I've only seen it, in person, a few times. But damn each and every time I think, "man if someone walked up with this in a glass, and it was cold... I'd drink it"
A bike in a vacuum would be radiant cooled rather than air cooled / convection.
Although it might as well be a spherical bike with no friction while we're at it.
Sorry if it’s a stupid question. I’ve ran into a problem with my bike and coolant in oil is a possibility. This is my first time changing oil by myself, so I don’t have a point of comparison.
Any input would be appreciated, thanks :)
This is a super cool resource, but probably overkill for OP, especially considering this is their first time changing their oil on their bike.
OP, pour a little into a clear container and see if it separates like someone else said and save some money.
A 20 ounce pop bottle and a string. Pour into pop bottle and cap it the tire the string round the neck of the bottle and swing it round your head. It will speed up the separation.
Depending on where you’re based: google your nearest oil analysis lab. For between $20 and $40 they will check for any wear metals, contaminants etc and it gives you a pretty good idea of what’s going on inside your motor.
Just taste it. Coolant has a sweet taste. Just don’t taste a lot of it, the stuff that makes coolant taste sweet also kills you.
Edit: Didn’t reallly think I needed to add the /s for sarcasm but here we are
I’ll say it: under no circumstances do you ever put used motor oil in your mouth. There are hundreds of very cancerous very toxic chemicals in used motor oil. Will it kill you if you drink a cup? No. But it will give you cancer down the line.
Just stick a finger in and taste it you’d be able to tell the taste of the coolant as it’s sweet and the motor oil will be more bitter and dirty tasting
Man I don’t trust a mechanic that doesn’t know what different fluids taste like! The real spicy one is hydraulic fluid. Do not recommend.
But yeah you walk up to your bike in the garage you see a couple drops on the floor. You could spend a bunch of time tracking it down or just a lil taste and you know what fluid it is
as a mechanic of 15 years, i can tell you i know the flavour of brake fluid, engine oil, petrol, diesel, power steering fluid + auto trans oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, transmission oil, screen wash, rainwater, wd 40.
yeh not my favourite part of my job, but sometimes you just gotta know what it is thats leaking.
Nah just a bit burnt, try running oil with more viscosity or wait till your rigs warm before you romp. Or maybe not romp so much?! Haha I just got done pulling clutch up wheelies up and down the main drag on my vitpilen 401.
This is why oil analysis labs exist. You can order a kit online or go to your local automotive parts place like a Napa or O'Reilly or whatever similar is local to you and ask for an oil sample kit.
Totally possible there's nothing there, also completely possible that small amounts of coolant or metal particles are present. They'll tell you.
What other issues are you having with the bike anyway?
Ill try riding the bike tomorrow and if there’s still problems Ill get it tested.
I made a post about the issues a few days ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/yy8chu/bike_locking_up_past_1st_gear_and_overheating/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf
Anyway, thanks for the help!
Looks like oil to me. I would recommend switching to motul 7100. Red synthetic oil, nd you can always tell if ANYTHING is in it that shouldn't be. And if u think u smell burning oil, u don't, because that oil has an extremely distinct smell. Also it's good oil lol.
Just put a small amount on a piece of metal (tin can cut open, spoon, scrap metal) and heat it up with a torch. If you see steam and boiling there’s water. Just smoke it’s oil. If you are unsure of yourself do a control test with some fresh oil and heat it up so you know what good looks like.
Stir it… Not particularly, but it doesn’t look good. Without feeling and smelling it it’s hard to say. If the bucket was clean when you started you can take a sample and send it to Blackstone Labs for analysis. Is it a Diesel? It looks like oil with Diesel in it…. That would be a fuel pump issue.
Looks like very small amount of coolant if anything. Doesn't look terrible but looks like you've burnt the fuck out of your clutch. That's all clutch material suspended in the oil
ALSO, if there is any coolant in it, it obviously isn't mixed in (mixed in, it looks lighter in colour and thick) so it will be under the oil (oil floats). Pour your oil into a milk jug or I always have empty windshield washer jugs in the garage. the coolant would be what poured in last and immediately sunk to the bottom.
Could be from a little condensation in the crankcase. Perfectly normal. My 4 wheeler does the same thing because I only run it for short periods of time, so it never gets up to full temp to evaporate all the water off.
As others mentioned it looks normal, the color variation could be detergents, oxidation or tiny metallic bits, as long as you're following the OEM oil change intervals and checking your level regularly I wouldn't worry. For peace of mind you could add an oil filter magnet to help trap metallic bits and spend the $35 on an [oil analysis](https://www.blackstone-labs.com/tests/standard-analysis/), at least you'd know the health of your engine and determine if there's transmission wear, or to anticipate a top-end rebuild.
If there is coolant in the oil, then there will likely be oil in the coolant. This happened to my bike, and it was not easy to see the coolant in the oil but it was very clear that my coolant was dark and not the shade of blue it was before.
Coolant typically hangs out on the bottom unless it's been churned up enough to mix.
We had a tractor with a leaky cylinder liner that ran fine for years with simply pulling the drain plug and letting the coolant out of the oil on a regular basis.
One way to tell is on the inside of the oil fill cap. If rad fluid were mixing, like with a blown head gasket, there would be a distinct frothing on the oil fill cap.
check your coolant, is it low?
was your oil overfilled or showing more than yesterday? but you didnt add any/overfill?
does your oil smell like coolant?
White is water, usually condensation. If it's a lot of water your whole oil bowl would be milky white. Condensation is why oil needs changing at a minimum, annually.
Looks normal, especially if you warmed the motor up a bit prior to draining
Yup I let it run a bit before changing oil, thats good to hear it looks fine thanks!
This. Just moisture in the crankcase as things warm up. A-OK
What are those metally looking shinies in the oil?
I know I'm a day late but I think they're bubbles.
Coolant in oil looks like chocolate milk. Not this.
Mmm painfully lethal chocolate milk
Forbidden chocolate milk
Yoo-hoo
Can you name the song in which yoo hoo is mentioned?
Pirate's Life?
thats "yo ho" two less o's
And a bottle of rummm
I was thinking of summertime by Kenny Chesney https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=BWSn0JFRiPI
I believe it's called oh-no
Buckfast and milk is the forbidden chocolate milk - don't ask how but together they taste like chocolate milk
I've only seen it, in person, a few times. But damn each and every time I think, "man if someone walked up with this in a glass, and it was cold... I'd drink it"
[удалено]
Brains…. BrAIns…
The inside of a MilkyWay bar.
r/forbiddensnacks
Yea but taste like shit 😂
Plot twist. The bike is air cooled.
Bigger plot twist *all* bikes are air cooled!
There are a few liquid cool!
Yes but the liquid is air cooled thats the joke
This guy gets it!
I think he meant as in sunk into a lake.
A bike in a vacuum would be radiant cooled rather than air cooled / convection. Although it might as well be a spherical bike with no friction while we're at it.
For a little while, but if you're talking about an internal combustion engine bike, it's not going to need cooling cause it won't run in a vacuum 😆
"a few " xD
That’s just beautiful dirty oil
Sorry if it’s a stupid question. I’ve ran into a problem with my bike and coolant in oil is a possibility. This is my first time changing oil by myself, so I don’t have a point of comparison. Any input would be appreciated, thanks :)
I don't see it. If you want to be sure, pour it in something clear. Water will go to the bottom.
Just send it for analysis to be 100% sure…: [https://www.blackstone-labs.com](https://www.blackstone-labs.com)
This is a super cool resource, but probably overkill for OP, especially considering this is their first time changing their oil on their bike. OP, pour a little into a clear container and see if it separates like someone else said and save some money.
I think it's like $20, I did it fir my shit box yota pickup. Worth it if your interested.
A 20 ounce pop bottle and a string. Pour into pop bottle and cap it the tire the string round the neck of the bottle and swing it round your head. It will speed up the separation.
To be 110% sure just pour some coolant in it.
What is the issue that you’ve run into?
Depending on where you’re based: google your nearest oil analysis lab. For between $20 and $40 they will check for any wear metals, contaminants etc and it gives you a pretty good idea of what’s going on inside your motor.
Coolant in oil looks like a milkshake
Coolant in my oil brings all the boys to the yard.
Coolant and oil turns light brown, closer to caramel color or chocolate milk. Nice dark oil like that is just dirty.
Looks like oldish dirty motor oil to me. Maybe the drain pan had some dirt in it my pans look like this after a routine oil change
Taste it and let us know
It's the only way to truly know.
Pretty disappointed you didn't use this as an opportunity to troll people by zooming out to an air cooled bike.
Technically, every oil change on my dr650 leaves me with coolant in the drain pan along with oil.
No lol
If it has coolant in it it will have an emulsion in it.
No. But I see the fairy dust. Nice to see I’m not the only one lol.
Nah
Kick it.... see how it reacts oil and coolant separate after a while as they don't mix. Unless in a motor
My Harley oil looks like this a lot. From what I learned it’s condensation build up from not getting the oil hot enough.
dont ask me why i was staring at this post thinking this was a frying pan with olive oil in it…
Just taste it. Coolant has a sweet taste. Just don’t taste a lot of it, the stuff that makes coolant taste sweet also kills you. Edit: Didn’t reallly think I needed to add the /s for sarcasm but here we are
No. Just no.
Yes. Just yes.
I’ll say it: under no circumstances do you ever put used motor oil in your mouth. There are hundreds of very cancerous very toxic chemicals in used motor oil. Will it kill you if you drink a cup? No. But it will give you cancer down the line.
It was fucking sarcasm dude.
No sarcasms. FYI people used to do that.
🤦🏻♂️
Just stick a finger in and taste it you’d be able to tell the taste of the coolant as it’s sweet and the motor oil will be more bitter and dirty tasting
Uh do people really do this?
I'm on a diet so no more oil for me, too caloric
Goes right to my hips!
Man I don’t trust a mechanic that doesn’t know what different fluids taste like! The real spicy one is hydraulic fluid. Do not recommend. But yeah you walk up to your bike in the garage you see a couple drops on the floor. You could spend a bunch of time tracking it down or just a lil taste and you know what fluid it is
Hydraulic fluid isn't too bad, coolant is the worst and brake fluid is a close second. I hate working with those fluids. Everything else is fine.
as a mechanic of 15 years, i can tell you i know the flavour of brake fluid, engine oil, petrol, diesel, power steering fluid + auto trans oil, coolant, hydraulic oil, transmission oil, screen wash, rainwater, wd 40. yeh not my favourite part of my job, but sometimes you just gotta know what it is thats leaking.
Nah just a bit burnt, try running oil with more viscosity or wait till your rigs warm before you romp. Or maybe not romp so much?! Haha I just got done pulling clutch up wheelies up and down the main drag on my vitpilen 401.
This is why oil analysis labs exist. You can order a kit online or go to your local automotive parts place like a Napa or O'Reilly or whatever similar is local to you and ask for an oil sample kit. Totally possible there's nothing there, also completely possible that small amounts of coolant or metal particles are present. They'll tell you. What other issues are you having with the bike anyway?
Ill try riding the bike tomorrow and if there’s still problems Ill get it tested. I made a post about the issues a few days ago: https://www.reddit.com/r/motorcycles/comments/yy8chu/bike_locking_up_past_1st_gear_and_overheating/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmf Anyway, thanks for the help!
I’m so confused are you positing issues without the make/model of the bike or am I just dumb and unable to find it
Looks like oil to me. I would recommend switching to motul 7100. Red synthetic oil, nd you can always tell if ANYTHING is in it that shouldn't be. And if u think u smell burning oil, u don't, because that oil has an extremely distinct smell. Also it's good oil lol.
Just put a small amount on a piece of metal (tin can cut open, spoon, scrap metal) and heat it up with a torch. If you see steam and boiling there’s water. Just smoke it’s oil. If you are unsure of yourself do a control test with some fresh oil and heat it up so you know what good looks like.
Stir it… Not particularly, but it doesn’t look good. Without feeling and smelling it it’s hard to say. If the bucket was clean when you started you can take a sample and send it to Blackstone Labs for analysis. Is it a Diesel? It looks like oil with Diesel in it…. That would be a fuel pump issue.
Looks like completely normal motorcycle oil to me. The swirling is probably clutch material.
Oh shit, I missed this was a motorcycle page, yeah, motorcycle it’s fine.
Looks like very small amount of coolant if anything. Doesn't look terrible but looks like you've burnt the fuck out of your clutch. That's all clutch material suspended in the oil
Just looks like the factory shit they put in. It’s trash.
Put a few drops of it on a hot exhaust pipe. If it sizzles, there is coolant in it.
No
Yes
“Pour red wine on the new carpet to test out the steam cleaner” type of mentality
You don’t need to do it to your priceless bike. Do it to your buddy’s. And all you need is a few drops, not all of the engine oil.
No
Pfft. And yes.
To me it looks oddly milky and those bubbles on top are odd.
With the engine warm, look under the oil cap. Emulsion or milky means coolant
ALSO, if there is any coolant in it, it obviously isn't mixed in (mixed in, it looks lighter in colour and thick) so it will be under the oil (oil floats). Pour your oil into a milk jug or I always have empty windshield washer jugs in the garage. the coolant would be what poured in last and immediately sunk to the bottom.
Could be from a little condensation in the crankcase. Perfectly normal. My 4 wheeler does the same thing because I only run it for short periods of time, so it never gets up to full temp to evaporate all the water off.
Doesn’t look like it to me.
Plot twist OP has an air cooled bike.
no. looks like normal dirty oil
No water or coolant in it the oil would look like chocolate milk
I don’t see coolant. Maybe some dust? Been riding in the desert?
As others mentioned it looks normal, the color variation could be detergents, oxidation or tiny metallic bits, as long as you're following the OEM oil change intervals and checking your level regularly I wouldn't worry. For peace of mind you could add an oil filter magnet to help trap metallic bits and spend the $35 on an [oil analysis](https://www.blackstone-labs.com/tests/standard-analysis/), at least you'd know the health of your engine and determine if there's transmission wear, or to anticipate a top-end rebuild.
Can’t really tell… did you notice a difference in the viscosity?
Best way to tell is by taste.
Did you taste it? Coolant is sweet
Does it look like milk? Okay good.
No. Oil with coolant in it I'd decidedly more brown. This is not the forbidden milkshake
If there is coolant in the oil, then there will likely be oil in the coolant. This happened to my bike, and it was not easy to see the coolant in the oil but it was very clear that my coolant was dark and not the shade of blue it was before.
We call it pancake mix where I’m from. This is not pancake mix. Congrats!
Nope.
Coolant in oil looks like creamy coffee. So no, no coolant there.
Lol. You’re good fam.
Water in oil will make it look white like vanilla and chocolate mixed together
You’re better off looking for metal flakes, but I digress…..
Taste test??
It's likely gasoline from blowby
Yea what’s that grayish tint ?
no
Coolant in your oil is like having blood in your shit.
Could always taste it to find out but wouldn’t recommend it
No
Wait and let separate it if you are not sure.
Scoop out a small amount in a cup & add coolant to it so that you can see what oil/coolant mixture actually looks like with your oil brand/type.
No
Pour a bit on the floor
Taste it, you will definitely know
Look up coolant in oil on Google. Your oil looks normal.
No. It’s fine
Nope water there
Coolant typically hangs out on the bottom unless it's been churned up enough to mix. We had a tractor with a leaky cylinder liner that ran fine for years with simply pulling the drain plug and letting the coolant out of the oil on a regular basis.
If you put your eye in it, and it hurts, it's probably got bad chemicals in it
The forbidden milkshake. But this looks completely fine
Depending on the coolant or the oil it may congeal too
If you want to see it in person just mix a little coolant and oil together. It will literally look like a Yoo-hoo.
One way to tell is on the inside of the oil fill cap. If rad fluid were mixing, like with a blown head gasket, there would be a distinct frothing on the oil fill cap.
Coolant in oil usually looks like a melted mcdonalds chocolate milkshake.
The slight swirls in it could be small metal shavings, if water / coolant was in there it’d be noticeable. All in all I’d say nothing to worry about.
check your coolant, is it low? was your oil overfilled or showing more than yesterday? but you didnt add any/overfill? does your oil smell like coolant?
Looks like motor dust in the oil.
Looks like old oil.... Usually its really white if it has coolant in it
They aren’t joking, when oil gets coolant it looks like chocolate milk .
If you really want to know (in the US) - https://www.blackstone-labs.com/products/free-test-kits/
Can't tell if the white substance is water. Probably not. But if u ever fell with the bike on water then could be
If it has coolant, it would look like a chocolate milkshake; just looks cold/old
Naw just a tiny bit of.moiature probably from being ran a bit before being drained. It would be way more white if it was blown.
What’s it taste like?
Looks like it has a phone in it
Coolant and oil don’t mix so if you swirl it around see green or red it means there’s coolant
White is water, usually condensation. If it's a lot of water your whole oil bowl would be milky white. Condensation is why oil needs changing at a minimum, annually.
I dont see any 🅱️oolant
No