Mayo in oil / sight glass condensation - cold garage or HGF?

[Deranged Granny]

Hi all

Viewed an 05 ZX6R 636 on the weekend. Stored in an outdoor shed in a rural location. Obviously it's been hovering around zero the last few weeks at night.

The sight glass had condensation in it, which didn't worry me too much, but there was a fair amount (but not loads) of mayo in the oil cap. Initially totally put me off, but I reckon it could be due to the cold storage and low temps. Bike has not been used much in the last month, aside from being started up and left to idle in order to "charge up the battery". Indeed, I would have thought that doing that would do more harm than good re: condensation etc, if it hasn't been given a good run.

HGF or just due to cold temps?

If I was to buy it, I would be giving it a full oil change pronto.

Open to your collective wisdom.

Ever yours,

[Krikkit]

Being a reasonably common bike I'd walk away if you're not comfortable.

Chances are it's fine; a bit of mayo will likely disappear in short order when given a decent run, no oil change needed. It accumulates very quickly at this time of year.

[Ed.]

My wife's underused msx had a lot of mayo goop on the dipstick and around the filler cap.
She was only going a mile up the road on it at the time and the oil may have been old.
It's been better since an oil change and a bit more use.

[Rubin215]

How about getting the seller to run it up to really hot and see what it does?

Leave it sitting ticking over for half an hour so the fan cuts in and out a good few times and you will soon know if the head gasket is gone.

[Bikesalot]

Being started and left to idle to 'charge her up' as we know is next to useless.

Chances are it will be that which has caused the mayo. A good run up to temp should clear it all.

[Prof Prolapse]

Personally, I agree with the above advice that it's not a rare bike, if you're not sure, just walk mate.

Rubin215 said:

Leave it sitting ticking over for half an hour so the fan cuts in and out a good few times and you will soon know if the head gasket is gone.

Is that really a reliable test?

I mean I'm an amateur, but I've had a few HGFs, and in my experience initial signs of HGF failure can be really hard to diagnose.

Even sniffer tests, compression tests, observations like rate of oil and water consumption, bubbles in coolant, etc. really aren't all that reliable unless it's totally borked. In which case you know anyway, you're just waiting for someone to tell you.

For that reason I'd always walk if I wasn't confident.

[podman]

Its just from firing it up , the condensation it leaves behind as thebike cools emulsifies the oil (this is how my old SRAD was when i picked it up, chap used to fire it up every couple of weeks and let it sit until the fan kicked in..)

Its not good practice at all but many peope do just that.

[Deranged Granny]

Thanks all, seems to align with my thinking.

In the time-honoured tradition, I have decided to seek advice, ignore it and push on with the purchase.

[Dakkon]

Deranged Granny said:

Thanks all, seems to align with my thinking.

In the time-honoured tradition, I have decided to seek advice, ignore it and push on with the purchase.

Good man

[curlie467]

Dakkon said:

Deranged Granny said:

Thanks all, seems to align with my thinking.

In the time-honoured tradition, I have decided to seek advice, ignore it and push on with the purchase.

Good man

That's the spirit

As has been said, it's nothing to worry about but why can't people just let the things sit?

[MrGman]

Funnily enough i picked up a zx6r just a couple of weeks ago that had just been sitting for a few months, oil cap was white done a oil change and coolant change and have given it a good run and all is well.

[Deranged Granny]

Well, I bought the bike, gave it a good run, and now the oil is like honey

[Prof Prolapse]

Glad to hear it mate!

[joema]

I had oil on the filler cap of my Transporter van and combined with a loss of coolant I thought the worst. Turned out short runs plus a leaky rad were the issue.

Enjoy the new bike

[moanthebairns]

another possible cause for mayo....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0S642NtHtE

[Krikkit]

Deranged Granny said:

Well, I bought the bike, gave it a good run, and now the oil is like honey

Great news! Usually once it gets good and hot the water evaporates and then gets ducked through the breathers.

How's the bike? Pleased with it?

[Deranged Granny]

moanthebairns said:

another possible cause for mayo....
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q0S642NtHtE

No, it happened *before* I bought the bike

Krikkit said:

Great news! Usually once it gets good and hot the water evaporates and then gets ducked through the breathers.

How's the bike? Pleased with it?

Yes! It's soo much faster than my 01 ZX6R. In a totally different league. The engine is brilliant. Didn't really get to test the handling, but everything is much taughter and more responsive. It's great. The "Dominator" (ooh er) exhaust is too loud though, even with the baffle in.