White Smoke & Overheating

[Rocketman]

Anything is worth a try as this bike obviously is a keeper. Synthetic oil is easy enough to do, and I'm sure a compression test will tell me something too.

[koolaid_kid]

What about an oil cooler? Putting one on my GS lowered the oil temperature significantly.

[bbjumper]

I like the coolers...

I ride in AZ in the summer and this thread speaks to me also. Any recomendations on coolers?

[Rocketman]

Have you ever heard of anyone draining the oil, leaving the old oil filter in, then re-filling with a gallon of diesel fuel, running the bike for 5 minutes, then draining the diesel fuel, changing the filter, and re-filling with regular oil? Someone mentioned that they've been doing it every other year for a long time, and they think it cleans out the guts of their engine nicely with no damage. What's your take on this??

[Nessism]

Have you ever heard of anyone draining the oil, leaving the old oil filter in, then re-filling with a gallon of diesel fuel, running the bike for 5 minutes, then draining the diesel fuel, changing the filter, and re-filling with regular oil? Someone mentioned that they've been doing it every other year for a long time, and they think it cleans out the guts of their engine nicely with no damage. What's your take on this??

Bad idea. There are pocket areas inside the engine that retain oil, such as up in the head by the cams, which is why it takes more oil to refill after a complete rebuild than it takes to do a regular oil change. If you flush the engine out there will be a fair bit of solvent left behind after you drain it out. Not good.

[mvalenti]

not to mention, the difference in viscosities. yikes... bad idea, dont do it...

[Rocketman]

That's why I run this stuff by you guys first. To avoid disasters later.
Thanks again.

[twotimeGSr]

I knew an old mechanic that used to do this.. he said you had to make sure you changed the oil two times after draining the fuel out.. I have no idea if it worked well or harmed an engine in any way. I think he waited until it was a quart low and then added a couple quarts of kerosene or diesel to the old oil.. then ran it for about ten minutes cold.. then drained it and changed the oil and the filter.. ran it again to circulate well, then changed the oil again. I know he was careful to not run it hard or hot with the fuel in the oil. He said it cleaned out the junk that would build up over time. ... who knows... but I would be very careful.. Maybe a difference between the older cars he wrenched on and our bike engines..? I would be interested to know if it is a good practice for bike engines too.

[Nessism]

If you change the oil in your engine like Suzuki intended there won't be much in the way of sludge build up. If your bike was abused by a previous owner, I'd rather put the bike on a 1000 mile oil change schedule for a few changes to get rid of the sludge compared to running solvent. The oils detergents will desolve deposits in a safe manor.