Drowned bike - oil

[Jay B]

My wife drowned her bike - CRF150 last week when we were crossing a stream on the 42 Traverse. The motor was totally hydrauliced - back wheel wouldn't turn; we had to pull spark plug out, air filter, turn bike over and turn back wheel to get it free of water - alot of water came out:eek:
Started first time though - can't kill some bikes :ar15:

I have changed the oil a couple of times now but it is still murky grey with oil/water mix. The first time there was double the normal amount.........a lot of water.

Is there something I can put through the oil sump to clean it out - I had thought of using a bit of diesel but not sure if this is a good idea.

Cheers

[dogsnbikes]

When I drowned dirt bikes 2strokes, l found kerosene was great at flushing the motors out as it beads the water and removes it with ease .

[FJRider]

My wife drowned her bike - CRF150 last week when we were crossing the 42 Traverse. The motor was totally hydrauliced and we had to pull spark plug out, air filter, turn bike over and turn back wheel to get it free of water. Started first time though - can't kill some bikes :ar15:

I have changed the oil a couple of times now but it is still murky grey with oil/water mix.

Is there something I can put through the oil sump to clean it out - I had thought of using a bit of diesel but not sure if this is a good idea.

Cheers

Just fresh oil ... cheap stuff. Run for a short time then dump. Take out the filter first ... and leave the new filter out until you put the good oil in.

I did the same to an old grey tank XL250 once. I did the same as you. Rode home.

[BM-GS]

Once you have the worst of it out and flushed the oil a time or two (like it sounds you have done) you should be good to go on a long run. If you can do laps not too far from base (home or trailer) the oil will get hot enough to evaporate the water and the water-vapour will escape out of the breather.

Running road-bikes with an oil-cooler for short trips in cold weather will show the same symptoms - the oil never gets hot enough to boil off the water that forms from condensation and you need to faff with cardboard over the oil-cooler and such. Or go for a looong ride in the snow.

AFAIK the big problems happen if the water's left inside for a few weeks. Best check the airbox & drains & breather system for more water, blockages, etc.

[unstuck]

Your lucky it wasnt sea water. I just pulled a mates sons bike motor apart today after he flooded it in a creek at the beach, all the sand that got in to the motor has scored the shit out of the piston and bore. As FJ said, heaps of oil through it until your happy it is clean.:2thumbsup

[glukasil]

i ve drowned my kdx200 in a lagoon..........was 4m under water for 24 hours..........had to bring diving gear to recover..........fully submerged engine in petrol for a day............was working fine until stolen :)

[george formby]

i ve drowned my kdx200 in a lagoon..........was 4m under water for 24 hours..........had to bring diving gear to recover..........fully submerged engine in petrol for a day............was working fine until stolen :)

Fook me. I impressed myself just getting the handlebars under water. That was really, erm, badly thought out.

[Jay B]

5 litres of oil and still a bit dirty

[glukasil]

to george formby

tried to aquaskip with special sand paddle tires but kdx200 had no power.........started slowing down and oooops.
crossed over 200 meters , had less than 50 left....worth thing was to swim with full gear and heavy backpack in middle of winter...got picked up by friends so traveled home on back of quad wearing windbreaker only :)

[glukasil]

to Jay B

if you are ok to remove engine out of the bike , submerge it in old petrol with oil for a day.....petrol will absorb water and you are good to go. dont forget to remove all covers on the engine and sparkplug...

[BoristheBiter]

When the missus did that to her XR200 i just emptied a can of CRC into the piston and waited awhile, than changed the oil a few times.

The CRC pushes the water out like the petrol trick but keeps everything lubricated.

[george formby]

to george formby

tried to aquaskip with special sand paddle tires but kdx200 had no power.........started slowing down and oooops.
crossed over 200 meters , had less than 50 left....worth thing was to swim with full gear and heavy backpack in middle of winter...got picked up by friends so traveled home on back of quad wearing windbreaker only :)

Ah, of course.:laugh: As you do.:niceone:

[Flip]

Just do a few oil changes until the water is flushed out.

[FJRider]

The CRC pushes the water out like the petrol trick but keeps everything lubricated.

CRC displaces/repels water. It does not absorb ... or remove it.

And as it evaporates quickly with even small amounts of heat ... very limited lubrication qualities are gained.

If there is not enough water in the cylinder to hydraulic the engine ... (if the engine runs) ... run the engine for a little longer and dump while it is warm.

So it's a hassle to keep changing the oil. But it COULD have been much worse. Especially if she could RIDE it home.

[barty5]

flushing it with meths would be better than petrol as it will get rid of the water although not that good for lubrication would just go with a few more oil changes while hot and if possible remove top engine cover and clean as the moisture will head in that direction steam rises even removed valve adjustment caps given it an old xr once hot till its cooled to allow moisture some where to go.

[BoristheBiter]

CRC displaces/repels water. It does not absorb ... or remove it.

And as it evaporates quickly with even small amounts of heat ... very limited lubrication qualities are gained.

If there is not enough water in the cylinder to hydraulic the engine ... (if the engine runs) ... run the engine for a little longer and dump while it is warm.

So it's a hassle to keep changing the oil. But it COULD have been much worse. Especially if she could RIDE it home.

???? Never said start the engine, I said wait awhile so the CRC can push the water out not absorb it then change the oil.
Never said it was a hassle either ?? what post did you read?

[FJRider]

???? Never said start the engine, I said wait awhile so the CRC can push the water out not absorb it then change the oil.
Never said it was a hassle either ?? what post did you read?


i just emptied a can of CRC into the piston and waited awhile, than changed the oil a few times.

Wheres the water going to go .. ??? it shouldn't get past the rings. And ... If the OP has ran the engine after the oil changes ... there shouldn't be any water left IN the cylinder.

The rest I posted for the benefit of the OP. My apology if I confused you.

[kiwi cowboy]

Just fresh oil ... cheap stuff. Run for a short time then dump. Take out the filter first ... and leave the new filter out until you put the good oil in.

I did the same to an old grey tank XL250 once. I did the same as you. Rode home.

Dont run it without the oil filter as any shit that gets sucked up in the oil will end up in the tiny feeder holes and that could lead to problems of its own.:rolleyes:

[fridayflash]

barty5 is onto it..meths will decimate the water, in the past ive drained oil
then added 1L petrol (xr200) then rocked and bounced the bike around (dont start it!)
then drained it and left the drain bung out for it to drip dry, and/or evaporate
then re-fill with 1L fresh oil.So im certain you could do the same with meth
which will absorb the water pronto!
anyone remember when meths was the cure for rainwater in the car fuel tank?

[FJRider]

anyone remember when meths was the cure for rainwater in the car fuel tank?

Did your "Old wife" tell you that .... it's just an old wives tale. Any I know that have tried it ... had very limited success.

I hope there's not too many "things" like sealed bearings/O rings etc (that are NOT in fuel tanks) .. that petrol/meths just might not agree with. But if the OP wants to take the risk ..his choice I guess ...

[barty5]

Did your "Old wife" tell you that .... it's just an old wives tale. Any I know that have tried it ... had very limited success.

I hope there's not too many "things" like sealed bearings/O rings etc (that are NOT in fuel tanks) .. that petrol/meths just might not agree with. But if the OP wants to take the risk ..his choice I guess ...

it dose in fact work have used it many time when i had my workshop with a number of old cars that had water in the tank simple test bucket add petrol and small amount of water then add meth stir it up it will be gone.

[niinnn]

Drowned crf250x today heading up stream dried the airbox and filter best I could. Wouldnt fire with electric start tried to kick it but couldnt release the compression. Finally turned over a couple of times with electric start but no go. Pushed back

[BMWST?]

Drowned crf250x today heading up stream dried the airbox and filter best I could. Wouldnt fire with electric start tried to kick it but couldnt release the compression. Finally turned over a couple of times with electric start but no go. Pushed back

please tell us you removed spark plug first.If you didnt it wouldnt turn over because the cylinder is partially filled with water.If there is more water in there than the volume of the combustion chamber you wount be able to turn it over..you cant compress water

[noobi]

you cant compress water

Not by hand(foot) at least.

Although, fuel off, air filter out, spark plug out, bike upside down, turn over till the water stops, wring out air filter, right side the bike, drain the carb, put the spark plug back in(new if you have one), air filter back in, fuel back on. Start it.

[pete376403]

Did your "Old wife" tell you that .... it's just an old wives tale. Any I know that have tried it ... had very limited success.

I hope there's not too many "things" like sealed bearings/O rings etc (that are NOT in fuel tanks) .. that petrol/meths just might not agree with. But if the OP wants to take the risk ..his choice I guess ...

Meths in the fuel tank works because - water in fuel forms droplets that are too big to pass through carb jets. Blocked jets = motor that doesn't run. When meth is added to fuel it causes the water to emulsify ie the droplets become smaller, small enough to pass through the jets and so the motor will run.

I wouldn't think it would have any benefit at getting water out of lubricating oil

[BMWST?]

Did your "Old wife" tell you that .... it's just an old wives tale. Any I know that have tried it ... had very limited success.

I hope there's not too many "things" like sealed bearings/O rings etc (that are NOT in fuel tanks) .. that petrol/meths just might not agree with. But if the OP wants to take the risk ..his choice I guess ...

Meths "absorbs" water in the fuel tank,i was told to use it now and then on my new k100 rs till the new fuel cap was installed

[meteor]

What about getting it really hot. Water will evaporate and steam out the breather???

[takitimu]

What about getting it really hot. Water will evaporate and steam out the breather???

It's been awhile since I had water in my oil, but I think the volume of water makes evaporation impractical.

Personally I used diesel to flush & then cheap oil /filter run for a short period, dump & change filter/oil, worked just fine. But you do have to do a flush with something like diesel/petrol/meths/kero, just changing the oil won't be enough.