White fur on bike engine?
Discussion
Evening all,
Like many I guess, I'm no longer riding my bike to work each day, and it's been sat in the garage since April, except for the odd errand once a month.
Since Xmas though I've noticed this white fur appearing suspiciously close to the head gasket.
Any ideas of the cause? I think it's more than just white aluminium fur you get, so could be a coolant leak?
Bike is a 2012 street triple with 20k. Has over heated a couple of times and runs hot I'd say (but dealer and MOT bloke both say that 6 out of 8 bars is nothing to worry about !?). It otherwise runs well, losing a tiny bit of coolant every few months perhaps. Garage is a bit damp, not heated etc, but better than outdoors.
Thanks
Like many I guess, I'm no longer riding my bike to work each day, and it's been sat in the garage since April, except for the odd errand once a month.
Since Xmas though I've noticed this white fur appearing suspiciously close to the head gasket.
Any ideas of the cause? I think it's more than just white aluminium fur you get, so could be a coolant leak?
Bike is a 2012 street triple with 20k. Has over heated a couple of times and runs hot I'd say (but dealer and MOT bloke both say that 6 out of 8 bars is nothing to worry about !?). It otherwise runs well, losing a tiny bit of coolant every few months perhaps. Garage is a bit damp, not heated etc, but better than outdoors.
Thanks
Quite possibly is the source of your coolant leak or it could just be the finish has started to suffer in that area and its just getting worse from the environment..
I would clean the engine & scotchbrite that badly corroded area , from that, you should be able to tell if its coolant leaking then.
This looks suspiciously like a head gasket failure to me. have you had any pressure testing done to determine the reasons why the bike might be using coolant?
Does the bike have a temp gauge so you can see what the coolant temp is (you mention "bars" but that doesnt actualy give a number does it - cooling fans usually kick in around 103 deg.C and cut back out at around 96 deg.C)
Does the bike have a temp gauge so you can see what the coolant temp is (you mention "bars" but that doesnt actualy give a number does it - cooling fans usually kick in around 103 deg.C and cut back out at around 96 deg.C)
thatdude said:
This looks suspiciously like a head gasket failure to me. have you had any pressure testing done to determine the reasons why the bike might be using coolant?
Does the bike have a temp gauge so you can see what the coolant temp is (you mention "bars" but that doesnt actualy give a number does it - cooling fans usually kick in around 103 deg.C and cut back out at around 96 deg.C)
Does the bike have a temp gauge so you can see what the coolant temp is (you mention "bars" but that doesnt actualy give a number does it - cooling fans usually kick in around 103 deg.C and cut back out at around 96 deg.C)
Tango13 said:
If you're getting six out of eight bars on the temperature gauge I'd be looking at removing the radiator and starting with a good flush.
f
k me, stop worrying the poor guy!He's got a wee bit of corrosion at the edge of the barrels where the external coating has bubbled up a bit, nothing more.
You're going to have him start stripping the bike or doing all sorts of un-needed tests for that?
OP; WD40 and a rag, if it breaks later then fix it later.
A pressure test takes a good 10 mins, most of which is spent making the tea and opening the packet of biscuits.
At 20k miles if it hasn't had a coolant change already it's overdue one purely down to the age, 11 year old coolant is at least six and closer to nine years past its sell by date.
Or just let it break and end up with a warped head or a bent rod from a hydrolocked engine or a cracked liner. Maybe the OP will get lucky and manage all three?
At 20k miles if it hasn't had a coolant change already it's overdue one purely down to the age, 11 year old coolant is at least six and closer to nine years past its sell by date.
Or just let it break and end up with a warped head or a bent rod from a hydrolocked engine or a cracked liner. Maybe the OP will get lucky and manage all three?
Speedy23 MIFireE said:
Rubin215 QFSM said:
Speedy23 MIFireE said:
Those exhaust stud nuts are gonna be fun to remove.....
fk me, the Walt's back!
k off cockwart. Isnt 71 years of age a bit old to be posting on websites? Get back to your zimmer frame, scooter boy.No, didn't think so...
Rubin215 QFSM said:
Speedy23 MIFireE said:
Rubin215 QFSM said:
Speedy23 MIFireE said:
Those exhaust stud nuts are gonna be fun to remove.....
fk me, the Walt's back!k off cockwart. Isnt 71 years of age a bit old to be posting on websites? Get back to your zimmer frame, scooter boy.No, didn't think so...
thatdude said:
This looks suspiciously like a head gasket failure to me. have you had any pressure testing done to determine the reasons why the bike might be using coolant?
Does the bike have a temp gauge so you can see what the coolant temp is (you mention "bars" but that doesnt actualy give a number does it - cooling fans usually kick in around 103 deg.C and cut back out at around 96 deg.C)
Agree with leaky head gasket. But if it's running OK, do you really wanna disturb it? Plus the general amount of corrosion visible in those pics means it ain't gonna be an easy strip. Is there any visible oil in the coolant? Does the bike have a temp gauge so you can see what the coolant temp is (you mention "bars" but that doesnt actualy give a number does it - cooling fans usually kick in around 103 deg.C and cut back out at around 96 deg.C)
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