oil in left baffle

[upside22]

Particulars: 2007 Nomad 1600, V&H Baggers, Cobra fuel processor, Caddman mod on air filters, 42000 mi., oil change about 2000mi ago, Rotella T-6.

The oil is down a little in the sight glass since the last oil change, maybe 1/8". So it's not been using much. No visible oil leaks anywhere on the Nomad.

I've been riding in some pretty dirty conditions the last couple of weeks so got the Nomad out to wash her. Had it started for about 30 sec to pull out of the garage down into the driveway to wash it.

When wiping it down after hosing it off I noticed the left baffle was a lot darker than the right one. I wiped my finger on the baffle and it came away with enough oil to drip off my finger.

So I pulled the plugs to see if I was getting any oil fouling from a leaking oil ring or valve guide. The plugs look pretty good. A real light brown that is not wet. No dark deposits up inside the plug. No visible oil at all. If anything I would say it's been running just slightly rich.

Does the left side muffler tend to collect oil till everything is at operating temp (because of the two right angle bends)? How long should there be oil blowby when riding in 35-40deg weather?

Is this something to worry about or should I take it out for a 100mi interstate run and see if everything burns out or if it still shows oil?

[ringadingh]

Are you sure its motor oil? Its probably brake fluid from your slave cylinder, the seal is gone, or possibly gear oil from your final drive, another seal is gone. Try to determine what it is for sure.

[ringadingh]

Is the oil on the outside of the LH pipe, or actually inside the baffle like you mention? There shouldn't be any oil inside the pipe, possibly some soot, but thats about it.

[upside22]

It's inside the pipe, not on the outside.

[ringadingh]

Was the bike sitting all winter, or has it been run lately? Was it oil or perhaps condensation and soot
If its been sitting for a while, maybe a wee bit of oil could creep into the pipe, but I doubt it. Does it smoke out that side, as if its burning oil? Perhaps if you take it on a good long ride on the highway and check again you will see if its dried up in there or is still wet.

[upside22]

It was definitely oil and not condensation. I've had my hand in used oil enough to know the difference :)

I road it back and forth to work three days last week in 32-45deg weather, 7 miles there and 7 miles back. I then had it out Sat for a 16 mi trip out to a birthday party about noon and 16 mi back about 6pm (just before dark).

That's about it for about a month. There was one day in Jan. I got to take it out. So it's been sitting for a while.

My son, who followed me Sat., said he has seen nothing of blue smoke coming out of the pipes but I'm not sure, he is a reliable witness. He's brand new to riding and tends to concentrate on that to the exclusion of a lot of extraneous things. However, I've not noticed anything either.

I've never seen an engine with leaky valve guides or oil rings that didn't show up in the plugs. I *have* seen engines that have to warm up well before everything seals right.

I'm not sure how to diagnose this any further. I was hoping someone might know of a method I don't. I hate to have the heads pulled or the jugs removed if it is just a problem that sometimes shows up in worn engine till it gets warmed up well.

Next time it gets warm (might be a couple of weeks, it's supposed to get cold again) I'll take it out for a 30mile run on the interstate and see if the oil burns away.

Thanks for the sounding board.

[ringadingh]

Those rides were a little short for what you want to check for. Id go for about a hour interstate ride at about 70mph or so the whole way. That way you will know everything is good and warmed up and the exhaust system will have had a chance to heat up good and hopefully clean itself it.
You shouldn't have to pull the heads off to check anything. Perhaps a compression test wouldn't hurt, or even running a tank of Seafoam through the bike in case a ring is stuck.

[upside22]

Thanks for the idea about the seafoam. I've got a new can sitting in the garage. I'll give it a try and if that doesn't do it perhaps some Marvel Mystery oil! I may just squirt some MM oil into the cylinders and let it sit till I get to ride the bike again.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

I would do like Steve says and get the bike out on a good long ride. Let the engine get to normal operating temp and give the exhaust a chance to burn the oil out. Then keep a check on the oil situation in the left exhaust. Everything may clear up, sure hope it does.

[trosco]

a compression and leak down test would tell you if you have any real issues,,,,,,,but the way I read your post is:

My bike has never used oil, it's not using oil now, it doesn't smoke, the plugs are nice and clean and no noticable changes in performance,,, do I have something to worry about?

My answer, Ahhh,,,, Nope! (If you have a stock exhaust)

By the way, you can plug one of the two mufflers on a Nomad with stock exhaust and it will still run fine.

[macmac]

If there is no blue smoke then it just about can't be oil in the bbaffel unless some one is playing a gag rotten joke on you and putting it there.

You could pull the head pipes and see if they are wet with oil. Any oil in the system has to come from the combustion chambers and I don't belive this is the case a bit.

I have rebuilt a lot of engine on a lot of cars that blew out blue smoke when they first came in, and never once did i find wet oil in any of the exhaust system as wet oil.

This almost has to be water and carbon. Pull the head pipes and check both ends.

[upside22]

When it warms up again, I'll pull the Nomad out again to where I can get to the pipes and see if was really water and carbon. It sure looked like oil but I didn't taste it to see for sure.

Thanks for the idea about pulling the header pipes. I just got new exhaust gaskets to keep for spares. May as well pull them and see what I can find.

It's going to be too cold for the next week to get out in the shed. Maybe I'll get a chance next weekend.

I'll update the thread if I find anything.

Thanks.

[macmac]

What exhaust system are we tawkin anyway? If it's stock, drop the muffler and look at the inlet end. The cat gaskets are reusable. No need to even remove them the muffs just slip out once the clamps are loose......... if I recall.

[ringadingh]

He has V&H pipes on it Bill.

[upside22]

Steve,

My face is red and I am embarrassed as all git out.

The temp this morning was 37deg so I pushed the Nomad out of the shed to take it to work. Before I started it I reached down and felt around in the left baffle -- no oil! I don't think there is any way that oil would have evaporated in just a couple of days.

I think you were right in your first message where you asked if it was oil.

My only surmise is that what I came up with was an emulsified mixture of water, soap, and soot. It looked slick, felt slick, and looked like overheated oil. I probably should have tasted it to make sure.

Anyway, before I leave work today, I'll check it again and see what comes out.

Thanks.