Author Topic: New info on Milky Oil (Read 20753 times)

tallpaul · « **Reply #20 on:** April 30, 2015, 22:50:05 »

Is it losing coolant? I had a Vw Scirocco that had a water cooled oil cooler just like the glee. The heat exchanger started to fail internally letting the oil and water mix. Maybe worth a look?

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #21 on:** May 02, 2015, 09:19:16 »

Thanks all. I'll be checking this out today. I was in Padgetts yesterday and the salesman thought it might be worth pulling the cover and physically cleaning the glass... hope it doesn't come to that as reading the service manual/Sharealike's excellent guide (http://www.vibefreev.com/downloads.htm) it seems a bit of a pain just to clean the sight glass. That said, I suppose the engine coolant is about due a change, and if it's 100% clean I can see if it's a result of winter use or another problem causing it... (assuming not resolved today)

Lifebiker · « **Reply #22 on:** May 02, 2015, 10:18:56 »

I don't know if this will help but I bought one of the first new DL650 demos from Thunderroad motorcycles and it suffered with the milky/frothy oil problem. Thunderroad carried out a Suzuki approved engine breather mod which cured the problem and I believe the mod was implemented into the build of later models.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #23 on:** May 02, 2015, 21:48:33 »

Thanks for the info. I'll speak to a dealer about that.

Well today I stripped it down. First check was coolant level:

Phew all OK.

Next check air filter:

Not too bad (was supposedly changed at a service at 11,056 miles on 05 Dec14)

Next remove air filter to check breather hose...

Holy crap!! Well that explains that! So thoroughly cleaned the sponge, including decreasing and drying. Cleaned out the air box - fortunately the sponge contained it. Ran the engine at idle for 15 mins. Re-cleaned air box again. Ran engine at idle for 20 mind, then went through the rev range for a few minutes. Re-created and reinstalled everything including a new(ish) K&N filter (thanks Zippy) and ran engine for another 5 mins.

I think it's starting to clear a bit though am concerned by the amount of crap uncovered today in the air box. I'm going to check it out over the next few weekends in advance of a trip to Scotland at the end of the month.

Am still concerned by the amount of crap in it- stuck my finger in the oil filler opening and inside seems caked. I might buy some Motul engine clean and change the oil/filter again (only changed 200 miles ago and the dropped oil didn't look too bad).

I'm also concerned that my last service was at 14,858 miles on 06 June 14, which means given the air filter was changed 6 months before that, and a big chunk of the riding would have been summer/autumn, this has supposedly occurred over this winter which was relatively mild... (just hit 19,000 miles). I'll have to keep a closer eye on this in future.

Sam · « **Reply #24 on:** May 02, 2015, 22:49:22 »

Mines exactly the same as this. Never had a problem on my Wee which done the same journeys as I do on the Glee. Have taken it for a good 100 mile run to get it nicely warmed up but no difference at all.
My only concern is that its quite difficult to check the oil level. So I popped into my local dealer today & had a chat. They're going to contact Suzuki so I'll wait for their response.
BTW the bikes 12 months old & only done 1400 miles.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #25 on:** May 03, 2015, 09:16:38 »

Thanks Sam. Which dealer did you go to? I'll pop in to York Suzuki at some point (though will email the pic to Suzuki myself). If there's a few of us with the same issue Suzuki might come up with something, assuming Lifebiker's post isn't their answer. This is the worst I've ever seen on a bike. Am hoping regular de-gunking will help clear this, but I don't have time /patience to pull the tank off regularly through winter. Of course I'm assuming that the dealers I've used for servicing have been inspecting/cleaning the air box/filters - I say this as in the 'Poorly Glee' thread the dealer insisted they don't have to remove the tank to service the bike inc inspecting air filter / changing sparkplugs... (they must use The Borrowers to do it for them)

Sam · « **Reply #26 on:** May 03, 2015, 22:44:09 »

I went into CJ Ball's in Norwich, which was where I bought the bike from. I also showed them the post from Lifebiker, which they seemed interested in & said they may contact them, but will wait for Suzuki's response first.

Oop North John · « **Reply #27 on:** May 06, 2015, 10:17:27 »

5 degrees C this morning, had three bars on the water temperature gauge after about 2 miles, and the oil temperature gauge was about 20 degrees C.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #28 on:** May 11, 2015, 22:36:13 »

Looks like cleaning the sponge in the air box has helped.

Looks like regular(ish) cleaning through winter might be the answer... checked the sponge today and it's nice and clean, though a bit of water collected in the bottom of it.

Sam · « **Reply #29 on:** May 17, 2015, 14:51:11 »

No response from Suzuki/dealer yet, so took the tank off yesterday. Found the same as UK_Vstrom650 in his above photos. But the foam was all squashed down at the bottom which may have restricted the breather somewhat. So I'm hoping it may be a bit better now its fitted correctly

Shall see over the next week or 2.
Will also wait & see if the dealer bothers to reply

Sam · « **Reply #30 on:** May 23, 2015, 13:41:48 »

Had a phone call from CJ Ball (Suzuki dealer) yesterday. They said Suzuki had no record of any reports about this issue. But they offered a free oil change (as a goodwill gesture) to a different brand to see if that helps at all. They said they recently changed from using putoline to castrol, so will try going back to putoline in my bike. Its booked in for next week so I'll see if that makes any difference.
Fair dues to them, at least they are trying something!

iansoady · « **Reply #31 on:** May 23, 2015, 15:26:51 »

I can't really see how it can be down to the make of oil.....

MartinW · « **Reply #32 on:** May 23, 2015, 16:02:41 »

The dealer is stalling for time.

My daughters car is full of the same milky gunge because she only drives it a mile to work and back and it never gets a longer run.

It's physics and chemistry, not the oil brand.

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #33 on:** May 23, 2015, 20:24:25 »

Mine seems to have cleared since cleaning the sponge. My too had been stuffed in so maybe that was the issue I.e. being scrunched up stopped evaporation? Will see at winter...

Sam · « **Reply #34 on:** May 30, 2015, 19:17:20 »

Went into the dealers today for the free oil change.
My oil window still looked like this when I went in.

Left the dealers & decided to have a nice leisurely 30 mile ride to get home. Once home, checked the oil window & it was completely clear. I was rather surprised it had an effect so quickly.

Don't know if it was the new oil or different brand. Make of it what you will.
Popped back down to the dealers (they're only 2 miles down the road) & they seemed as surprised as me.
Anyway I'm happy now.
Also I was going to do an oil change before going on a euro tour in a few weeks - so its saved me £20 as well

If the same happens after next winter, I'll just do an oil change.

Mel · « **Reply #35 on:** May 31, 2015, 04:35:48 »

What oil did you have before? The same now?

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #36 on:** May 31, 2015, 07:28:30 »

Looking good Sam.

My money is still on the foam being squashed down causing this long lasting issue. Now you've sorted that & had fresh oil in whatever water was in there has evaporated off.

I've used a few brands of oil and usually get milky oil through winter, although this year it wouldn't have cleared unless I sorted that squished foam out.

Sam · « **Reply #37 on:** May 31, 2015, 09:23:18 »

Quote from: "Mel"

What oil did you have before? The same now?

The dealers said they put Castrol in before, but used Putoline this time.
The service bloke said maybe putoline oil has different detergents in it.

Quote from: "UK_Vstrom650"

My money is still on the foam being squashed down causing this long lasting issue. Now you've sorted that & had fresh oil in whatever water was in there has evaporated off.

I agree, the oil was probably contaminated & fresh oil made the difference.

Oop North John · « **Reply #38 on:** May 31, 2015, 09:48:34 »

I can get my oil level window clean by doing another 20 miles on top of the usual 20 miles. So if new oil is needed then I'd say that there's something not right with either your bike, or mine.

As I've an oil temperature trend gauge on mine, I get a good idea of what helps keep the oil clear in the window / filler cap, or not. I'd recommend getting one for anyone who thinks they have a bike that likes making milky oil.

Here's an example of the oil temp trend gauge:

https://www.louis.de/en/artikel/oil-tem ... t=76229962

UK_Vstrom650 · « **Reply #39 on:** May 31, 2015, 11:12:31 »

That looks good John, might order one when I get back from my hols

If the sponge in the airbox hadn't been stuffed in, I think the water vapour would have been able to evaporate during normal usage, but as it happens it was squished down and couldn't let the water vapour through, became clogged up and eventually built up within the oil.