Gearbox oil cloudy

[tcausey]

Hi. I recall seeing some commentary on this but cannot seem to find anything searching today so apologies for rehashing.

 

I changed my 2002 R1150RT oil today, including the gearbox oil and the FD oil and I noticed something that I don't recall before in the gearbox oil. I have been using Amsoil 140 or 90 the last few years in the gearbox and I don't recall which was in it (likely 140), but unlike the final drive oil which was still clear, the gearbox oil was a bit cloudy. The color was still pretty close to the original light amber.

 

I don't recall this before.

 

Other facts:

Last changed 1 year ago (less than 10k of mileage on it this year)

No noticeable riding/shifting differences

 

thank you.

Troy

[upflying]

Cloudy oil usually means moisture is mixed in.

Condensation perhaps?

[Danny caddyshack Noonan]

Heavily aerated, overfill, oil will be cloudy as well. Not sure how you do that in a gearbox though.

[Selden]

Was the oil hot (i.e., had you ridden for at least 30 minutes), or cold? If cold, I like upflying's hypothesis, and if there are no significant shiny bits visible, I wouldn't worry.

 

OR, if you are feeling paranoid, you could send a sample off to Blackstone Labs for analysis.

[tcausey]

Thanks. And Hi Selden. I'm still grateful for you help a few years ago. Since then I have rebuilt a 1978 R80/7.

 

On the oil, it was not hot. I ran it just a tiny bit (i know i know) which I've never done before. I usually drain it hot. Condensation possible as it sat more this year than ever before through the cold winter where it might go 3 weeks before being ridden at times.

 

I'm not paranoid so I think I will make notes and see what happens when I change it next.

 

thank you.

[kmac]

That means it is gonna be an early summer, but a storm is coming...

 

A small amount of water can look cloudy which may just be a little condensation because of not getting it fully warm.

If it was milky looking like coffee with cream that is usually a bad sign of water, like it got water in it during a stream crossing, bad rain, or REALLY bad wash job. If it were water cooled I would say head gasket leak...

 

If it just looked foamy cloudy that is usually over filled and the slapping of the gears lathers it up.

 

Someone asked I don't know how you would do that, easy, by the bike not being verticle while filling it. Or, pumping the oil in with a pump that fits snugly in the fill plug and then pulling the pump nozzle out and stuffing the plug in quickly before the oil levels down.

 

I doubt it is anything serious. If you are really worried, I would refill with fresh oil, take a nice ride, and drain that oil and see what it looks like. The gallon of oil would be cheap peace of mind for you.

[azccj]

Aren't the bearings in the gearbox the sealed type with permanent grease? When they start to leak their grease I thought it will turn the gear lube a cloudy darker color.

[Selden]

I'm not paranoid so I think I will make notes and see what happens when I change it next.

Oil is cheap, repairs are expensive. Change it again after 6000 miles and see what it looks like. Just to keep things simple, I have decided to switch to a 10,000 mile interval on all lubricants. Synthetic engine oil should easily be fine for that distance, and the trans and FD require only a little more than a liter.

[tcausey]

Thanks. I change all fluids every year in March which is normally 10k miles but as few as 6k this year. I do change the engine oil and filter at about 5k or 6k during the year as well. If my gearbox oil was even slightly darker than the FD or even a new bottle, I might have more concern, but I can easily change it again in a few months to see what it looks like.

 

ptc