www.zxrworld.co.uk

Hi all

So today I drained all the engine oil out of my 1999 zxr 400.

I warmed the bike up for 10-15 mins, then removed the drain screw etc etc.

The oil came out really black which is fine, however the engine oil screw cap (where the oil gets filled up) had a milky white residue in it and when I looked at the viewing window this was also milky white.

I'm slightly baffled by the fact that the oil came out black but yet the inside of the engine seems to have a milky white substance in it (and before anyone says it.... I like my bike but not that much .... ) . The only thing I can think of is that my bike has been sat in a garage for the last three years and hasn't been started - is it possible for condensation to build up in the engine?

Will I need to put some cheap engine oil in with some engine flush, run the engine for a bit, take out cheap oil and engine flush and replace with good quality oil?

Any advise would be appreciated.

Common issue, more than likely condensation from storage.

Too be sure you could do a compression test or run the bike and see if you get bubbles in the coolant. This will tell you if the head gasket has gone.

Also when you ran the oil out remember any water would come first as oil floats on water.

Yes.as long as you don't have head gasket failure its from condensation..ive got it at the moment on mine...thought the gasket had gone at first but all good...just gets milky from standing around...good flush out won't harm it..

as above, as long as theres no oil in the water, and no water in the oil, then its just condensation.

Thanks for the reply guys.

If it was a gasket wouldn't all the engine oil turn a milky white?

I'm not going to be using the bike much (maybe 1000 miles a year). Is there anything wrong with leaving the White residue in there and putting fresh oil in? Will this cause problems considering the amount/ lack of use?

Thanks,

Pete

It would be better to flush it out rather than put fresh oil in..best to get some cheapy oil with a flushing agent,say half n half...put it in and get it hot...dump it out and put fresh oil in with a new filter...that's what I'm going to do anyway

There's absolutely no need to mess about flushing your engine and it will arguably do more harm than good. Just put fresh oil in and take the bike for a good run for at least 20 minutes to get it properly hot. Any water in the engine will evaporate through the breather. Sorted.