Author Topic: head gasket (Read 5973 times)

king1 · « **on:** January 20, 2016, 19:31:02 »

Hi

Just thought I would ask
I have a 2014 vstrom 650, that is less than 1 year old and have just found out the head gasket has gone. Frothy oil.
I have only done about 2.5k since Suzuki serviced it and am hoping it will be covered under the warranty.

Anybody had anything similar

Hondaman · « **Reply #1 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:03:52 »

Is it actually mixing oil & water, has it been pressure tested or is it just condensation from short/cold journeys making the oil milky?

MartinW · « **Reply #2 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:13:38 »

+1 - I wondered the same too.

TLPower · « **Reply #3 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:25:12 »

+2 I've never heard of a failure even going back to the original TL1000 or SV 650.

Gassoon · « **Reply #4 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:34:12 »

Yeah, it's possible you are just seeing 'frothy' oil from condensation? Hopefully, anyway!
Any other worrying symptoms, king1?
Have a look at this thread on stromtrooper, might put your mind at rest

http://www.stromtrooper.com/dl650a-2012/166257-aaaagh-foamy-oil-help.html

plumber02 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:39:29 »

get a second opinion, get it tested, make sure there are no breather pipes off taking in water , hardly a head g unless she ran hot or you went at the coolant or rad or something, definitely second opinion

king1 · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:57:57 »

It is foamy in the sight glass and foamy inside the oil filler but it has not been ridden for 5 days. Could it be just damp build up? Note to self, check coolant.

Sam · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2016, 20:58:30 »

I reckon its just condensation. Can get bad at this time of year.
Quite a bit of chat about milky oil last winter here:
http://www.v-strom.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=17871.0

plumber02 · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2016, 21:11:01 »

if you're handy change the oil and filter just make sure you go for a good long spin to burn off most of the water ,if you have to youtube it -let someone else do it and for peace of mind test the cooling system

I don't know about the stroms but a lot of engine breathers head to the airbox and sometimes have like a brillo pad type of gauze and I reckon a lot of these things trap condensed water and it finds it way back down and into the crank c again, whether that makes sense or not

mr_diver · « **Reply #9 on:** January 21, 2016, 12:03:10 »

Yeah every winter on every bike I own I get a milky oil sight glass, cream like substance (oil/water mix) in the airbox.
If that's all it is just ride the bike and forget about it.
We tend to ride less and for shorter duration in winter. So in the moisture in the engine doesn't go.

king1 · « **Reply #10 on:** January 22, 2016, 04:14:44 »

Thanks blokes
It looks like it is condensation, I did the run to work 25 miles on motorway and it started to clear the sight glass.
I will look at doing an oil change next week if I can get some free time

plumber02 · « **Reply #11 on:** January 22, 2016, 17:15:48 »

more to the point - who told you your head gasket was gone ?

Vstrop65070 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 21, 2016, 10:10:54 »

Vstrom DL650 XT
Used daily approx 30-45 mins each way to work various UK roads.

17,600 miles

Can't see the oil level, sight glass is white.

White Snot in the oil filler cap.
White snot in the foam filter in the air box & down the crank vent hose.
Water level is fine.
Went on a long 170 mile run no change.
I've cleaned the foam filter & reinstalled.
Is there a mod to stop this?

Surely this should have cleared following a long run?

mr_diver · « **Reply #13 on:** December 21, 2016, 11:44:44 »

It's just this time of year.
Mine used to look a lot worse.

Al I ever did was clean it all out and ride it.

Hondaman · « **Reply #14 on:** December 21, 2016, 11:56:52 »

What purpose does that foam in the airbox serve?
I think I'd be tempted to sling it.

greywolf · « **Reply #15 on:** December 21, 2016, 14:51:49 »

The foam gives the oil mist in the breather air a place to condense back into liquid oil and flow back down the tube. Without the foam more oil will get into the airbox and filter. The coolant/oil heat exchanger oil cooler does too good a job in the winter. The water in the oil comes from condensation, not coolant.

Rich:-) · « **Reply #16 on:** December 21, 2016, 15:05:18 »

Quote from: greywolf on December 21, 2016, 14:51:49

The coolant/oil heat exchanger oil cooler does too good a job in the winter.

Really?
I would have thought it would actually help as it will channel more heat into the oil. They are certainly suppose to help get the oil to normal operating temperature quicker.

One thing to try that might help would be masking off the sight glass with foam & tape. That way it'll stop the glass being the coldest part and allow it to clear the cheese quicker.

greywolf · « **Reply #17 on:** December 21, 2016, 15:44:30 »

Maybe blocking the air flow over part of the radiator could help. A fourth bar on the temperature display would indicate too much was covered.

TLPower · « **Reply #18 on:** December 21, 2016, 16:21:32 »

It shows your oil is working, it turns to this instead of the oil absorbing it. Fit a barn door in front of the engine to stop the cold air.

Hondaman · « **Reply #19 on:** December 21, 2016, 16:55:16 »

Hmm, maybe it's also trapping moisture, returning it to the oil rather than let it breath & being burnt off?
Of all the other bikes I've owned, I can't recall any of them having foam/mesh on the breather.

Having said that, a friends fz6 that I maintain, normally has mayonnaise gloop in the airbox over winter (1/2hr commute every day) so I'm sure this issue is more related to the large surface area & generally exposed nature of mc engines.

Quote from: TLPower on December 21, 2016, 16:21:32

It shows your oil is working, it turns to this instead of the oil absorbing it. Fit a barn door in front of the engine to stop the cold air.

Wot like this work of art....

(note the taped off rad)

I've never had mayonnaise but then don't commute.