Rotten Sight Glass (Help Please)

[Traveler]

I miss my dipstick...

 

My sight glass is now completely white. (On the inside). I can not see oil level at all anymore. So, I look up the specified amount of oil, replace filter, drain oil and replace. I ASSUME it is at the correct level, but...

 

So, how does one replace the sight glass. Of course I don't see this procedure in the Haynes manual.

 

Special tools?

 

 

By the way this thing has progressed, if it is as easy as others have made it out to be, this may become an every other year item for me.

 

BTW, I use Mobil 1 and change it every 3K miles. And yet, it turns white. Oil is not white. Just the sight glass.

 

Any pics or technical documentation would be greatly appreciated.

 

Love my bike BTW.

[Traveler]

Ok, so I found a "possible" procedure with pics. I really really don't like the idea of "Hit screwdriver into plastic face, not to hard, you just want to break it" as suggested. Where do the little shards of plastic go?

 

Great Picture though!!!!

 

http://www.bmbikes.org.uk/Forum/viewtopic.php?t=6520&sid=f26322b131acbfaaf775c3f32e7eb74b

 

 

[ninermatt]

Its pretty simple. Heat up a screw with a point (drywall works) screw into the middle of the sight glass (made of plastic actually) grab screw head with a pliers and pull. clean contact area and replace with new sight glass (its pressure fit) tap in place using appropriate size socket etc.

[Traveler]

Having fun with the online parts catalog right now. Can find anything you want. As long as it isn't a sight glass...

[Traveler]

"Heat up a screw with a point"...

 

Meaning? Heat it up and melt it through the plastic? Or just use a dry wall screw and thread it in?

[ninermatt]

Heat up the tip of the screw and screw it right into the plastic lens

[Traveler]

Thanks! Much better than "break the plastic with an old screwdriver..." from the link I posted. Still like his pictures though. Guess I'll be ontacting AS Cycles for another part... Sure wish I lived near a dealership. But, I'll take the great riding for the tradeoff.

[ShovelStrokeEd]

FYI

11117703823 oil level indicator BUY 1 $29.97

 

From the Max BMW on-line microfiche.

[Mr. Frank]

I'm really stumped on the white thing. I've had three BMW's with sight glasses over about 190K miles and I've never seen white in the glass. Oil change intervals were in the 5-6K range. I have found that if I clean the outside of the glass with a very light abrasive polish like the scratch out products for clear coat paint that the glass stays very clean.

[Traveler]

It would seem that getting the temp gage one bar from the top will change the color of the plastic when using Mobil 1. No explanation, just what happened. Was clear before. Not now.

 

But, I REALLY thank you for the part number. Dont' know why I just didn't find it on the AS Cycle parts fische. (Sorry, old word I know)

 

Will order in a minute, get it overnighted. Just went for a ride with the wife and the oil temp was going up when going really slow on the wooly booger roads around here. I am assuming that the oil level is too high and is churning and causing it to heat more than normal. Not much, just one bar above normal. Makes the valve tick at idle when the temp goes up. Make a run and get the temp back down and they don't make a peep.

 

So, I off to the max sight.

 

Thanks again!

[Traveler]

White is on the inside. I think it is a heat thing.

[Tominator]

I've seen them turn white where guys run their bikes below freezing or start their bikes in the winter. Usually a symptom of moisture in the engine.

 

Tomas

[awagnon]

When you buy the sight glass, buy two and carry a spare. Or carry an expanding "freeze plug". Occasionally a sight glass will fall out when you least want/expect it.

 

The advice above is good: i.e. take a nail (must be a BMW nail) heat it with a flame and melt a hole in the window. Then screw a screw into it and pull like crazy. Clean hole and tap new window into place with socket or round dowel.

[tomk99r11]

And, those BMW nails are reasonably priced at $24.95, but have to be ordered by the dealer.

[breyfogle]

Its pretty simple. Heat up a screw with a point (drywall works) screw

 

Instead of heat, you can also drill a small pilot hole with a hand drill or dremel, then insert either a drywall or sheet metal self tapping screw.

[realshelby]

I ride in +100 degree heat here in Texas. Never had the "bars" go above 6 when moving even in traffic. Stopped is another story. Even then I have never had the sight glass change color.

 

Is there a remote chance you are cleaning the bike with something that is reacting with the plastic? I spray my wheels, engine area, centerstand with a diluted mix of Greased Lightning. I make sure the bike is wet down well before using even the diluted cleaner. Bleche White brand cleaner WILL screw up plastic and I am sure there are other brands as well.

[Traveler]

Very very steep dirt roads at 3mph. Of course I am just assuming that is the reason. The outside of the window is perfectly smooth, shiny and clean. I will do further analysis of the plastic once the new one comes from Max's. Still early on a Monday and I'm sure that they have not even filled the order yet.

 

Good advice on the freeze plug. I remember reading that somewhere before. May have even been you! Would really suck to be in the Yukon on the way to Alaska again and wonder why your left foot is getting really really warm...

[Traveler]

I ride it in the winter. But that can't be it because it is summer. It was in good condition a week ago. Isn't now. Only thing that I can attribute it to is the higher than normal oil temp on one ride.

 

I will take it apart and see if the "white" wipes off or if the plastic has been altered once I get the new sight glass part in.

 

I don't understand it either. Plenty of old Beemers around with original sight glass. Mine is only an '04. Same oil since switching from BMW dino oil at 7K miles. Since then I have burned only Mobil 1. No water crossings. Nothing ever in the oil during oil changes. No water, no color nothing. Not even a smell. Just amber used Mobil 1 comes out. New Bosch filter every 3K miles with the oil change.

 

So, for now, I am assuming that the plastic "hazed" due to an elevated temp. Makes me wonder about the makeup of the plastic if it can't take the heat.

 

I'll post again in a week when the part comes in.

[Traveler]

BTW, does anyone know of a way to determine oil level without the use of the sightglass? I went for a ride with my wife after changing the oil using just the specified amount from the owners manual. The temp went one bar above normal when cruising at 25 mph. (Really tight curvy roads). I'm assuming that it was due to the oil level being too high and the churning of the oil causing it to heat. Or maybe I'm just paranoid...

[flars]

Most don't use any oil after the first 20,000 miles unless you REALLY are putting on the revs.

My temp guage runs anywhere from 4 bars to 7 bars, depending on the weather (hot here in Florida) and how much traffic I have to sit in, so I am not sure what a 'normal level' is. Neither bike has ever needed more than about 4 ounces of oil between changes (every 6K). Usually, I check the oil level religiously - every so often, now and then, or whenever I happen to be laying down on the garage floor and happen to glance that way.

[Traveler]

Ok, for a closeout on the issue. I pulled the old sight glass and replaced with a new one as easily as was stated.

 

The old sight glass had a buildup of white goo. Most likely emulsified oil that would not rinse off. It wipes off easily now that I have the sight glass off and in pieces, but would not clear itself while installed even if I kept tipping the bike back and forth to move oil level up and down it's inside face.

 

New one is crystal clear and hasn't clouded up over the past 1K miles. Problem solved for $30.

 

Thanks all for the advice and information.