oil mayo

[azguzzirep]

Does this stuff form in both dino and synthetic oil? I'm using synthetic here. Never used it before. Plus, temps are a LOT colder here than they were in Phoenix where I never had to worry about it.

Thanks.

[troyhamilton]

oh lawd an oil thread...ive never saw anything like that on my hondas or my moto guzzi. but i dont know how cold it is where you are. i think ark. and arizona are similar. low is rarely 0.

[Wayne Orwig]

I've seen it in both cases.
It is moisture generated by motor blowby and condensing in the colder valve covers. Hard to eliminate if you are in that situation, except by idling in traffic.

[Kev m]

Yes it forms in either, it's really the result of engine temps being too low to purge moisture. The more this happens the worse it gets.

I've only ever seen it in the valve covers of a Jackal run in winter a lot and a Harley run seriously short miles (to the point of killing the battery short).

[Darmie]

Funny you should bring this up. Exactly what I found when doing my 600 mile service on the Stone.

http://wildguzzi.com/forum/index.php?topic=88307.0

[twowings]

Try to ride at least 20-30 minutes at full engine temp each time...you might have some luck switching oil brands, too...some do it more than others...

[Chuck in Indiana]

What's not being brought up is if there is mayo, there is water in the engine. It is death to an air cooled engine. Why?? Rust. Trust me on this.. don't start up an engine to "give it some exercise" in the winter. I won't start one unless I know for sure I'll bring it up to operating temperature.
Lycoming aircraft engines are especially prone to this. Their cam is in the top of the engine. Oil drains off, and rust starts almost immediately. 

[Tom H]

My EV does the same thing, oil pan and rocker covers. Synthetic Castrol in it right now, I don't plan to go conventional in it. It should heat up enough, 1/2 hour commute each way with 20 minutes of freeway each way. From what I understand is that the engine breather going through the frame is the main problem. It also gets in my air filter box, not much but a little.

My Eldo and Ambo have never had the mayo problem. Conventional oil. Breather goes to a small box and back down directly to the engine.

Tom

[azguzzirep]

It's C O L D  here in SW Germany.  My bike is in an underground parking garage. It's not heated but it's warmer than being parked outside in the open.

I don't run it inside the garage for obvious reasons. I didn't know if the mayo would from just because. Because it is humid and cold.

[Rough Edge racing]

 Moisture in the oil is also caused by piston blowby...Just because the engine runs well and doesn't use oil won't change the fact that it could have excessive cylinder leakage... But in cold weather a bit of condensation is normal in some situations..
 

[Dilliw]

I'm sure there is mayo in my EV right now even though I ride it for at least 30 miles.  It just doesn't get that hot during normal use in the winter time and we live in the high humidity South. 

On a couple of occasions I've had a big puddle of the stuff under my bike after a real good winter/early spring run (2 hours 2 up).  At least I know the breather drain is working :)

[azguzzirep]

I was hoping to ride to my Guzzi rider's breakfast tomorrow, but the weather will  be the sh*ts. I guess I will just pull a valve cover and have a lookey-lookey.🔎🔍🔎🔍

[jrt]

It's C O L D  here in SW Germany.  My bike is in an underground parking garage. It's not heated but it's warmer than being parked outside in the open.

I don't run it inside the garage for obvious reasons. I didn't know if the mayo would from just because. Because it is humid and cold.

It shouldn't form 'just because'.  You would have to run the bike. 

[azguzzirep]

It shouldn't form 'just because'.  You would have to run the bike.

THAT'S what I wanted to hear! 😁😁

[JeffOlson]

It occurs in water-cooled engines, too. My Ducati ST2 had it. I wonder if my turbocharged BMW sled has it?

Well, no matter now. My commute is currently about 20 miles each way (usually taking about an hour) and is soon to grow to about 130 miles each way (taking about two hours each way) once we move to our cabin in Olympia and I start commuting down to the Portland area once or twice a week...

[Darren Williams]

I found riding at highway speeds (70 to 80 mph) in below freezing conditions would cause it to form in the valve covers, and I don't know where else it may have been.  I believe it's from the engine not getting hot enough, cold air blast and big oil cooler with no thermostat. When commuting, 20 mile high speed morning run, in the cold winter months would see it form and even a warm days 100 mile ride it would not go away. Testing the valve cover for heat seemed a good barometer. Never saw it happen except in winter. Being the anal worry-art that I am, it always bothered me.

 My 1200 Sport was the worst for getting it. I fashioned a snap on cover for the oil cooler on my Stelvio and "almost" never saw it again (only using it when the temp was well below freezing). There has been lots of discussion on the overcooling of the CARC bikes.  My GS, using same basic synthetic oil, never does it but it has a thermostat cut off in the oil cooler.

[sidecarnutz]

Simple way to check if your car has the issue. Pull the oil cap off and look under it. I have owned cars with failing head gaskets that allowed coolant into the oil. It always winds up as mayo under the oil cap. Great thing to use to talk down the price of a used car too as it'll scare the salesman when you show it to them.

[drums4money]

Yep. . . unless I'm going to be riding long enough to get the temp up to proper operating temps, then I don't bother cranking the bike. 

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well, let's face it. Guzzis are over cooled. They'll just won't boil the moisture out of the oil in freezing temps. Airplanes have the same issues, but are equipped with ways to compensate, such as blocking off cooling air inlets, thermostatically controlled oil coolers, insulated oil sumps, etc.
They also don't have to sit and idle for extended periods on hot summer days, so aren't as over cooled as Guzzis to start with.
I discovered a simple solution many years ago. If I need my electric vest, I don't need to go riding. 

[Muzz]

My 2TB engine has never had any sign of mayo ever. Inside of the rocker covers have always been spotless, even when commuting 22kms each way in winter.

Oil out of the back drain looks exactly like what comes out of the front.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Pardon me for not knowing, but how cold is winter in NZ, Muzz?

[LowRyter]

I found riding at highway speeds (70 to 80 mph) in below freezing conditions would cause it to form in the valve covers, and I don't know where else it may have been.  I believe it's from the engine not getting hot enough, cold air blast and big oil cooler with no thermostat. When commuting, 20 mile high speed morning run, in the cold winter months would see it form and even a warm days 100 mile ride it would not go away. Testing the valve cover for heat seemed a good barometer. Never saw it happen except in winter. Being the anal worry-art that I am, it always bothered me.

 My 1200 Sport was the worst for getting it. I fashioned a snap on cover for the oil cooler on my Stelvio and "almost" never saw it again (only using it when the temp was well below freezing). There has been lots of discussion on the overcooling of the CARC bikes.  My GS, using same basic synthetic oil, never does it but it has a thermostat cut off in the oil cooler.

Understand folks that Darren is fanatic.  He rides to work all year long.  Winter here can be pretty brutal in the mornings with 20s the norm in most days in January.

I guess he didn't have the problem in the summer when most days are well over 90?

[Muzz]

Pardon me for not knowing, but how cold is winter in NZ, Muzz?

At the time I was riding in -2 to -5 deg C. Can get colder than that.

These days I take it off the road for the coldest 3-4 months.

[Chuck in Indiana]

Well, that ought to do it if it's going to happen.. <shrug> dunno.

[Kev m]

Just more anecdotes, but fwiw I never saw any mayo in my Breva 1100 (which ran leaner than my Jackal) or my V7 and all have been run extensively in the winter.

But my commute was 30-40 minutes and any other time I rode in winter I made sure I was out for at least a couple of hours.

<shrugs>

[Bulldog9]

Nearly every engine, every oil will develop that substance you are calling mayo in the valve cover or PCV system, crank case etc if you dont run it hot enough to evaporate the moisture that builds up in the system when running in cold/damp weather. You'll also rust out your muffler, pipes etc. Word to the wise.... If you cant run/ride long enough to get the engine/oil fully hot  and burn off the condensation, you are better off NOT running the motor at all. Is worse/tougher on air cooled motors.

IMO, pulling your valve covers to check is a waste of time........ 

[drums4money]

Nearly every engine, every oil will develop that substance you are calling mayo in the valve cover or PCV system, crank case etc if you dont run it hot enough to evaporate the moisture that builds up in the system when running in cold/damp weather. You'll also rust out your muffler, pipes etc. Word to the wise.... If you cant run/ride long enough to get the engine/oil fully hot  and burn off the condensation, you are better off NOT running the motor at all. Is worse/tougher on air cooled motors.

IMO, pulling your valve covers to check is a waste of time........

+1

Bikes aren't the only susceptible vehicles.
This is also problematic in my wife's BMW.  The damn car is so smart it doesn't have a dipstick.  Consequently, the oil level sensor will collect mayo on short drives to the point that it will give erroneous oil level readings.  The first sensor was replaced under warranty, then our tech advised us to not check it before/during/after brief commutes back & forth to work.  Get out on the highway & get it good & hot.  Short commutes also create oil separator & pcv anomalies.