WATER IN THE OIL ???

[lerchtoys]

Hello,
I am new to this forum! I recently changed oil in my 1996 Kawasaki Voyager XII motorcycle, after being in storage for the winter (64,000 miles), and the oil was white/brown colored, and the coolant tank level was low. I believe that this means there is water (anti-freeze) in the oil!? I suspect that the water pump seal is leaking, but there is no dripping from the weep hole at the bottom of the pump!? The bike does NOT overheat or blow white exhaust, and it runs great! Any ideas as to the cause of my problem - I do not want to ride it until this is fixed!
Thank you in advance, for any and all suggestions!
mike

[Rick near Kansas city]

I the small hose from the secondary air box hooked to the motor? If it is off and you wash the bike some times the water can get in that way.

[lerchtoys]

HELP!!!
I still need help in diagnosing this problem?
THANK YOU!

[SgtSlag]

Change the oil and filter, top off the coolant overflow bottle; be sure to only add 3 qts. 22 oz. of oil back into the engine.

Then take it for a short ride on a highway. Come home, and check the oil for water. If the problem does not come back, it was a fluke. If the new oil does have water in it, check back here with updated information. Cheers!

[debron]

I'm not a mechanic so take what I say with a "grain of salt." If it were my bike I'd first make sure I had a problem. Don't take the following as an insult to your intelligence. I'm just asking because you didn't specify.

First question - when you change the oil do you drain from both drain plugs? Very Important that you do!

Second - when you add the new oil, do you add 3 quarts, 22 ounces? That's the specified amount. More causes problems, which leads back to the reason for the first question. If you don't drain from both drain plugs some oil is still in the engine so when you add 3qts, 22ozs, you end up with too much oil in the engine.

Now to what I would do - Go for a short ride, 20 miles or so, come back and drain the new oil. (From your post I'm assuming you haven't ridden it since you changed the oil.) If it's still white/brown, you probably have a problem. If you suspect the water pump seal, then the next course of action would be to replace the seal, change the oil, repeat the ride. . .

About coolant level. On both XIIs I've owned, they didn't/don't like to run with the coolant level "full." That is, after changing the coolant and flushing the system, I would fill the coolant to the proper level, go for a ride, then check the level. It was always down. I'd refill, ride, check, and it was down again. I don't know where it goes but I no longer worry about it. After 50,000 miles the coolant temp is always in the proper range and the engine never overheats.

[gery]

Is wanes refrigerant fluid?
Is motorcycle fumes?

It could be head gasket.