Chunk of aluminum in oil

roundhouse · 07-05-2018, 01:37 PM

I changed my oil this morning and found this chunk and a couple flakes of aluminum. This is the 4 or 5th oil change and I found a couple little flakes in the first change and did not worry about it. This chunk is fairly significant.

Bike starts and runs the same. I did install an oil cooler on my last change 3 months ago or so. Could it be from that? Or should I even worry about it?

Here is a pic. The dirt on my glove is from picking up my oil pan the oil only had 200-250 miles on it I estimate and looked pretty good. (My speedo stopped working so I guess mileage)

Ariel Red Hunter · 07-05-2018, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roundhouse

I changed my oil this morning and found this chunk and a couple flakes of aluminum. This is the 4 or 5th oil change and I found a couple little flakes in the first change and did not worry about it. This chunk is fairly significant.

Bike starts and runs the same. I did install an oil cooler on my last change 3 months ago or so. Could it be from that? Or should I even worry about it?

Here is a pic. The dirt on my glove is from picking up my oil pan the oil only had 200-250 miles on it I estimate and looked pretty good. (My speedo stopped working so I guess mileage)

I think the first thing I would do is check the centrifigal oil seperator. Located right next to the clutch. What you see in there should guide yor future actions...ARH

**JerryHawk250** · 07-05-2018, 04:10 PM

It's probably from the oil cooler. I found a few slivers of aluminum in the oil screen on my 1st oil change after installing my cooler but nothing in the base.

roundhouse · 07-05-2018, 05:36 PM

I will check the filter. Thanks.

Cravin01 · 07-05-2018, 10:59 PM

some say everything gets better after it wears in, I changed my oil today and found three small aluminum chips in the oil. until it spits out half the piston I'm not gonna worry about it. These motors are pretty tuff. if it keeps spitting out metal then I'd worry.

roundhouse · 07-05-2018, 11:18 PM

HAHA, I hope not. There were a few tiny flakes when I changed the oil the first time but the until this one nothing.

It is what it is. I will just keep riding it and hope it lasts.

RedCrowRides · 07-06-2018, 08:43 AM

I wouldn't worry too much if it hasn't lost power and is running well ,these Chinese motors while very basic are tough usually overall.That said their price point is really low and that entails some economy of motion so some rough castings are unavoidable, etc.They get the big stuff that matters right but they don't spend a lot of time polishing / deburring casting flash or even blowing out milling flakes with compressed air, etc and I'd bet that bit is exactly what that piece is ,that finally worked its way down .It kinda goes with the absolutely horrible quality fluids they use for everything at the factory ,they have to cut corners somewhere to sell as low as they do so some machining clean up processes are sketchy at best and the fork oil to the brake fluid might as well be mop water ., but that's just part of what owning a China bike comes with ,and easily enough corrected !

I think you will be fine, you are changing the oil out a lot and thats the big and important thing ,about every third change try to hit the screens / filters /spinner and you should be golden.

Megadan · 07-06-2018, 09:27 AM

I second the Oil cooler being the source. One thing you will find is a far more common thing in the cheap world of chinese parts is something called swarf. In simple terms, chips, filings, flakes, etc from machining processes. That is one reason I changed my oil so often on my first Hawk, and why I will do it again with the new one.

roundhouse · 07-06-2018, 08:32 PM

Thanks fellas, I blew through the hose and cooler with a couple good puffs of compressed air. I did not see anything come out but who knows.

I will check closely on my next oil change in 300 miles.

Riggs · 07-06-2018, 09:07 PM

I also had some very small flakes of aluminum in my oil after installing 1st cooler. Hopefully I don't find a larger surprise in my oil after 2nd cooler went on. I will find out in 100 miles or so.

07-05-2018, 04:10 PM	#3
JerryHawk250 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: Houma, La. Posts: 11,574	It's probably from the oil cooler. I found a few slivers of aluminum in the oil screen on my 1st oil change after installing my cooler but nothing in the base. __________________ 2023 Lifan Lycan 250 Chopper 2023 Venom Evader 2022 Lifan KPX250 2020 Kawasaki Vulcan S 2004 Honda ST 1300 2016 Black Hawk 250 (sold) Keihin PE30 carb,125 main,38 slow.Pod filter,ported & decked head 10:1 CR,Direct Ignition Coil,15/40Sprockets,NGK DPR8EIX-9,De-Cat,Dual Oil Cooler,Digital Cluster 2016 Cazador180 XL 2014 Coolster150 JerryHawk250.com My YouTube Channel
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07-05-2018, 10:59 PM	#5
Cravin01 Join Date: Jan 2018 Location: Forney Texas Posts: 498	some say everything gets better after it wears in, I changed my oil today and found three small aluminum chips in the oil. until it spits out half the piston I'm not gonna worry about it. These motors are pretty tuff. if it keeps spitting out metal then I'd worry. __________________ Visit me on YouTube at "Project Next"! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC6KTCi2GVbfRDv-2XCqHhsg?view_as=subscriber 2017 Bashan Storm Keihen PZ30 Pumper Carb,115 main jet,35 pilot jet, gutted factory exhaust, Sambo Digital Speedometer,LED blinkers, H4 headlight,D.I.D X-ring chain 428,17/42 sprockets,UNI cone filter.
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07-06-2018, 09:27 AM	#8
Megadan Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Omaha, NE Posts: 8,034	I second the Oil cooler being the source. One thing you will find is a far more common thing in the cheap world of chinese parts is something called swarf. In simple terms, chips, filings, flakes, etc from machining processes. That is one reason I changed my oil so often on my first Hawk, and why I will do it again with the new one. __________________ Hawk Information and Resource guide: http://www.chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=20331 2018 Hawk 250 - Full Mod list here. http://www.chinariders.net/showpost....62&postcount=1 2024 Royal Enfield Shotgun 650 https://chinariders.net/showthread.php?t=34124
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07-05-2018, 05:36 PM	#4
roundhouse Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: N Texas Posts: 706	I will check the filter. Thanks.
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07-05-2018, 11:18 PM	#6
roundhouse Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: N Texas Posts: 706	HAHA, I hope not. There were a few tiny flakes when I changed the oil the first time but the until this one nothing. It is what it is. I will just keep riding it and hope it lasts.
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07-06-2018, 08:43 AM	#7
RedCrowRides Join Date: Jun 2018 Location: Florida Posts: 759	I wouldn't worry too much if it hasn't lost power and is running well ,these Chinese motors while very basic are tough usually overall.That said their price point is really low and that entails some economy of motion so some rough castings are unavoidable, etc.They get the big stuff that matters right but they don't spend a lot of time polishing / deburring casting flash or even blowing out milling flakes with compressed air, etc and I'd bet that bit is exactly what that piece is ,that finally worked its way down .It kinda goes with the absolutely horrible quality fluids they use for everything at the factory ,they have to cut corners somewhere to sell as low as they do so some machining clean up processes are sketchy at best and the fork oil to the brake fluid might as well be mop water ., but that's just part of what owning a China bike comes with ,and easily enough corrected ! I think you will be fine, you are changing the oil out a lot and thats the big and important thing ,about every third change try to hit the screens / filters /spinner and you should be golden.
	0

07-06-2018, 08:32 PM	#9
roundhouse Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: N Texas Posts: 706	Thanks fellas, I blew through the hose and cooler with a couple good puffs of compressed air. I did not see anything come out but who knows. I will check closely on my next oil change in 300 miles.
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07-06-2018, 09:07 PM	#10
Riggs Join Date: Mar 2018 Location: FLORIDA Posts: 81	I also had some very small flakes of aluminum in my oil after installing 1st cooler. Hopefully I don't find a larger surprise in my oil after 2nd cooler went on. I will find out in 100 miles or so.
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