i've just about hit my 600 for its first checkup but right around 450 i noticed some oil seeping up and around my filler cap
i have not touched the cap, tightned nor loosened, since picking up at the dealer and my oil levels still looking great.
When it happened, it was definitely in the 70s temperature wise and I was in quite bit of stop and go nyc traffic. The bike felt like it was running hotter than normal but I just chalked it up to the standstill 1st gear slogging we were doing.
I'm thinking it could be something simple and just this one case specific because of the heat and traffic, or it could be something bigger like the oil cooler not working right? I'm not experienced enough to pick this one off.
What do the gurus here think? cause or no cause for concern?
In stop and go traffic for more than a few minutes time, you might be surprised to know that the oil temperature will rise significantly. I am monitoring this parameter while constantly updated in the ECU, and have seen it peak as high as 290F! The oil "cooler" can't do its job very well in such ultra low speed riding conditions, especially on warm Spring/Summer days. While heat retained by the oil increases, oil pressure does the opposite, i.e. it decreases. In fact, I have measured (with a mechanical gauge) oil pressure as low as 12 psi at engine idle speeds after the engine oil temperature surpasses 240F. This combination of high temperature and low pressure means the oil's viscosity is being compromised, and thus the possibility of weeping and/or outright leaking of the oil from where the crankcase seals are weakest. In addition to the oil filler cap, you should check for leaks from the oil filter and drain plug under the engine.
The oil filler cap has an o-ring. Replace that when the bike is serviced. The cap does NOT need to be all that tight either! A 2 GBP coin is a perfect fit.
PS... Dennis, you really ARE over-thinking this...
So I went down to the garage earlier to clean up and decided to wrench the thing off to see what was up. I had tried to get it off on the ride during the leak but it wasnt budging. I tried tonight and actually bent a quarter trying to get the damn cap off.
Turns out it was a twerked up o-ring the dealer must have hastily clamped down on. Replaced and was on my way
Ya might want to change the oil cap out for an after market one , most of which you tighten by hand . Might be interesting to know how hot the new water cooled bikes run compared to the oil cooled version . I installed a oil temp gauge on my 2012 Thruxton and It runs hot at about 200F .
Lightfoot, 200F is much cooler than the temperature on my 2015 Bonnie. I have seen as high as 290F, but I am monitoring the temp via the ECM. This measurement is using the temperature sensor at the inlet to the oil cooler, where it would be the highest oil temp reading. Are you sure your oil filler cap replacement oil temp gauge is properly calibrated? Do you have an IR temp measuring gun to verify?
Hey Dennis , I rode the bike yesterday and the oil gauge read around 250F. I dont have anything to check to see If the gauge Is reading right , I hope Its calibrated right from the factory .
Lightfoot, where did you get that oil gauge? I actually did install one when I went down there. Looks great-ish... It doesn't quite match the radius of the old filler cap so there's this lovely little ring around it.
What were the conditions (OAT? Stop and go? Freeway? Etc?) for your ride. As I recall "250F" is where some of these type of oil filler cap temperature gauges are red lined, and for good reason. Any higher temp is where I would start to be concerned.
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