Help on CARC Oil Mist

[craigclu]

I'm surprised that I haven't noticed this but where I park and air up tires, get on the bike, etc is always the left side.  I was on a bit of dirt road recently and noticed a great deal of oil mist with dirt now on it.  I've attached a photo.  I'm wrestling with a bit of vertigo when I'm on my back or side so was hoping for some direction before I start rolling around the garage floor.  The most likely source?  It's a 2014 Norge with about 9000 miles and had the recommended Agip lube changed at 6200 miles.  If you've seen something similar, you could save me some fuss and perhaps having the right parts/gaskets around when I dive in on it.  Thanks!

[pete roper]

Is it coming from the breather? If so the box may be over-filled. If not try rolling up the boot around the reaction arm and seeing if it's coming from the boot joint. It looks a bit more substantial than a simple misty weep.

[Darren Williams]

After looking it over like Pete said, I would clean it real well after checking the level. Then ride it and see if it is a real leak or just residual film of lube from the service. That stuff is sticky and hard to wipe off.

[Huzo]

And get yourself a scissor lift, especially in your situation.

[Darren Williams]

And get yourself a scissor lift, especially in your situation.

If it is hard to get down, or you’re lazy like me, the Harbor Freight motorcycle lift is a great tool for only $299 with the good coupon from the bike magazines.

[Zoom Zoom]

With regard to cleaning off the mess, I would suggest brake cleaner. That will easily clean off all that muck so you can begin to identify the source of the leak.

As previously noted, do check the level and if any comes running out the fill hole, let it run out until it is finished then reinstall the fill plug.

Just so I;m not causing confusion, I'm not saying to remove the drain plug.

John Henry

[craigclu]

Lost some house visitors and finally got out to dig into this....  First off, thanks for the help so far!  I sprayed some 3M Foaming Degreaser on it and a little toothbrush action and it rinsed away easily.  When I had the filler cap off, it was showing right to the rim of the opening so it appears to have a proper level.  One thing I was hoping for clarification on was that when the cap was off and I touched the reaction bar boot, it pushed some fluid out of hole.  That surprised me as I had in my mind that this would be sealed more completely and hadn't expected that they shared open connection space.  Is this normal?  Peeling the boot back showed everything to look clean under there.  I looked through the service manual and didn't readily see an answer to that.





 

[pete roper]

It's over filled, correct level is at the base of the threads of the filler hole. Pushing on the boot is like squeezing a balloon, the air has to go somewhere and if the oil level is to the top of the filler port it'll push some out as the hole in the vent cap is so tiny!

[Ncdan]

Ok I'm just going to try and learn something here on this subject. It was my understanding that when filling either the tranny or rear end you take the lower plug out as well as the top plug. Then put in the oil until it comes out of the lower hole, not the top hole. Is this not the correct procedure when changing the differential fluids?

[craigclu]

Ok I'm just going to try and learn something here on this subject. It was my understanding that when filling either the tranny or rear end you take the lower plug out as well as the top plug. Then put in the oil until it comes out of the lower hole, not the top hole. Is this not the correct procedure when changing the differential fluids?

I wasn't clear in how I described the fill level.  It was at the bottom of the threads as you describe.  I'll try to get some road time and track where I see any seepage on the now-clean surfaces.  As the chamber seems vented, I assume no burping is required?

[pete roper]

It really depends on the design. With the CARC bevelbox you just have a drain plug and a filler plug. Remove both then replace the drain plug after it's drained and add oil until it reaches the bottom of the threads.

Loop and Tonti +early Spineys have drain, fill and level plugs. Pre V9 smallblocks have just a drain and a filler/level plug that serves both purposes as do Cali 14's from memory. V11's also use the drain and filler/level plugs in a similar manner to the CARC's

Pete

PS. No burping required but ensure the vent is clean and clear.

[NWrider]

I had the same issue with a new to me 2013 Norge.  I removed the vent and found it was completely blocked.   I was unable to clear it so just got a brake banjo bolt + several copper washers and the banjo with hose barb from Summit Racing and ran a line up under the seat.   No more mist and a clean CARC.

[John A]

With regard to cleaning off the mess, I would suggest brake cleaner. That will easily clean off all that muck so you can begin to identify the source of the leak.




Be judicious with that brake cleaner, it cleans well but it can harden seals, ruin paint etc. a better choice is mineral spirits in a spray can. I was happy to see you used the foaming degreaser, also a good choice. Brake clean does have its uses but be careful. Our funny car driver used to get it by the case and it was surprising the amount of stuff he wrecked with it.  The frame was 4130 that was bare so cracks and damage could be spotted and fixed. We kept it coated with WD40 or other stuff so it wouldn't rust. Sam would degrease  with brake cleaner and a few errant drops was all that was needed to ruin paint, plastic but I digress.

[Zoom Zoom]

Thanks. Good to know about the brake cleaner. Although I have never had issue with it, perhaps I was lucky. I'll certainly consider other options in the future.

John Henry

[craigclu]

I took the vent off and can't see how it was intended to be a vent.  The round dome seems sealed to the threaded portion and I can't get anything to flow through the hole but can't see how it could.  Does anyone know how the vent is meant to function?  Is the dome meant to pop up from pressure?  I can't get compressed air to flow through the vent or get any reaction, either.  I don't recall this discussion before.

[John A]

Ask Pete, I think he invented a breather fix but I don't remember much about it but if he has one left, buy it