CALI-gula
Member
We've had a week or so of 100 degree weather. I ride EVERY DAY in Los Angeles to and from work (for the past 22 years) but I especially noticed the bike running hotter than usual a few late afternoons last week, and some overflow from the down-tube of the coolant reservoir dripping beneath the bike. Of course I tasted it just to be sure it was coolant - but then realized it was so oily and bland, that it was comprised of more oil than sweet, sweet glycol. :icon_jook:
Leaking coolant has always been a rare event in any quantity on my VMAX, so checking it last night - I used a MightyVac to pull out about a Red Solo Party cup's worth of motor-oil out of the coolant reservoir - so roughly 10 to 12 oz.
I'm willing to bet the mix was was more oil than coolant. I sucked out all of what was in the reservoir (at least), stuffed a clean rag in there dampened in denatured alcohol to wipe about the oil residue, the put in a 50/50 mix of distilled water and coolant. I realize I'll likely have to address the whole system and clean out the radiator too - but this was just a temporary fix to tide over until the weekend.
And this all came on all of a sudden. I just checked and topped off the coolant in mid-July and it was clean, correct color, no oil in there.
Coolant reservoir cap is fine, temps were up more than normal but just a smidge above mid-way - not redlining - and the auxiliary fan never even came on; but I know the fan is working as it did come on one 102 degree day a couple of weeks ago after I got off the highway in the desert.
I've read a few threads of those posting they found SOME oil in their coolant, like the one below, but not in quantities the likes of what I found - nor as all of a sudden.
http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=34411
Regardless, the bike has been running good; no steamy/white or sweet-smelling exhaust, no rough idling, starts right up and runs great, oil looks clean and no milky appearance - so I believe it is merely pressuring the oil into the coolant system.
Best guess is leaking water pump gasket or diaphragm. Agree? Comments?
Other than the above issue, the bike is running great anyway. I've got some minor oil weeps, a slight slippy clutch that will need replacing soon and I've recently gotten some hint of the starter-clutch bag-of-bolts sound a few times so that will be the next job to address.
.
Leaking coolant has always been a rare event in any quantity on my VMAX, so checking it last night - I used a MightyVac to pull out about a Red Solo Party cup's worth of motor-oil out of the coolant reservoir - so roughly 10 to 12 oz.
I'm willing to bet the mix was was more oil than coolant. I sucked out all of what was in the reservoir (at least), stuffed a clean rag in there dampened in denatured alcohol to wipe about the oil residue, the put in a 50/50 mix of distilled water and coolant. I realize I'll likely have to address the whole system and clean out the radiator too - but this was just a temporary fix to tide over until the weekend.
And this all came on all of a sudden. I just checked and topped off the coolant in mid-July and it was clean, correct color, no oil in there.
Coolant reservoir cap is fine, temps were up more than normal but just a smidge above mid-way - not redlining - and the auxiliary fan never even came on; but I know the fan is working as it did come on one 102 degree day a couple of weeks ago after I got off the highway in the desert.
I've read a few threads of those posting they found SOME oil in their coolant, like the one below, but not in quantities the likes of what I found - nor as all of a sudden.
http://www.vmaxforum.net/showthread.php?t=34411
Regardless, the bike has been running good; no steamy/white or sweet-smelling exhaust, no rough idling, starts right up and runs great, oil looks clean and no milky appearance - so I believe it is merely pressuring the oil into the coolant system.
Best guess is leaking water pump gasket or diaphragm. Agree? Comments?
- 2001 VMAX
- 36,000 Miles.
- I own all of those miles starting at 2,400 and it was like new when I got it - so I know full history of the bike. General maintenance has always been on schedule and religious.
- Most recent significant out-of-the ordinary matter I had to address was replace the main Ignition pick-up end of last year. (Which I posted a thread on it as well).
Other than the above issue, the bike is running great anyway. I've got some minor oil weeps, a slight slippy clutch that will need replacing soon and I've recently gotten some hint of the starter-clutch bag-of-bolts sound a few times so that will be the next job to address.
.
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