Hi folks This time not specifically related to my duck.

I'm in UK and the weather sucks right now. It's cold and wet. My duck is daily commuter. My daily commute is 3 miles each way. I'm sure you know what that means Bike is stored outside in a motorcycle tent overnight, and in unheated garage during day at work. It doesn't get wet but it's cold.

Problem is, I don't really ride much during winter. Even if I take it for a long ride, it's hard to get the temperature to above water boiling point, being an air cooled engine in cold weather. I can get it up to 80-90°C (176-194°F), but to get it up to above 100°C (212°F) and maintain it long enough for all the water fo evaporate, I'd literally have to get off the bike and let it idle for God knows how long. Therefore I have quite a lot of milky stuff on the sight glass, engine covers and everywhere, you know.

Is there any oil addictive or anything that can help? Any old school tricks?

Don't judge me I do ride a lot (subjective I know), just not in the winter. I did 5000 miles in few months last summer, and have planned some trips for this year that will be at least 3000 miles. And there will be a lot more. I just don't ride for pleasure in the winter!

The usual tactic is a cover for the oil cooler.

Can you elaborate please?

I've not had personal experience with a cover, so can't say for sure what to use.

I'd try aluminum foil, wrapping the cooler front and rear.

There's folks here who live where it's actually cold who may have some FHE.

For my 750 I made a cover from heavy black vinyl and an elastic band so I could easily remove it on a warm winter day.

The 1000 had an oil cooler guard.  Made life easy, just slip something between the guard and the cooler.

I wrapped mine in alu foil, but didn't notice much difference - at least not very much.

Try to remove the oil filler cap after a 'long' ride. Most of the moisture will escape.

i went to the used store and purchased an old soft leather briefcase for a couple of bucks
went to the sewing store and purchased snaps
took just a few minutes to get er done
snap on .. snap off
literally cut to fit. wrap all way around. it was just too easy to do and it does what you need.

.... maybe mine didn't cover well enough 

Where I am despite 40's C in summer it can dip below 0 c in winter so I also have an oil cooler cover. An old school careful morning warm up helps too. The other thing that helped was to delete the breather hose to the air box (plug the hole) and run a small breather filter off the breather catch tank/box.

In all honesty, 3 miles is too short a trip.

Quote from: koko64 on February 11, 2020, 12:34:01 PM
~~~SNIP~~~
In all honesty, 3 miles is too short a trip.

Yep.

 
!

I had this problem too on a well used 03 800; oil site glass would always get milky; was using Moutol green 15W 50 full synthetic (may not be the best for a monster) may have been a number of things; cooler riding as per your experience.

Tried removed the oil filler cap after riding when under cover; it helped but moisture always cam back in colder weather. and hate to admit this but; once had the oil cap off; and went out for a ride … and quickly discovered  oil sprays out the  filler hole; over pant legs and side of bike ...lol. So always check that the foll cap is in place.

Another thought was the gas I was buying had an additive and ethanol that attracted water.

What type of gas do you use? Is it contaminated with moisture? On later Ducs I always used 91 octane, that didn't have the additives, and is more "pure" gas seemed to help; try that and report back!

Hope that helps cheers 

Whooa so many answers and good suggestions, thank you all!

I know 3 miles is a very short trip It's either bike or 1 hour walk up hill - no can do. It's my home-work commute, I tend to ride a bit more 2-3 times a week when I visit friends, do shopping etc. Still not long enough but whan can I do, it is what it is.

Oil cooler cover - I assume the idea is to prevent it from cooling? I'll definitely do it and take it for a nice ride on the weekend! Removing oil filler cap makes sense too I guess, I'll try that as well but need to remember to put it back before ride. I just know myself too good One time I fogot to put the oil pressure sensor back after working on a clutch then fired the engine. Messy. Another time I didn't put the oil drain plug back in during oil change, a good amount of new engine oil spilled in friends garage. Ooops, that was really messy

If the above doesn't help I'll try koko's idea with the hose as well!

I usually fill up at Shell either standard unleaded or v-power, both can contain up to 5% ethanol in accordance with current UK specification requirements. Good point about ethanol drawing moisture, I read a lot about expanding plastic tanks problem but it doesn't seem to happen here in UK. I'm not sure if this would affect engine oil much though?

Once again thank you all for your answers!

/e: I'll order a neoprene sheet. It's heat, water and oil resistant, and it traps heat - seems to be good for the job I think. I'll cut out a thick piece of it and wrap the cooler.

Letting water vapor vent through a breather stops it from running back down into the crankcase. The crankcase breather valve has little drain holes to allow oil vapor to return, but water will drain back down too. Got to let the steam escape before it cools.

Koko thank you for explanation I now understand better. I am going to read more about crankcase breather to fully understand it's purpose!

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