Smoky / Milky Oil Window

bobzinger · 04-07-2008, 10:17 AM

As I was preparing for my Saturday ride I saw that my window (oil level gauge) for checking the oil was milky or smoky looking. At first I thought I had blown a head gasket and water had gotten in. The center is milky looking but the edges are clear. Now it's really hard to check oil level.

Anybody else have a similar issue?

blowndodge · 04-07-2008, 10:18 AM

Probably just condensation on the glass bob.. Usually after a good ride the cloudiness goes away. It's worse different times of the year.

**Top Cat** · 04-07-2008, 10:39 AM

What BD said. Mine was like that when I got it out of winter storage. I rode 100 miles or so yesterday. It has cleared up now.

bobzinger · 04-07-2008, 10:57 AM

Thanks guys!

You know I love this forum. It's the first thing I do every morning...read the pages!

cactusjack · 04-07-2008, 11:02 AM

Keep an eye on your coolant level, just in case it isn't condensation.

**ringadingh** · 04-07-2008, 11:17 AM

A lot of the bikes do that, its normal, especially in climates where there are large temperature changes.

macmac · 04-07-2008, 04:18 PM

Lots of really short miles do that too.

04-07-2008, 05:01 PM

Mine does it too, more so in the winter when I don't ride as far.

dogdoc · 04-07-2008, 07:25 PM

macmac answered correctly guys, short mile trips does it, mine has it milky alot, ride it a couple hundred miles and it clears right up, very common!

bobzinger · 04-08-2008, 10:01 AM

You guys were right...It was clear today.

dogdoc · 04-08-2008, 04:52 PM

:-)

cactusjack · 04-08-2008, 05:10 PM

I've never seen that myself. Must be the extremely dry climate here.

ponch · 04-08-2008, 06:50 PM

Mine does it too, but my 800 rarely did it. Must be something with the engine design that moisture stays in the crankcase longer on this engine. If you ride it more, it goes away.

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobzinger

As I was preparing for my Saturday ride I saw that my window (oil level gauge) for checking the oil was milky or smoky looking. At first I thought I had blown a head gasket and water had gotten in. The center is milky looking but the edges are clear. Now it's really hard to check oil level.

Anybody else have a similar issue?

macmac · 04-08-2008, 07:19 PM

Well it all depends on ambient ait temps, the humidity, and whether or not you made water as condensation in the crankcase or not, and if so for how long and all sorts of things.

Short rides in a old real VW bettle will do this and make tan mung under the oil filler cap. Where does that water come from? The air.. It is made in any engine you start, and the colder it is and the more humid it is, the more water you make. If you go 4 miles and turn the car off to spend ther day at work that water collects under the oil in the crankcase. When you go 4 miles home, you make more.

Do that a week and you have maybe made up to 1/2 pint of nasty old water. and spread it all over the place in each and every low spot in the engine there is, and will sooner or later clogg the breather.

A smaller engine may not show so fast as it may tend to warm up in general faster as there is less mass to get heated.

To get it out, you just need to get to full warm and be moving for long enough to make it breath out thru the intake, and out the exhaust...

ells · 04-08-2008, 07:30 PM

The solution - Never stop riding long enough to let it cool down - In my dreams!

04-07-2008, 10:17 AM	#1
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	Smoky / Milky Oil Window As I was preparing for my Saturday ride I saw that my window (oil level gauge) for checking the oil was milky or smoky looking. At first I thought I had blown a head gasket and water had gotten in. The center is milky looking but the edges are clear. Now it's really hard to check oil level. Anybody else have a similar issue? __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better! Login or Register to Remove Ads
	0

04-07-2008, 10:18 AM	#2
blowndodge Sr. Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Washington City, Utah Posts: 16,474	Smoky / Milky Oil Window Probably just condensation on the glass bob.. Usually after a good ride the cloudiness goes away. It's worse different times of the year. __________________ I love my Victory Cross Country Tour 106. Smells like Victory! Ultra's are Limited There are two types of Harley riders. Those that trailer them and those that push them. The most Interesting Man in the World "Find the things in life you don't do well and don't do those things" Member # 0005
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04-07-2008, 10:39 AM	#3
Top Cat Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Peoples Republic of New York State Posts: 15,154	Smoky / Milky Oil Window What BD said. Mine was like that when I got it out of winter storage. I rode 100 miles or so yesterday. It has cleared up now. __________________ Tim "TC" Conley VBA #9 2011 Victory Kingpin mine 2013 Victory Boardwalk -hers [LEFT][COLOR=#000000] [SIZE=4]
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04-07-2008, 10:57 AM	#4
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	Smoky / Milky Oil Window Thanks guys! You know I love this forum. It's the first thing I do every morning...read the pages! __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
	0

04-07-2008, 11:02 AM	#5
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Smoky / Milky Oil Window Keep an eye on your coolant level, just in case it isn't condensation. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17 Login or Register to Remove Ads
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04-07-2008, 11:17 AM	#6
ringadingh Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Newmarket Ontario Canada Posts: 35,387	Smoky / Milky Oil Window A lot of the bikes do that, its normal, especially in climates where there are large temperature changes. __________________ 2002 Nomad aka Bountyhunter VBA #27 VROC #18951
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04-07-2008, 04:18 PM	#7
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Smoky / Milky Oil Window Lots of really short miles do that too. __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
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04-07-2008, 05:01 PM	#8
Guest Posts: n/a	Smoky / Milky Oil Window Mine does it too, more so in the winter when I don't ride as far.
	0

04-07-2008, 07:25 PM	#9
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Smoky / Milky Oil Window macmac answered correctly guys, short mile trips does it, mine has it milky alot, ride it a couple hundred miles and it clears right up, very common!
	0

04-08-2008, 10:01 AM	#10
bobzinger Sr. Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Livermore CA Posts: 1,334	Smoky / Milky Oil Window You guys were right...It was clear today. __________________ Life is Good! Eternal Life is better!
	0

04-08-2008, 04:52 PM	#11
dogdoc Top Contributor Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 5,263	Smoky / Milky Oil Window :-)
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04-08-2008, 05:10 PM	#12
cactusjack Mega-Contributor Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Where it doesn't snow...ever! Posts: 21,926	Smoky / Milky Oil Window I've never seen that myself. Must be the extremely dry climate here. __________________ Scott "Cactusjack" Hanks VBA #00105 H.O.G. #4250060 2011 H-D Ultra Limited 103ci :: 2011 HD Electra Glide Ultra Limited w/Stage 1 :: Rallies: Mesquite '08\|Custer '09\|Cortez '10\|Crescent City '11\|Kanab '12\|Antlers '12\|Estes Park '13\|Antlers '13\|Orofino '14\|The Dalles '17
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04-08-2008, 07:19 PM	#14
macmac Sr. Contributor Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Tamworth New Hampster 06 1600 Posts: 12,484	Smoky / Milky Oil Window Well it all depends on ambient ait temps, the humidity, and whether or not you made water as condensation in the crankcase or not, and if so for how long and all sorts of things. Short rides in a old real VW bettle will do this and make tan mung under the oil filler cap. Where does that water come from? The air.. It is made in any engine you start, and the colder it is and the more humid it is, the more water you make. If you go 4 miles and turn the car off to spend ther day at work that water collects under the oil in the crankcase. When you go 4 miles home, you make more. Do that a week and you have maybe made up to 1/2 pint of nasty old water. and spread it all over the place in each and every low spot in the engine there is, and will sooner or later clogg the breather. A smaller engine may not show so fast as it may tend to warm up in general faster as there is less mass to get heated. To get it out, you just need to get to full warm and be moving for long enough to make it breath out thru the intake, and out the exhaust... __________________ 06 1600 Nomad Just call me Mac molon labe come and get it
	0

04-08-2008, 07:30 PM	#15
ells Sr. Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Boulder County, Colorado Posts: 2,014	Smoky / Milky Oil Window The solution - Never stop riding long enough to let it cool down - In my dreams!
	0

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