I have white gunk in the oil of a recently purchased 98 cbr900rr. It showed up in the oil level view window today as I let it warm up to temperature. The oil in the engine was low too, but I'm more concerned about the white stuff being in the oil.

The last time the biek was run it was in a lowside. Is there any way that somehow the coolant or liquid got into the oil during this lowside, and it isn't a constant thing? I'd prefer not to have to tear the engine down for a head gasket...

 

Sounds like coolant in the oil to me. I would do a oil change and see where it goes from there. Probably wouldnt hurt to do a coolant flush at the same time. Start from fresh and see if it happens again.

Good luck!

 

If the oil is just milky sometimes condensation will form a few times, but never heat up enough to steam out. After the fluid changes, if it reappears, try to run it for a while, if it don't go away, you have .....trouble.

 

If it's a head gasket leak and there is coolant in the oil, then there will most likely be oil in the coolant as well. Like dwshultzy said, do a oil/coolant change and see if that fixes the problem, if it is just a little condensation or moisture in the oil, Seafoam can be added to the oil to remove the moisture. It's not going to fix a headgasket leak however, if that ends up being your problem... There was someone else that posted a thread about something similar to this with the same bike and everything, I believe it ended up just being a little condensation that went away after the bike reached operating temperature and was ran for a while.

 

its probably just moisture in the oil from sitting for a while and/or not running long enough to heat up...I would think you would smell the coolant burning if it was a head gasket or coolant in the oil. not to mention that your coolant level would get low and the bike would probably overheat...you might notice smoke from the exhaust too

 

Well the coolant was full, and a healthy looking green. No oily substance sitting at the top of the radiator. Once I changed the oil, the white went away on the oil viewer, so I'm relieved about that. AllI have to do is get a windscreen, and get these plastics on and I will be set to ride!

 

The white will come back. Ive done so many oil changes where you can check the bottom of the oil cap and it has that white/caramely substance. Oil starts to break down and/or burn at 200+degrees. If a car or bike isnt driven hard or far oil never gets warm. Its not good for the engine at all since it doesnt burn up the deposits.

 

if theres only a little bit in the oil, its most likely just condensation. but keep an eye on it just the same. Definetly change the oil.

 

CBRwarrior,

Simply laying a bike down would not cause any oil/coolant exchange.There would have to be a constant leak, or some kind of severe damage for that to happen. I highly doubt your lowside caused either oneto happen. You would notice the symptoms that others mentioned (i.e. low coolant, coolant in oil, milky oil).

If it's just condensation,a normal 30-min ride will boil it off.Nothing fancy required.