Is this Antifreeze in the Oil?

[sams2100]

I was changing the oil on my R3R and noticed this green color after I had put 3 quarts in. I'm pretty sure this is antifreeze oozing in, but thought I'd check with you guys to get a second opinion. Its dark and I had to use a flashlight, so I'm not sure if I'm seeing something behind the oil or something floating on the oil, its really hard to tell. Thoughts?

 

[ROCKETHEAD]

Did you have any anti freeze in the oil when you drained it?

 

[sams2100]

Did you have any anti freeze in the oil when you drained it?

I didn't notice any, it looked like used oil. When I smell under the oil cap, it does have the smell of antifreeze so I'm pretty sure that's what it is.

Any idea how difficult it is to replace a head gasket on these bikes?

 

[TRIIICK]

Sounds like a blown head gasket. A friend of mine had the same problem in one of his older bikes.

 

[ROCKETHEAD]

Since you have 3 quarts in the oil tank, pull the drain plug associated with the oil tank and see if antifreeze comes out. Rather loose the new oil and be certain.

 

[Mittzy]

Have you checked your radiator fluid levels?
It has to come from somewhere.
What colour is the new oil out of the bottle?

 

[Gregger]

Before you condemn the head gasket, check the water pump. I'm not sure if they have a witness hole in the pump having never pulled one but if the shaft seal fails, coolant can enter into the engine that way. Another way to check for coolant is to pressurize the rad and check for internal leaks assuming nothing is evident externally. Pull the sump, clean and dry the inside of the engine with a solvent and apply pressure to the rad. Leave the rad/engine pressurized for a period of time looking for any slight leaks at the sleeves, or the water pump area. I'd do this before pulling the head. A blown head gasket should cause the rad to become overpressurized and might discolour the coolant. If this isn't happening, then you usually have a pinched seal or torn gasket between an oil and coolant port in the head to cylinder block area.

Keep us posted!

 

[sams2100]

Before you condemn the head gasket, check the water pump. I'm not sure if they have a witness hole in the pump having never pulled one but if the shaft seal fails, coolant can enter into the engine that way. Another way to check for coolant is to pressurize the rad and check for internal leaks assuming nothing is evident externally. Pull the sump, clean and dry the inside of the engine with a solvent and apply pressure to the rad. Leave the rad/engine pressurized for a period of time looking for any slight leaks at the sleeves, or the water pump area. I'd do this before pulling the head. A blown head gasket should cause the rad to become overpressurized and might discolour the coolant. If this isn't happening, then you usually have a pinched seal or torn gasket between an oil and coolant port in the head to cylinder block area.

Keep us posted!

So I pulled the cap off the radiator and it started to push coolant out before I even had the cap fully turned, so the radiator was pressurized even after sitting without running for a few days. My guess, this is why the coolant was slowly leaking into the new oil, it was escaping from high pressure to low pressure through a seal somewhere.

Would the coolant float to the top of the oil if it were leaking in near the bottom of the engine?

I haven't pulled the water pump yet, but I'm really wondering if that could be the cause of this due to the location in the oil that the coolant first appeared after the oil change.. it appeared to be coming from the front of the engine, which is where the water pump is.

I also noticed that there appears to be coolant leaking some around the head gasket just above the front cylinder's exhaust pipe, as I can see it on the chrome around that first exhaust. Doesn't seam to be any external leaks coming from anywhere else on the engine.

Anything here starting to sound like a smoking gun to anyone that it's the head gasket or water pump or something else?

 

[warp9.9]

Taste the oil and see if its sweet. It sounds lame but works well for diagnosing. Sounds liek you should do a compression test and then leak down. you could be pressurizing the water jacket and squeezing it into the oil. better safe then sorry as antifreze love white metal babit) it east it right up.

 

[Rick McC.]

I believe that oil would float on top of the antifreeze (as it does on water, which the AF is mixed with).