Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Nearly running out of oil!

  1. #1
    Join Date
    29th January 2008 - 16:09
    Bike
    Honda GB250, Cessna 172
    Location
    Nelson
    Posts
    218

    Nearly running out of oil!

    Hey
    So I was off out on my SJ50 last night, decided to check the oil as I had not done so in ages. Well thats strange, the oil is a cream colour?! I gave it a bit of a shake and some splotches of oil went over top of the cream colour. On closer inspection (using a wooden skewer), I found that it was bottom of the oil tank!

    There was obviously still some oil in there, as when I shook the bike about, some oil splotched onto the bare tank floor... But how much? It seemed that the middle of the lank was dry, but there was some around the outside edges of the tank.

    I hadn't noticed any change in performance, except that from cold the bike sometimes didn't make full power right away from a standing start, but I put this down to the cold weather. Had been happening for a week beforehand though.. Surely it would have seized already if it had been starved of oil for a week's riding (~40ks)?

    Needless to say some TTS was put in there pronto, as I had places to go, and no time for a closer inspection (don't have L license yet so didnt want to take a100)

    I should also say, the oil light didnt come on to my knowledge.

    Do I have anything to worry about?

    Please note, the oil itself was not white, what I was seeing was the bottom of the tank itself!

  2. #2
    Join Date
    25th August 2005 - 22:44
    Bike
    Aprilia Falco, K100 Project
    Location
    Titahi Bay
    Posts
    758
    Blog Entries
    5
    The cream colour is a bit of a worry. Sounds like water has got into the oil and if thats the case thats not such a good thing.
    May the road rise up to meet you.
    May the wind be always at your back.
    May the sun shine warm upon your face.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    29th January 2008 - 16:09
    Bike
    Honda GB250, Cessna 172
    Location
    Nelson
    Posts
    218
    No no the cream colour was the colour of the bottom of the tank itself.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    7th December 2007 - 12:09
    Bike
    Valkyrie 1500 ,HD softail, BMW r1150r
    Location
    New Plymouth
    Posts
    2,144
    Out of 2 stroke oil?.....Normaly it seizes the piston into the cylinder quit rapidly and violently....
    Sounds like you been lucky! I learned my lesson the hard way, I once seized a Yamaha 350, and 1 perfectly sound chainsaw......
    Opinions are like arseholes: Everybody has got one, but that doesn't mean you got to air it in public all the time....

  5. #5
    Join Date
    9th May 2007 - 16:10
    Bike
    . .
    Location
    Here
    Posts
    4,513
    I hadn't checked it in ages..............
    Way to go numb nuts

  6. #6
    Join Date
    11th June 2006 - 15:52
    Bike
    Suzuki GSX1250FA, TGB 50cc moped
    Location
    Horowhenua
    Posts
    1,879
    I always put a small amount of synthetic two stroke into the gas tank when I fill up. If I put 5 litres of petrol in, I'll put about 50ml of oil in, so about 100:1 ratio. I have nicked the little yeast measuring cup off Mrs Reids breadmaker, its ideal !.

    This is enough to save your engine from serious damage if your oil pump fails, you run out of oil, or it gets contaminated.

    The extra oil may cause your engine to run a fraction leaner, but carbs on scooters are not exactly the best examples of the craft, and they are often way rich to begin with.

    Excessive oil may also mean you have to de-coke more often. If you use synthetic oil, this tends to be a non-existant problem anyway.
    David must play fair with the other kids, even the idiots.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    19th November 2007 - 13:39
    Bike
    1994 Triumph Trophy 1200
    Location
    All over NZ
    Posts
    2,369

    Angry

    Quote Originally Posted by ZK-Awesome View Post
    No no the cream colour was the colour of the bottom of the tank itself.
    Still sounds like water in the oil. Take it to the bikeshop and get it checked out straight away


    Quote Jan 2020 Posted by Katman

    Life would be so much easier if you addressed questions with a simple answer.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    29th January 2008 - 16:09
    Bike
    Honda GB250, Cessna 172
    Location
    Nelson
    Posts
    218
    Quote Originally Posted by Murray View Post
    Still sounds like water in the oil. Take it to the bikeshop and get it checked out straight away
    What makes you say that? The tank itself is a cream colour! I checked it with a skewer, it was solid cream plastic.No need to pull out the angry faces

  9. #9
    Join Date
    19th November 2007 - 13:39
    Bike
    1994 Triumph Trophy 1200
    Location
    All over NZ
    Posts
    2,369

    Smile

    Quote Originally Posted by ZK-Awesome View Post
    What makes you say that? The tank itself is a cream colour! I checked it with a skewer, it was solid cream plastic.No need to pull out the angry faces
    Sorry bout the angry faces, just that I had a bike that got water into the oil and it goes a creamy light brown colour. Angry it happened not angry at you!!

    Hope its something simple. double smiles


    Quote Jan 2020 Posted by Katman

    Life would be so much easier if you addressed questions with a simple answer.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    31st August 2006 - 19:44
    Bike
    2020 BMW R1250R and 2011 C182T
    Location
    West Auckland
    Posts
    413

    Time for a thorough pre-flight

    there Mr ZK-A

    Just like your C152 except perhaps check every week or so rather than just before each trip.

    How's the flying going BTW?

  11. #11
    Join Date
    29th January 2008 - 16:09
    Bike
    Honda GB250, Cessna 172
    Location
    Nelson
    Posts
    218
    Yeah, well this has scared me into beingmore careful. Big smiles Murray.

    I think Ive been neglecting the scooter a bit since I got a real bike, need to be a bit more careful (e.g. found a big ol wet bit of glad wrap that had been pulled onto the back of the engine, no harm but looks untidy)

    It still goes good, I rode it out to Stoke today with a mate on the a100 to do my BHS test (pieca piss on the a100),no probs whatsoever.

    Flyings good, I've been on some trips & comps etc lately as opposed to learning stuff, I've done most of the lessons I need for my PPL. Basicly just need more IF time and solo practice around the practice areas, before X-countries.

  12. #12
    Join Date
    18th April 2008 - 12:34
    Bike
    95 Honda XL250 Degree, 1977 Suzuki TC125
    Location
    Richmond
    Posts
    37
    I'd say you probably caught it just in time! There was probably still some oil down the pipe. If you run out the engine generally gets pretty hot and starts to bind and slow down then eventually seize or FSWOP, specially a scooter run pretty hard. Good to hear your getting through your flying. I'm over at the college finishing off my commercial so I might see ya up there.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •