Author Topic: Oil sight glass  (Read 1212 times)

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Offline Oldrover

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Oil sight glass
« on: March 16, 2015, 20:03:02 »
My 650 went in for its first service on Saturday , I thought I'd check the oil level on Sunday only to find that the
sight glass has a whiteish residue on the inside . The bike is kept outside and it has been cold recently , could it be condensation ?

Offline MartinW

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Re: Oil sight glass
« Reply #1 on: March 16, 2015, 20:05:14 »
Absolutely.

Go thrash it for 20 minutes and all will be fixed.  :thumb:

Search this forum for "milky oil"
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Online mr_diver

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Re: Oil sight glass
« Reply #2 on: March 16, 2015, 20:42:24 »
long explanation shortened...

Moist cold air is drawn into the crankcase thorough the breather pipes from the airbox.
This air condenses in places. Sight glass, and inside the filler cap is the usual places.
Leave the bike sit in colder weather for a few days and it'll happen without being run. But run it for a short distance and it'll appear worse. Give the bike a good long run and the sight glass will appear clear and the internal heat has vaporised the moisture. But it'll come back before too long.

it's only a concern if the oil is 'milky' in quantity.
If you hold the bike upright (centre stand) and see if the black oil will make a tide mark up the glass or not.
Every bike I've had with a sight glass has done it, and every filler cap get a coating inside.



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Offline Mr Nick

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Re: Oil sight glass
« Reply #3 on: March 16, 2015, 21:25:54 »
My AL2 had chronic sight glass mayo that even seemed to get worse after a run.

But, it's not a big issue and I found it was easily cured in the end - buy a bike without a sight glass......  :neen:
Seems pearl asbo orange is faster after all....

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Online mr_diver

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Re: Oil sight glass
« Reply #4 on: March 16, 2015, 21:44:06 »
or cover the whole bike in winter road crud. I don't have a sight glass atm  :shrug:



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Offline Oldrover

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Re: Oil sight glass
« Reply #5 on: March 17, 2015, 20:21:09 »
Thanks for the replies . I do 20 miles each way to work and back and it's still there . I hope to do a longish ride soon so that combined with warmer weather hopefully will sort it .

Offline imindoors

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Re: Oil sight glass
« Reply #6 on: March 17, 2015, 20:38:40 »
Mines the same. I do miss having a dipstick.
I look quick therefore I am.