Ran the bike with water in the oil...now what?

[HeepH8erTy]

I took my 400EX out this weekend to Powerline Park for the Memorial Day free-for-all. To make a long story short (one broken thing leading to another), I lost my dipstick/oil reservoir cap while on the trail. There is a ton of mud out there, as well as ponds and water crossings...and you know I was slamming through all of it.

I put 4 hours on the bike Friday. When I started, I know I had the plug because I checked the oil and put it back like I always do. When I woke up to ride the next day, I was going over the bike and saw the plug was gone, and all the mud on the left side of the bike was black with oil.


So, I have no real idea how long I rode the bike without it nor do I know what got into the oil. What would you do? I was thinking about draining the oil, running some cheapo oil through it for maybe 15-20 minutes, then drain it, change the filter, put new oil in it and run it. Think that would be enough? I've heard of people adding kerosene to oil and running that through bikes that have been submerged in water. I didn't know if that would be a good idea as I know that a lot of rubber seals do not take kindly to kerosene.


Dispite my bad luck, I still had a blast riding there while it lasted!

[DMG]

I would change the oil and filter, let it idle for 5 minutes and change it again.

[HeepH8erTy]

Thanks Dave, that's basically what I was thinking. I have seen stuff at Autozone that you add to your oil before a change to clean the gunk out of the motor. I may get some and put that in too.

Didn't know if there was some special trick or magic liquid that I could run in it to help clean any water out?

[joshs1ofakindxj]

I've put ATF in a tractor gear box to clean it out. I don't think I would put straight ATF in a motor like I did with a gearbox, but maybe add some? Idk...

[HeepH8erTy]

What does the ATF do to clean it out? I run ATF in my 2-stroke trannys (that sounded greasy), so it may not be bad to run for a short time if its got some super clean benefits. I'll have to do some googlin....

[2002wranglerX]

some guys run kerosene in the oil for 10 mins to break up deposits. But with just water/mud id' think a flush with fresh oil is more than enough.

[DMG]

Just do the oil. You aren't trying to break up years of deposits. You want more of a rinse.

[HeepH8erTy]

I heard about Kerosene before too. I'll do the fresh oil flush and see what that does for me. Thanks again!

[ridgerunner97]

Definately just a fresh oil flush, the crawler crowd with old dozers etc flush finals with kero works good I've done that

[HeepH8erTy]

Did two flushes with conventional oil with some Seafoam mixed in it. Changed the filter and put regular synthetic in it, seems to be running fine. I guess I will find out after I beat on it a little this summer. I am thinking I may be ok as the oil was pretty black when I first drained it out. I didn't see any foamy green like I had expected. Maybe just a whole bunch of oil splashed out, and nothing splashed in... Fingers crossed!

[joshs1ofakindxj]

You can send a sample off to black stone: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/

Request a free kit. My ricer friends use it and love it.

[HeepH8erTy]

hmm interesting... free kit requested!

Thanks!

[muddeprived]

Hey dude your inbox is full. Trying to send you a msg......

[HeepH8erTy]

Hey dude your inbox is full. Trying to send you a msg......

cleaned it up!