I changed the oil in my 1981 GS450 this morning and was astonished at how thin the used oil was. It looked and felt like coloured water with barely any viscosity. I had only done about a thousand miles since the last oil change. I have also noticed that the bike is revving higher than previously when using the enricher to start. And it backfired a couple of times the last time I started the bike. Could all this be due to fuel leaking into the oil? Thanks for your attention.
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Engine oil problem
- Thread starter ssco156
- Start date
Yes.
Did you check the oil level before draining it. Did it smell of gas? It would be hard not to notice.
This can be cause by faulty petcock or leaving the petcock set to PRIME, and the float needles/seats in the carbs are not up to the task of keeping the fuel from flowing into the carbs, and overflowing into the engine.
Did you check the oil level before draining it. Did it smell of gas? It would be hard not to notice.
This can be cause by faulty petcock or leaving the petcock set to PRIME, and the float needles/seats in the carbs are not up to the task of keeping the fuel from flowing into the carbs, and overflowing into the engine.
Thanks for your quick answer. I didn't particularly notice that it smelled of fuel but at the time that hadn't occured to me. Come to think of it, there seemed to be more used oil than what I had put in during the last oil change. I'll check the petcock first, that could be leaking. Next would be checking the compression although that seems unlikely. After that, its the carbs turn to be looked at.
It seems like the petcock is leaking slightly, not much but maybe enough to cause the carbs to overflow since I don't ride the bike all that often. Should I get a new one rather than trying to fix it and where's the best place to find one? I was thinking of getting one without the vacuum line and then try to remember to turn it to off after every ride. If I do that, can I just block the vacuum line? Thanks for your responses.
A very few people here have had good luck repairing petcocks. Most who have tried wish they'd just bought a new one to begin with.
You COULD replace with the appropriate on/off Pingel tap and adapter. And yes, block off the vacuum port on the carb body. You COULD also forget to close it one time and be back to square one.
Georgefixs used to have a website that I couldn't find just now. I think they moved everything to an ebay store. They [STRIKE]make[/STRIKE] sell OEM style & quality (from what I've heard), model specific petcocks. No personal experience but I've never heard anything bad. This seems like the likely candidate for your bike, but please do your own research.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362001826516?fits=Model%3AGS450E%7CMake%3ASuzuki&_ skw=gs450+suzuki&epid=171188256&itmmeta=01KPBW74ZM XRDTC3DXPJMVSYAM&hash=item5448fd82d4:g:kRgAAOSwBCt bJw0D
You COULD replace with the appropriate on/off Pingel tap and adapter. And yes, block off the vacuum port on the carb body. You COULD also forget to close it one time and be back to square one.
Georgefixs used to have a website that I couldn't find just now. I think they moved everything to an ebay store. They [STRIKE]make[/STRIKE] sell OEM style & quality (from what I've heard), model specific petcocks. No personal experience but I've never heard anything bad. This seems like the likely candidate for your bike, but please do your own research.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/362001826516?fits=Model%3AGS450E%7CMake%3ASuzuki&_ skw=gs450+suzuki&epid=171188256&itmmeta=01KPBW74ZM XRDTC3DXPJMVSYAM&hash=item5448fd82d4:g:kRgAAOSwBCt bJw0D
Check the oil level OFTEN before a ride or start up. And especially after a long period of storage. What may be fine today may not be so a week from now. These petcocks are rather reliable but what fails is the oring on the diaphragm. Rebild kits are known to be a 50/0 chance. KL are the best kits in my opinion.
By often checking the sight glass you stand a better chance of seeing the level rise and at that point its a visual cue you better be smelling in the fill hole for a gassy smell. Replace float seat orings too if it is so equipped.
By often checking the sight glass you stand a better chance of seeing the level rise and at that point its a visual cue you better be smelling in the fill hole for a gassy smell. Replace float seat orings too if it is so equipped.
Switching over to reserve while riding, I accidentally switched to prime. Didn't stop to refuel and parked it overnight. Same deal, gas kept flowing and it filled at least one cylinder along with the crank case. Before realizing it I tried to start it and the engine promptly locked. Guess the piston can't squish liquid gas...
I was lucky nothing was damaged. After an oil change everything was fine. I did adjust the float heights after that. Whether it would happen again if left on prime, I don't know. My takeaway was to check the fuel tap position often, especially if it'll sit for several hours.
I was lucky nothing was damaged. After an oil change everything was fine. I did adjust the float heights after that. Whether it would happen again if left on prime, I don't know. My takeaway was to check the fuel tap position often, especially if it'll sit for several hours.
Until appx. 1975 or 1976 there were no automatic pet cocks. We had to remember to turn fuel to off as we all knew "the needles were probably not going keep the fuel sealed off". Nothing changed till the fuel injection seems to have fixed it.... Dang it, my "98" B12 is sitting out in the garage now with the crankcase full of gas & oil mix... I've got to get that thing taken care of.
IIRC, my 1971 CB350 and my '73 Z1 both had the standard on, off & reserve 3 position petcocks. And while I frequently did turn them off after rides, I'm sure I often didn't. Four years of daily riding one and 10 years of the other, I never experienced any problems. Maybe because I probably rarely let them sit for days in the on position.
