Bubbly

Discussion in 'America, Speedmaster & Rocket' started by mixifix, Apr 13, 2016.

  1. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    This 03 America has 20,345 ish miles on clock good service history but every time I've had it on a ride then stop take out ignition key it blobs bubbly yellowish stuff on floor checked oil level fine just what is it weres it dropping it from
     
  2. TEZ 217

    TEZ 217 Crème de la Crème

    Mar 6, 2016
    3,150
    1,000
    south shields
    Sounds like it could be coming from some sort of breather / overflow pipe !!
    and emulsified oil is yellowish type gunk, I'm sure some other ideas will follow
    shortly as I'm only just new to my America
     
    • Like Like x 1
  3. The Musketeer

    The Musketeer Member

    Mar 29, 2016
    50
    18
    Redbridge Essex
    Hi mixifix,

    Without a picture or two of the yellow stuff & where, under your America, it's dripping it's difficult to answer but it could be coming from the engine crankcase breather (or PCV system if fitted). In cold, damp weather, natural moisture in the atmosphere can form small water droplets insde an engine crancase over time which, when the engine is next run up to temp, can cause a yellow / milky foam to appear in the engine breather system.

    If I were you, I would check the owner's handbook to see wher the engine breather is located and start from there. :cool:
     
  4. Rooster

    Rooster Grumpy Member
    Subscriber

    Sep 14, 2015
    1,653
    800
    Droitwich, Worcestershire
    Have you checked your pants. It may be you just got way to excited when out riding.
     
    • Like Like x 5
  5. Sceptic Al

    Sceptic Al Well-Known Member

    Hi Mixifix
    I'm with Musketeer on this.
    Sounds like oil vapour and water vapour/condensation has emulsified in the crankcase breather pipe. Had something very similar happen with an old Ford Cortina Mk4 back in the dark ages.
    Over time the mix of water vapour and oil turns to something like yogurt or cream cheese and has an oily feel to the touch.
    A quick way to check if this is you problem is to look, feel, sniff.
    If you see water droplets, it feels oily, it smells like oil, bingo emulsified oil.

    Removing and cleaning the bore of the breather pipe will cure the problem for a while.
    The only real fix is to replace the breather hose as the inside of the old one I suspect will be coated with a film of oil after 20k miles therefore and the problem will keep coming back.

    Which ever method you choose, a way to prevent or at least reduce it happening is to let you bike go cold before you put it away or chuck the cover over it. This will allow a degree of natural drying by letting the atmospheric air movement and residual heat from the engine dry out some or any water vapour that may be forming in the breather pipe.

    What happens is that as the oil heats up the vapour passes through the breather to vent off. Not a problem on the road as there is plenty of air circulating which reduces or prevents the condensation forming. The problem starts when you put the bike away in an enclosed space, (shed/garage/cover), where the air circulation is reduced therefore any water vapour in the air has time to condense on the warm surfaces of you bike, including the inside of the breather. As the condensed water vapour is effectively trapped in the breather pipe it has time to emulsify with the film of oil that forms on the inside of the pipe.

    It shouldn't cause any major problems, (well apart from leaving a mess on the floor), as the stuff is soft and semi-liquid its quite mobile so when the engine is running any blockage in the breather pipe will be blown through by the hot oil vapour.

    Sorry to be long winded but I'm an retired Mech Eng and this kind of thing was part of my job
     
    • Like Like x 1
  6. The Musketeer

    The Musketeer Member

    Mar 29, 2016
    50
    18
    Redbridge Essex
    Great minds always think alike Sceptic... ( I'm also a retired Mech Eng). :cool:
     
  7. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    It's going back to dealers this sat for a cush drive mentioned this bubbly below crap he said he will have a quick look,not had it a fortnight so I don't want a fob of tale then when it goes for a service ooo look we've found mmm yes big ££££. So all info good.
     
  8. Sceptic Al

    Sceptic Al Well-Known Member

    Hi Mixi.
    Hope you get it sorted without shelling out any £s. If the dealer wants to keep your patronage he should sort it free gratis and for nowt.;)
     
  9. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    Been told it's the centrifugal oil seal never mind gives them something to do,could be up to 2 week no seal in stock.
     
  10. crispey

    crispey crispey creme de la creme

    Nov 6, 2014
    7,225
    1,000
    Uk
    I
    ouch!!!
     
  11. Sceptic Al

    Sceptic Al Well-Known Member

    Hi Bu88er. It's just an oil seal, not expensive, but, getting it changed could be painful. How long have you had, and, did you get from said dealer. I only ask just in case you may have a claim under warranty.
     
  12. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    Had bike 16 days so I ain't paying
     
    • Like Like x 2
  13. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    No come back on my bus pass
     
  14. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    Looking at a pop in pass one day have a look 57 mins away
     
    • Like Like x 2
  15. Aussieamerica

    Aussieamerica Well-Known Member

    May 12, 2016
    45
    68
    East coast Australia
    Mixifix did you get this sorted?? I'm new to the forum and been reading old postings and how much is/was your bike dropping? I had a similar situation except my 02 America didn't drop anything before then one morning I found a few drops of oily residue under my bike. turns out that the plug in the airbox breather had fell out. Just replugged it and I just drop the plug out when I do a service to drain any residue in the hose. Your crankcase vents back into the airbox to recirculate the fumes back through the motor and the first pic is the one I took when I first found oily residue under mine, you can clearly see the plugs (item 12) in the second pic. I've seen plenty of aftermarket custom breathers used to bypass the airbox completely.
    breather 1.jpg breather2.jpg breather2.jpg
     
    • Like Like x 3
  16. Scoot65

    Scoot65 Well-Known Member

    Dec 3, 2015
    224
    93
    DURHAM
    AussieAmerica, good post mate! That's interesting info. Thanks for posting!
     
  17. mixifix

    mixifix Active Member

    May 7, 2013
    108
    43
    mansfield
    Yes the mechanic said it was the crankcase breather centrifugal seal cost nothing to me as bike under warranty although it's a 03 reg they gave it a 3 month warranty
     
  18. thebiglad

    thebiglad Old fart, still riding !

    Sep 25, 2013
    5,066
    1,000
    Central France
    Excellent news that they are going to 'cough-up' !!!!!!!
     

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