kinda anxious today at work

[slngsht]

I believe I may have developed some engine problems

I noticed some condensation inside my oil fill cap. Initially thought it was strange, but possibly from just short startups... well, after my half hour drive last weekend, I saw some more condensation when I looked last night.

 

The oil on the dip stick looks perfectly normal (not dirty or sludgy (is that a word?)). I'm running water only (With water wetter)

 

I was low on coolant, but I thought that was due to a leak that I had fixed before.

 

So, tonight I'm going to hook up a pressure tester to the cooling system and find the bad news. I'm hoping it's something simple, but can't see what it would be.

 

if it's not something super simple, hopefully it's just a head gasket and not a more expensive metal part.

[slngsht]

well, got home, pretty much said hello and ran in the garage to see how bad a shape I'm in.

 

Hooked everything up, pumped it up and watched as the damn needle slowly sank down again.

 

I figured I might as well look for leaks, and found a few very small ones... each time I would pump it up and watch it come back down ever so slowly - like it was mocking me.

 

Finally pumped it back up after finding yet another super small leak (just enough to damp your finger under pressure). Went in for dinner, came back out, and NO PRESSURE LOSS Held the same exact pressure for 15 minutes.

 

While I was at it, pulled the plugs and looked at them to make sure nothing funky is going on, and all is good.

 

Buttoned everything back up and took her for a spin.

 

Tomorrow is the big weigh in.

 

I still have no idea the condensation came from. After I pulled in tonight, I removed the oil cap to let any water vapor out. Tomorrow I have a couple of one hour drives, so we'll see how it goes.

[TLRracer]

I had a CB500/four in College. I loved that bike:) One day it wasn't running great so I took it to Ray's Honda in High Point NC. Ray with his thick southern accent and military looking crewcut listened to it and blipped the throttle a bit.

 

His advice was: boy - get out on the highway, put her in second gear, and pull her ears back goooood. I took his advice and the bike ran great. I had been babying her too much and got gooked up - so get on out there and pull her ears back good !

[slngsht]

I don't think babying it is my problem

 

don't get me wrong - she runs strong. no problems with that. I've just not seen condensation inside the cap before.

 

I will take your advice on tomorrow's trip though

[MHKflyer52]

I don't think babying it is my problem

 

don't get me wrong - she runs strong. no problems with that. I've just not seen condensation inside the cap before.

 

I will take your advice on tomorrow's trip though

 

Check the vent hole in the cap and make sure it is not plugged as that will cause the moisture that all engines creat from the heat and cooling cycle to stay on the bottom of the cap.

[slngsht]

Good point Martin

[pi7ot]

Do you have a vent hose/catch can combo coming off the valve cover(s)?

m

[slngsht]

yes, standard LS1 stuff... hose goes from one cover to the other, T's into another hose that goes to a metal valve before dumping in the intake. maybe the valve is a blocked orifice.

[tnttim]

It is actually normal to have a small amount of condensation in the engine. Especially if you live in a cooler more humid climate.