1997 BMW K1100 LT - Milky oil(?) spill

[The Pastor]

Wanting to get some good ol KB advice.

Last night I went to go home, jump on the bike and notice there is 0.5-1L of oil like substance on the driveway. Milky Brown.

1st thought is head gasket.

Then I checked the coolant to see if oil was in the coolant. Not as far as I could tell. I checked under the radiator cap and in the over flow bottle.
Then I drained the oil. Normal oil came out (all be it about 1-2L less than should of been in the bike, but i have done 3,000km+ since i last topped it up.)

What could it be? I dunno.

I put fresh oil in and rode home - no issues and it hasn't spat any more oil out.

Thanks for your help, let me know if you need any other info.

[Banditbandit]

Did someone park a Holden on that spot in the last couple of days??


I'd say it didn't come from the Bemmer then ..

Run your hand or a white cloth under the engine (including the frame rails) - if the milky stuff is on the white rag or your hand, then it's from the engine - if not, then there are no issues ...

('course you might have an elephant who really loved the bike!!!)

[Akzle]

Wanting to get some good ol KB advice.

[sidecar bob]

The auxilary shaft front seal & water pump seal are back to back on the same shaft. Failure of either will cause coolant & oil to mix on these engines creating said substance, which may leak out at the front lower of the engine on later versions.
The whole lot can be disassembled in very short order & would be worth checking.

[The Pastor]

Did someone park a Holden on that spot in the last couple of days??


I'd say it didn't come from the Bemmer then ..

Run your hand or a white cloth under the engine (including the frame rails) - if the milky stuff is on the white rag or your hand, then it's from the engine - if not, then there are no issues ...

('course you might have an elephant who really loved the bike!!!)

Thanks darling, but the milky oil came from the bike.

[The Pastor]

The auxilary shaft front seal & water pump seal are back to back on the same shaft. Failure of either will cause coolant & oil to mix on these engines creating said substance, which may leak out at the front lower of the engine on later versions.
The whole lot can be disassembled in very short order & would be worth checking.

Thanks bob - i'll look into this. No idea what the auxilary shaft is, but the water pump (i think) is at the front of the bike? The oil was coming from the rear of the bike (behind centre stand) HOWEVER the bike was on a slope with the front higher up that the rear, so it looks it could of ran down something inside the bike (nothing showing on sump/under side of bike). If this seal fails, would it cause the engine oil to go milky? or would it cause the oil to get into the coolant? Both seemed ok? I'll change the coolant out in the weekend and see.

Rode the bike to and from work to day - no issues and no leaks.

[The Pastor]

I've been on kb longer than you have mate, not sure why you are laughing.

[swarfie]

Thanks bob - i'll look into this. No idea what the auxilary shaft is, but the water pump (i think) is at the front of the bike? The oil was coming from the rear of the bike (behind centre stand) HOWEVER the bike was on a slope with the front higher up that the rear, so it looks it could of ran down something inside the bike (nothing showing on sump/under side of bike). If this seal fails, would it cause the engine oil to go milky? or would it cause the oil to get into the coolant? Both seemed ok? I'll change the coolant out in the weekend and see.

Rode the bike to and from work to day - no issues and no leaks.

Sounds to me like one of your good mates mightiv been pulling the piss and dropping some shitty oil under you K bike
I got good mates like that too.....bastards

[Voltaire]

I've been on kb longer than you have mate, not sure why you are laughing.

Have a read of some of his insightful, witty and informative posts and you'll see

[The Pastor]

Sorted. Sort of.

Took the bike to AJ (mechanic down behind motomail, college hill, auckland - best in auckland). He said its probably the drain pipe for the airbox got blocked, the filled up with rain water and oil, and when parked on the slope it was full enough to run down to the back of the bike.

I need to take the airbox apart (no small feat on this bike) however its not a "oh shit" type issue.

[Akzle]

I've been on kb longer than you have mate, not sure why you are laughing.

my sticks are sharper than yours nehhnehh nehnehneh

[onestop]

Check under engine between gearbox and engine as there is a weep hole there for when the main seal leaks
but could also be from seal in gearbox to drive shaft under the rubber boot