Thoughts on fluid in OCS tube

fjmartin · 10-11-2017, 03:14 PM

So I've had my bike for a little over a year and have 14.5K miles on it. On all oil changes I've used Lucas Semi-Synth 10W-40 oil. I never have anything in my OCS tube. I decided to switch over to Rotella T6 5w-40 due to all the great reviews and the low cost. And I did the research and it has all the certs required for motorcycle use. The nice thing is after the oil change I can now find neutral much easier than I could previously. I went for a 180 mile ride after the oil change. The ride had a good mix of back roads, 70 mph freeway and 70 miles of forest service roads. Temp was pretty cool, 40 to 55, but I've done other rides last winter that were as cold or colder. This time when I got home my OCS tube was about 1/3 full. The bottom half of what was in there was white and the stuff above it was clear. I pulled out the plug and it poured out and had the sheen of petroleum based liquid.

Anyone else had this with Rotella? Do you think it's just a temporary issue with switching oil types? Thoughts?

Thanks!

Joe

ben2go · 10-11-2017, 05:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjmartin

So I've had my bike for a little over a year and have 14.5K miles on it. On all oil changes I've used Lucas Semi-Synth 10W-40 oil. I never have anything in my OCS tube. I decided to switch over to Rotella T6 5w-40 due to all the great reviews and the low cost. And I did the research and it has all the certs required for motorcycle use. The nice thing is after the oil change I can now find neutral much easier than I could previously. I went for a 180 mile ride after the oil change. The ride had a good mix of back roads, 70 mph freeway and 70 miles of forest service roads. Temp was pretty cool, 40 to 55, but I've done other rides last winter that were as cold or colder. This time when I got home my OCS tube was about 1/3 full. The bottom half of what was in there was white and the stuff above it was clear. I pulled out the plug and it poured out and had the sheen of petroleum based liquid.

Anyone else had this with Rotella? Do you think it's just a temporary issue with switching oil types? Thoughts?

Thanks!

Joe

It sounds like condensation issue and not an oil change issue. Be sure everything seals up properly. Humid air can get in through the smallest places.

fjmartin · 10-12-2017, 12:37 PM

Hmm. Everything is sealed up tight. No oil leaks. Bike running great. Will have to see if it happens again.

2LZ · 10-12-2017, 02:29 PM

I use Rotella from Wally World without issue. Both my OCS's are in the "unofficial" position. Not sure if that makes a difference. I rarely have anything in the clear tubes.

Jay In Milpitas · 10-12-2017, 03:10 PM

Possibly just coincidence. With over 14,000 miles of it not happening and now occurring with only oil type being different?

T'is a puzzlement.

jbfla · 10-12-2017, 07:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fjmartin

So I've had my bike for a little over a year and have 14.5K miles on it. On all oil changes I've used Lucas Semi-Synth 10W-40 oil. I never have anything in my OCS tube.......

Joe

Joe, my first thought is that the OCS is not working properly....

There is always some fluid in tube on my RX3.

jb

fjmartin · 10-12-2017, 11:49 PM

Yeah, ‘‘tis strange. Will ride this weekend and see what happens

10-11-2017, 03:14 PM	#1
fjmartin Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Redmond, WA. Posts: 534	Thoughts on fluid in OCS tube So I've had my bike for a little over a year and have 14.5K miles on it. On all oil changes I've used Lucas Semi-Synth 10W-40 oil. I never have anything in my OCS tube. I decided to switch over to Rotella T6 5w-40 due to all the great reviews and the low cost. And I did the research and it has all the certs required for motorcycle use. The nice thing is after the oil change I can now find neutral much easier than I could previously. I went for a 180 mile ride after the oil change. The ride had a good mix of back roads, 70 mph freeway and 70 miles of forest service roads. Temp was pretty cool, 40 to 55, but I've done other rides last winter that were as cold or colder. This time when I got home my OCS tube was about 1/3 full. The bottom half of what was in there was white and the stuff above it was clear. I pulled out the plug and it poured out and had the sheen of petroleum based liquid. Anyone else had this with Rotella? Do you think it's just a temporary issue with switching oil types? Thoughts? Thanks! Joe __________________ 2017 BMW F800GS Adventure
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10-12-2017, 12:37 PM	#3
fjmartin Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Redmond, WA. Posts: 534	Hmm. Everything is sealed up tight. No oil leaks. Bike running great. Will have to see if it happens again. __________________ 2017 BMW F800GS Adventure
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10-12-2017, 02:29 PM	#4
2LZ Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Volcano, Ca Posts: 7,065	I use Rotella from Wally World without issue. Both my OCS's are in the "unofficial" position. Not sure if that makes a difference. I rarely have anything in the clear tubes. __________________ "Light a fire for a man, and you heat him for a day. Light a man on fire, and you heat him for the rest of his life." 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S (SM convert) 2009 Q Link XP 200 1967 BSA B25 250cc Starfire 2022 Royal Enfield Interceptor 650 2023 Royal Enfield Scram 411 1948 Royal Enfield Model G 350
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10-12-2017, 03:10 PM	#5
Jay In Milpitas Join Date: Jul 2015 Location: Milpitas, CA. USA Posts: 775	Possibly just coincidence. With over 14,000 miles of it not happening and now occurring with only oil type being different? T'is a puzzlement. __________________ Horse holder at Madame Orr's House.
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10-12-2017, 11:49 PM	#7
fjmartin Join Date: Sep 2016 Location: Redmond, WA. Posts: 534	Yeah, ‘‘tis strange. Will ride this weekend and see what happens __________________ 2017 BMW F800GS Adventure
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