:52 PM
How long have you owned this Brick, how many kilometers have you ridden it since you've owned it, what is the typical length—in minutes or hours—of a ride, and is it in a heated space when it isn't being ridden?
Post by: Kalen on March 01, 2023, 02:57:46 PM
I have owned the brick since summer 2021, i have driven the brick 2000km before the rebuild and 4300 km after.
My typical length is 15-30 minutes each way to work depending on traffic. Occasional 1-2h joyride. So there's bound to be some condensation with my small trips, but this amount is worrying to me.
It is stored in a shack with no insulation, so same temperature as outside but no rain/frost.
Post by: Laitch on March 01, 2023, 05:51:29 PM
How many kilometers are on the odometer? Why did you replace all those parts; were there leaks happening?
Post by: frankenduck on March 01, 2023, 09:15:23 PM
Do a Google video search for "k100 water pump."
Post by: Kalen on March 02, 2023, 12:39:46 AM
Frankenduck, i have already overhauled the water pump, a leak here would show in the weep hole before contaminating the oil, and will affect the coolant system pressure test. But yes, very common on these bikes, so i did it as a preventative measure during the overhaul 112350
Post by: frankenduck on March 02, 2023, 01:20:37 AM
Laitch, it's got 200.000 km on the Odo, and developed a rear main seal leak. So since I would be changing the seal, i decided to just overhaul everything I could because of the high mileage as a preventative measure.
Frankenduck, i have already overhauled the water pump, a leak here would show in the weep hole before contaminating the oil, and will affect the coolant system pressure test. But yes, very common on these bikes, so i did it as a preventative measure during the overhaul 112350
Did you happen to smell it the water in your oil to see if it's coolant?
I've seen a bike before that got coolant in the oil without dripping on a friend's K100RS.
Post by: Martin on March 02, 2023, 01:22:28 AM
Regards Martin.
Post by: Kalen on March 02, 2023, 01:57:50 AM
There are companies that will analyse the oil for a fee.Martin, a very good suggestion, several companies here in Denmark offer this service. It sounds like a viable solution if it isn't too pricey, so i can finally put my mind at ease.
Regards Martin.
Post by: Martin on March 02, 2023, 04:22:44 AM
Regards Martin.
Post by: Laitch on March 02, 2023, 07:55:15 AM
You'd be better served in your commute by a two cylinder KTM 390, a BMW 310GS or a single cylinder KLR with side cases—all of which will warm up much faster than your big Brick, but what you have is what you have. Change the oil every 2000–3000 kilometers to prevent wear on the engine and enjoy the ride.
Post by: Kalen on March 02, 2023, 08:01:23 AM
I'm going to blame too many short trips, fill her up with oil again and go for some longer rides and see if any streaks show up again.
I should start using my bicycle for work instead :laughing1: better for my health anyway.
I'll throw an update once I take her out. Thanks for the inputs!
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on March 02, 2023, 08:52:32 AM
Take a sample of oil with the emulsion in it and heat it slowly to above 100C. You will smell the oil vapor and if there is water not much else. If there is coolant the vapor given off at high temperature will be very acrid.
To get an idea of what it smells like take a small amount of coolant(2cc) and heat it by itself. The odor is very distinctive.
Post by: Kalen on March 02, 2023, 08:59:35 AM
Post by: Laitch on March 02, 2023, 09:14:26 AM
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on March 02, 2023, 10:48:31 AM
An interesting idea Mr. Gryphon, ill definitely be trying this out! Hope the wife doesn't come home to me boiling engine oil on the stove.
I would strongly recommend a candle and a small can out in the shed. Many women regard their kitchen as a sacred area. A pan of smoking engine oil on the stove would probably inspire a reaction not unlike finding a strange woman in the bedroom, especially if you have the extra bad luck of having coolant mixed in with the oil.
Post by: daveson on March 02, 2023, 05:46:21 PM
Post by: caveman on March 03, 2023, 04:29:43 AM
http://jackriepe.blogspot.com/2009/05/learning-how-to-ride-two-up-by-yourself.html?showComment=1243396816310
Post by: Kalen on March 03, 2023, 11:44:18 AM
I'm still alive, the wife didnt kill me, just forced me to buy a new pot. It wasn't coolant, only water in the oil, didn't smell at all (except our whole house still reeks of engine oil).
Today I was removing the timing chain cover to fix a small oil leak, and immediately as i started prying it off, clean water poured out the bottom, small puddles upwards coming from underneath the small vent/tube on the top!
The vent is not secured properly, has no gasket, and water can easily leak down around the tube during rain/washing and into the engine.
Ill be taking it off and putting some liquid sealant on it to keep out water.
I am so glad it turned out to be something so stupid 112350
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Post by: Chaos on March 03, 2023, 12:16:40 PM
Post by: The Mighty Gryphon on March 03, 2023, 05:35:06 PM
That's good news! Just unfortunate that she caught you stinking up the house. Next time use the candle and a soup can.
Post by: Laitch on March 03, 2023, 06:22:44 PM
Next time use the candle and a soup can.Practicing now with that setup will develop a useful skill if you are eventually exiled from home for bad kitchen manners and need to make meals in the woods. :laughing4-giggles:
In the USA, that fitting was connected by a hose to one of two small ports beneath the tank, or it was plugged by fastening a short length of hose to it that had a bolt in the end, and the two tank ports dumped into a rectangular plastic fitting hanging on the frame. What's the status on the underside of the tank?
I share your joy in discovering this stupid situation, but I still consider that it is too early to start the party. Break out the party hats and whistles after 3K to 4K kilometers. icon_cheers