Funky Looking Oil

[psycledelic]

I walked out of work this morning and as I came up to my bike, I noticed that the peep hole for the oil level looked like it was coated with dirty milk (best way I can describe it).  I rode home, but it didn't clean up.  When I woke up today, I went to look and it is still there.  It is an air cooled s2r800.  Any ideas as to what I have going on?  I assume I should drain the oil and replace.?.

[Howie]

Fall has hit.  Moisture from the blow by gasses is condensing and combining with the oil coating on the sight glass.  This is normal and will cause no harm.  If you go for a nice long ride to get the oil hot then take the filler plug off so the hot vapor escapes it will disappear.

[Slide Panda]

http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=12023.0

[battlecry]

Yes, make sure your rides make your oil go over 212F to release the water from the oil.  If your rides are too short, or the air temp is too cold, you may want to make some gadget to block part of the oil cooler.  The breather has a reed valve on it, better to let water vapor escape through the filler hole when cooling in the garage.

[ducatiz]

That's the "ridden enough" data readout, not the oil level indicator.

When it is white, that means you haven't ridden it enough.

When it's dark, you have.

[seevtsaab]

Standard feature on my 620 the last and first month of riding season.

I find once temps get cold enough it's about impossible for me to get the glass clear, until my first OC of the year, and a long hot ride.

I ride for 4-6 weeks esp the end of season in sub freezing temps in the am, pretty prevelant.

If the oil is hot when I stop I'll pull the filler plug, vent the vapor and known the foam out of the cap.

[Howie]

My experience is highway riding won't do it since, even with the cooler covered when the air temperature is low, the oil stays cold.  You need to get off the slab and get into the higher parts of the rev range at lower road speeds

[ducatiz]

My experience is highway riding won't do it since, even with the cooler covered when the air temperature is low, the oil stays cold.  You need to get off the slab and get into the higher parts of the rev range at lower road speeds

howie, you need to get out of 4th gear...

[Howie]

howie, you need to get out of 4th gear...

Fourth?  Isn't that overdrive?

[ducatiz]

Fourth?  Isn't that overdrive?

in the parking lot maybe...   

[psycledelic]

That's the "ridden enough" data readout, not the oil level indicator.

When it is white, that means you haven't ridden it enough.

When it's dark, you have.

I have added as much distance between work and home as I can (without the wife catching on). 

I think my problem is that I work and night and it sits out in the cold (and its only getting colder).  In the winter, I don't see engine temps over 180degF on my 30 to 35 minute commute.  I haven't tried to cover part of the oil cooler.  Would one of those oil breather caps help, or make things worse?

[ducatiz]

I have added as much distance between work and home as I can (without the wife catching on). 

I think my problem is that I work and night and it sits out in the cold (and its only getting colder).  In the winter, I don't see engine temps over 180degF on my 30 to 35 minute commute.  I haven't tried to cover part of the oil cooler.  Would one of those oil breather caps help, or make things worse?

anytime you heat up the engine it will wick moisture as it cools down.  if you run it again and it never gets above 212 F, then the water will just get hot and roll around in the oil.

Try covering your cooler.  a piece of cardboard and wires to hold it on.  Mind the temp as you're riding with it and if it gets above 230 or so, take it off.  I think mine has gone up to 260 without any issues.  The temp changes to "HOT" around 300 F I think.

[Slide Panda]

Tin foil for the cooler. Works a charm.

[psycledelic]

I will try that tonight.  Thank you both for the advice. 

[ducatiz]

Tin foil for the cooler. Works a charm.

makes for a good hat too if you are paranoid