milkie oil?

[bombsquad1201]

Howdy,

Hope all is going everyone's your way.
I need some advice.
I have a C14 2010 model with 18 thousand plus miles. I don't race the bike, but do long distance riding.
I rode my bike last two months ago, it is garaged kept.
Well yesterday I had a day for myself and started my bike and rode down the street long enough for the tpsm to show my tire pressure, no issues. I keep my bike in my best friend’s toy box. (40 by 60 stand-alone building)
I was going to do normal maintenance, so I put it on my motorcycle lift. That's when I noticed that in the oil window, the oil appears to be milkie looking.
What your thoughts?
I have extended warranty til 2019, I have not done the value adjustment recommended at 17,500 miles because I read the forum and most people are saying to wait til 24,000 miles. My nearest dealership is around Nashville, Tennessee. I'm in north alabama, north of huntsville, al.
I use Mobile one motorcycle 10-40 synthetic oil with a k&n oil filter, I have 3000 miles on this oil.
My plan is to do nothing until I hear from you guys.
Thanks for taking the time to read this email, I’m in no hurry.
Thanks again, Stay safe.

J.

[jwh20]

If it's just milky but the level is normal, then it's likely just condensation.  Common for this time of year when you get warm/cool cycles.  Generally it will clear out after say an hour or so of riding.  If it doesn't clear up, change the oil.

If the level is high then you may have a coolant leak into your oil.  In that case you may want to send an oil sample out for confirmation but it can be a serious problem.

[RBX QB]

My Ducati was notorious for this (condensation). I got in the habit of pulling the oil filler when I'd get home to let the moisture escape (and it did help reduce the milky window)... but there were a couple times that I forgot to put it back before taking the bike out again. That was a mess, mostly on my pants.

I don't notice it as much on the C14.

[maxtog]

If it's just milky but the level is normal, then it's likely just condensation.  Common for this time of year when you get warm/cool cycles.  Generally it will clear out after say an hour or so of riding.  If it doesn't clear up, change the oil.

If the level is high then you may have a coolant leak into your oil.  In that case you may want to send an oil sample out for confirmation but it can be a serious problem.

This

[VirginiaJim]

C had an issue with this early on but I believe it was solved by a new thermostat.   As the OP had the bike sitting and really didn't ride it much, I'm thinking a good couple of hundred miles on it should sort it out.   We've seen this a time or two.  Might be an idea to open up the oil fill cap and give it a smell just in case.  If it smells oh so sweet then there's other issues (I don't think we've ever heard of a cracked block on these bikes).  My money is on condensation causing the issue.

[AZ-ZG]

I used to see this after a short commute in cold weather.
Freaked me out the first time I saw it!   
You're probably ok.
Ride long enough to get everything good and hot then check the sightglass.   

[Conrad]

C had an issue with this early on but I believe it was solved by a new thermostat.   As the OP had the bike sitting and really didn't ride it much, I'm thinking a good couple of hundred miles on it should sort it out.   We've seen this a time or two.  Might be an idea to open up the oil fill cap and give it a smell just in case.  If it smells oh so sweet then there's other issues (I don't think we've ever heard of a cracked block on these bikes).  My money is on condensation causing the issue.

Yep. I had my thermostat replaced under warranty because of this issue.

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16741.msg205710#msg205710

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=16525.msg203079#msg203079

http://www.zggtr.org/index.php?topic=7210.msg85452#msg85452

[MAN OF BLUES]

O/P states it hadn't been ridden for 2 months, and then he only rode it far enough to bring the TPMS up on the dash.... what? Like 300 feet?
1/4 mile? One mile?

O/P needs to ride the bike and ride it hard, bring it up to full operating temperature, circulate the oil fully, ... I dunno, maybe a half hour ride?
Then check the oil....

Changing Mobil One at 3k miles is a waste, even tho I don't use it,  you could use Walmart oil if you plan on changing it at 3 k...

[Rhino]

O/P states it hadn't been ridden for 2 months, and then he only rode it far enough to bring the TPMS up on the dash.... what? Like 300 feet?
1/4 mile? One mile?

O/P needs to ride the bike and ride it hard, bring it up to full operating temperature, circulate the oil fully, ... I dunno, maybe a half hour ride?
Then check the oil....

Changing Mobil One at 3k miles is a waste, even tho I don't use it,  you could use Walmart oil if you plan on changing it at 3 k...

  I had a small airplane that would sit in a hanger for weeks or months between flights. Look sits between flights is very common with light aircraft and owners are advised that when you do fly it, get it up to operating temperature and fly at least an hour to boil off any moisture in the crank case. Good advice for any engine that sits for awhile me thinks.

[maxtog]

Changing Mobil One at 3k miles is a waste, even tho I don't use it,  you could use Walmart oil if you plan on changing it at 3 k...

+1
The whole point of using synthetic/high-quality oil is that it is more resistant to mechanical breakdown and should last longer.  Most of the other claims are dubious, but the anti-breakdown seems to be pretty well proven.  Of course, that only holds if the oil is not being contaminated (with too much blow-back, water, antifreeze, whatever) and that it is being filtered OK.

Oh....  Oil Thread!!!!