HELP - FZS600 head gasket

[D8nny7]

Hi all im after some advice with regards to head gasket on my box eye fzs 600 I got home from work last week and noticed some creamy oil leaking from the main oil cap on the bike so I took the cap off and its all creamy on the lid, ive been told its the head gasket, how much of a big job is it to sort out?? If anyone has any hints tips help advice they could throw my way It would be much appreciated as I really don't wanna get rid I my much beloved Fazer  :'(

[D8nny7]

pic

[red98]

Mmmmmm...its is creamy, but not lumpy gungy creamy.......what sort of use has the bike had over the winter, short runs in cold damp conditions can cause this....think I would be tempted to drain the oil flush the engine and re fill with new oil, then give it a good long run, fast open A roads for many, many miles, then check the oil........I changed my head gasket a while back, fairly straight forward and while the heads off theres a few other jobs worth doing while your in there........

[D8nny7]

To be honest I've not been out on a long run for months it's just been used as getting back and forth to work which is around 10 miles a day 4 days a week and it's been stored outside under a cover.

[darrsi]

[size=1em]That's normal on the oil cap, it's a by product of cold weather and short runs.[/size]


Happens to my bike every year and is completely okay, albeit very worrying the first time you see it. A bit like when people suddenly think their exhaust is chucking out smoke in winter too, when it's just hot vs cold.


It's to do with the bike not getting up to full operating temperature and burning it off so it's a mixture of condensation and oil.
It's also one of the reasons why you shouldn't start a bike in cold conditions in winter just to turn the engine over as this will happen.


As Red says, either go for a long run, which you don't actually need to do, or just wipe the cap off and put it back on and pretend you never saw it.
When the weather warms up it will all disappear like a bad dream.  :look

[darrsi]

Read this........


http://foc-u.co.uk/index.php/topic,15020...#msg170154

[D8nny7]

Cheers darrsi I just thought the worst as people do so do you recommend a full oil change with filter and a good long blast out?

[darrsi]

Cheers darrsi I just thought the worst as people do so do you recommend a full oil change with filter and a good long blast out?

Oil change isn't even necessary unless it's due for one, just wipe the cap otherwise, 'cos it'll happen every year.

[unfazed]

On frosty morning 4 to 5 miles a day for 4 days will hardly have the engine at full temperature and 3 days sitting in the open does not help

Condensation contaminates the oil and cause the problem you have. As Oil and water do not mix you get this creamy mixture

I would go with the Oil and filter change and then a good long fast run of at least 50 miles, you would want to do it every second weekend if possible in the really cold weather to prevent the condensation build up
You might see smoke from the pipes and engine as the water spray and dirt will be burning with the full heat.

[D8nny7]

Cheers guys hopefully it's what you say it is and not the gasket, I've not got the tools or space to try and get that sorted so would have to be a garage job and that won't be cheap, I think I'll do an oil change with the filter and go for a long ride out 

[risticuss]

This is the exactly what happened with me.
I needed to do an oil and filter change anyway so drained it and took off the clutch cover and cleaning out the 2 year build up of gunk.
It gets used every day for approx 10 miles with a few longer runs thrown in.
I was able to undo the filter by hand, and I know that should be practically impossible,  especially after all-year riding. I assumed that I was getting water in through the filter but there wasn't any sign of it.
I keep mine outside under a cover too so assume it's just condensation build up and not reaching full temperature.
I'll see when the warmer weather comes.

[darrsi]

As long as your coolant level stays the same, it's not chucking out smoke or sounds like biscyit tin full of nuts and bolts, it'll be fine.  :lol