uh oh, may have a big problem./ update!!!!

chainsaw · Post by **chainsaw** » Sun Aug 16, 2009 8:26 pm

so, today I put on the choke parts that TLRam1 kindly sent me at no charge and decided to change my gearbox oil. Drained the old out which was kinda black and dirty, not too bad and put in fresh 20/50 at 2200ccs or 4.6 pints.

decided to check my radiator level. Took off the rad cap, put just a bit of water in it and thats when it happened. There is an oily substance in my coolant. Floated to the top when I put in a bit of water. So, how bad is my problem? What could it be? It sure looked and felt like oil. Now mind you, the bike had been sitting for 9 months after I got it and no telling how long it sat in Erics garage without being ridden or even started.

So, how do I drain and flush the system completely and refill then ride it to see if it is a continuing issue? How could tranny oil even get into the cooling system? It sure didnt look like injector oil but maybe it could be.

Any help appreciated!!!!!!!!!

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Update:

went to bike store to get some of super special antifreeze for aluminum motors and it was $21.00 for 1/2 gallon

Said screw that, went to where I work on saturdays and got some there for free. This stuff is compatible for ALL applications, yes even aluminum motors. Got home and drained the system. oily stuff was in it so I dumped in some purple power degreaser and flushed about 5 gallons of water after that till all water had no oil or coloration from degreaser or soapy bubbles. Seemed to work great. Refilled with my new antifreeze and started bike up. let it idle and blipped the throttle till I reached correct temp on my gauge. shut her down and looked at the fluid and all was as clean as could be!!! I will check it periodically to see if more oily stuff gets into it.

thanks for all the help guys!!!

Post by **oldjapanesebikes** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:11 am

I suppose it is possible that a small amount of gearbox oil could migrate down the water pump shaft if the bike has been standing for a while - but its unlikely. If there is no water in the gearbox then the other possibility is head or base gasket but you should see signs of that in the exhaust.

Some brands of leak stop can look oily, so if you are not losing fluids and everything else looks and sounds OK, then personally I would just monitor it now that you are riding it again and see what changes.

Suzukidave · Post by **Suzukidave** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 3:11 am

You might need to check that you didnt over fill your tranny by standing the bike on the center stand and removeing the level check bolt on the clutch side cover ( put a pan under the bike first ) My first thought was with Ian that maybe what you are seeing is a stop leak substance someone has added . It wouldnt be a bad idea to flush the system anyways if it hasnt been done in a while and add back in a aluminum safe coolant and distilled water . There is a drain plug under the front of the engine for draining out the old coolant .

Barry S. · Post by **Barry S.** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 4:42 am

Mine looks like that, hasn't caused a problem in 12,000 miles.

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 5:31 am

I've seen a slight oilslick in my radiators before. I think that will happen whenever a waterpump seal fails. Flush it, then watch it for a while to make sure the radiator level and oil level don't change.

Lane

chainsaw · Post by **chainsaw** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 7:36 am

Suzukidave wrote:You might need to check that you didnt over fill your tranny by standing the bike on the center stand and removeing the level check bolt on the clutch side cover ( put a pan under the bike first ) My first thought was with Ian that maybe what you are seeing is a stop leak substance someone has added . It wouldnt be a bad idea to flush the system anyways if it hasnt been done in a while and add back in a aluminum safe coolant and distilled water . There is a drain plug under the front of the engine for draining out the old coolant .

could someone point me to it? I had to take a wild guess on the oil plug between the the actual plug and the other angled plug under the bike. I guessed right!

Then, how do you flush the system out before a refill?

thanks all. I am a little calmer about this now.

Post by **oldjapanesebikes** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:38 am

Try taking a look at page 20 of the factory manual for the drain location. There are instructions for flushing etc. in the manual also around page 53, but really it isn't much different from what you'd do with any aluminium block car engine.

chainsaw · Post by **chainsaw** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:41 am

so is it the nut in the pic or the hose that the number 1 is on?

Post by **oldjapanesebikes** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 9:57 am

There is a 19 or 21 mm (I forget the exact size) plug nut on the underside of the casing just near where the '1' is in the photo in the shop manual - close to the front lower left side of the case. I've marked it with an arrow in the photo below.

Coyote · Post by **Coyote** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 10:31 am

Removing the large hex plug #31 will totally drain the system. I would think to flush the entire system you would have to have the engine running with the thermostst removed. I stand to be corrected if that is wrong. Otherwise all you are flushing is the radiator.

Post by **oldjapanesebikes** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:29 am

Yep - that works also. Items 31 and 33 (not shown in the parts diagram above) drain the same part of the system, just that 31 spews water forward, and 33 (the one I marked) drains straight down so that you have a chance of catching it in a pan

Suzukidave · Post by **Suzukidave** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 11:45 am

I dont know what it is but the couple of times i tried removeing #31 i couldnt get it to unscrew so i just use the bottom drain bolt ?

chainsaw · Post by **chainsaw** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:24 pm

man, you guys are great. thank you for the patience with me and all the trouble you go to to help a stranger.

Post by **oldjapanesebikes** » Mon Aug 17, 2009 12:41 pm

Suzukidave wrote:I dont know what it is but the couple of times i tried removeing #31 i couldnt get it to unscrew so i just use the bottom drain bolt ?

I've had the same trouble a few times - couldn't get #31 loose and as I didn't want to risk rounding the flats, I just left it alone.

rngdng · Post by **rngdng** » Fri Aug 21, 2009 5:15 am

If you really want that front plug out, clean everything and get out the ever-present propane torch. Heat around the plug, and then use an impact driver; it'll come out.

As to flushing the system, take out the thermostat, and leave the bottom plug out, then shove the garden hose into the filler neck. If you see powdery, white corrosion in the radiator, rinse it out with CLR (or vinegar), then again, rinse well with water. If you happen to need a radiator, I have four extras.

Lane