milkshake oil on valve cover

[jonko]

Hi all,

I was checking my valves the other day. When I opened up the valve cover I saw this milkshake looking oil on the valve cover. Usually, this means water contaminated oil, but my bike is a clean 2004 gsxr600 with 15000 miles, no smoke, and oil changed just a couple hundred miles ago. Basically, nothing to suspect head gasket, etc...

So question is, is this normal? Anyone seen this before?

I just took these pictures, but took off the cover a couple days ago. There was more milky oil at that time. The oil is on the left hand side when mounted on the bike.

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Ironbutt]

That's fine..

If you ride the bike several hundred miles, get it good and hot then check it again, it'll be gone.. it's condensation..

 

[teg916]

Might be ok, keep a close eye on the oil though just in case. If your oil starts looking like that through your sight glass then you have a problem.

 

[louemc]

This is in Seattle right? Like the other posters said.... plus....Check it again next July.

It's got to be a combo of short rides and the wet air.

 

[HeTheAethyr!]

put it back together and check the coolant regularly keeping a close eye on how much is in the overflow/recovery tank. however if your using coolant.. bigger problems may be in the mist. i consider that amount to be condensation build up from cold starts. good luck jon!

 

[jonko]

Thanks everyone for the response.

Yes, I'm in seattle. Wet weather plus short commutes (2miles) == problems. Probably time to put the bike away for the winter, and/or change oil more often

 

[theAmazingKickstand]

always a good idea to ride drive for 10 miles at a time so that the coolent/oil gets up to temp andoil pressure drops down to operating psi. You could always do compression check if youre nervous.

 

[Diezel]

Thanks everyone for the response.

Yes, I'm in seattle. Wet weather plus short commutes (2miles) == problems. Probably time to put the bike away for the winter, and/or change oil more often

Just ride longer. Let the engine warm up enough to where it can start getting the condensation out of the engine, and the oil.

 

[louemc]

Change Your oil when the engine is hot, just before you put the bike up for the winter. Used oil has acids formed, and that isn't doing your metals any favors in the setting for spring time.

I'm confident you don't have any engine problem, the "milk shake" is just from super short runs, lack of full hot time.

 

[ST Guy]

Thanks everyone for the response.

Yes, I'm in seattle. Wet weather plus short commutes (2miles) == problems. Probably time to put the bike away for the winter, and/or change oil more often

Or, simply take it for a longer ride on the weekend. Really heat the engine up and vaporize that moisture. :ride

 

[Petelite]

My Bandit gets this foam out of the crank breather, and it's air/oil cooled. I figure it's either water in the oil from rain or a byproduct of combustion combined with blowby.

 

[Cycle61]

That's fine..

If you ride the bike several hundred miles, get it good and hot then check it again, it'll be gone.. it's condensation..

Good to know. I found some of this in the engine I swapped into my FZR. Freaked me out, but it was gone 300 miles later at the first oil change.