[Bill B]

Hmmmm... 05 F4 with only 3700 miles. Running great. I decided to check the oil level and I saw this. What is that? Looks like cotton. I think I see an oil level at the bottom of the window. The bike was warmed up. but not run long. Obviously, this bike sits a lot. I start it and run it for a short while every few weeks. I haven't ridden it long enough to get the oil hot enough to boil off any condensation over the last couple of years. Obviously, I will do an oil change!

 

[Phil S]

I would be doing an oil change and filter asap - as long as there's no other evidence of water getting into the oil.
From what you have said it looks like a prolonged build up of condesation that has never had the chance to evaporate with the engine running at the correct operating temperature/s over any length of time, Starting it and only running it for a short period will not help the situation, once the oil and filter are changed take it for a decent ride and make sure it gets up to proper operating temperature and see what it's like then, if there's still some evidence of condensation after that and everything else is fine then it might neccessitate another oil change to completely flush the system, might also be an idea to change the coolant at the same time.

 

[Bill B]

I was taking it to "operating temperature" but it probably was not long enough to heat the oil enough to boil off the water over the last 2 years. I am getting ready to ride the bike more. I'm not surprised to see what should be water, but that window looked very strange to me. It will be interesting to see what drains out. Thanks.

 

[mitchy]

Definitely condensation, you need to go for a decent ride.

 

[Akorenika]

The water and oil have emulsified, hence the white sludge on the window.

 

[Bill B]

It didn't look like oil and water sludge. It was WHITE rather than creamy brown. If it was sludge I would be more alarmed. We'll see what drains out tomorrow.

 

[Dutchy]

If that is still the oil from 2005, yeah go change.

You need to ride more, just as @mitchy said.
I had a clear clutch cover on my H*nda* and in winter it would sometimes show.
Once the engine was heated up it would disappear.

 

[Bill B]

Definitely needs to be ridden a lot more. I have 5 bikes and at 75 years old (me, not bikes), the MV is a bit challenging. I'm so crouched over that my helmet blocks part of my forward view. Almost as bad as my Triumph Daytona 675. That one makes my neck hurt. I believe the previous 2 owners had the F4 sitting in their living rooms.

The Allen-type sump drain plug seems to be 10 mm, but my 10 mm Allen feels a bit loose. It's not 12 mm. It wouldn't be 11 mm? No.

 

[esq'z me]

It is 10mm but does feel a bit loose as it is cast, not machined.

 

[Bill B]

Ah, thanks. I was about to try a 7/16 SAE. 😏

 

[Bill B]

Drained oil looks very good. Dark brown and semi-transparent, not thin and black and no water. A tiny but visible amount of fine metal shavings and black sludge on the magnet.

 

[Bill B]

The window still looks cloudy although not as dense. You can see droplets in the middle and the apparent oil level at the bottom isn't the oil level. I don't know what the oil level was now. I never got any oil pressure warnings. Unfortunately I don't really know how much I drained as the catch basin already had some oil in it (dumb). Maybe drained 3L but it could be less.. Not sure. Hopefully I will see an oil level on refill. I can't find the fill amount for an oil change with filter, although I see 3.5L as crankcase capacity.

 

[The_castle]

I am starting to think that this bike may have most recently been serviced by a habitual masturbator......
🤪

 

[silentservice703]

I am starting to think that this bike may have most recently been serviced by a habitual masturbator......
🤪

I swear I never laid hands on that motorcycle!
(Where’s “The Wanker” emoji when you need it! 😱)

 

[The_castle]

Chuck and I would like to formally apologise to the internet for our childish sense of humour / humor respectively. 🙃.

 

[Bill B]

That would explain it.

I am starting to think that this bike may have most recently been serviced by a habitual masturbator......
🤪

 

[silentservice703]

David, darling, I miss the days of old in days like this. Miss you my friend!❣

 

[Bill B]

As an aside, I found that I had the ideal oil filter wrench for this bike. Search here did not come up with it. I posted it in a thread where someone was asking, as well as here. The wrench that worked for me is:

Honda
OEM Part Number: 07HAA-PJ70100
Part: Superseded by 07AAA-PLCA100 - WRENCH, FILTER 65MM

I tried a variety of wrenches I have that tried to grip the body of the filter but none worked mostly because of the headers limiting access. This slips on the end of the filter and with a 17 mm Gearwrench or open end it removed the possibly original 2005 MV filter (Egad!) easily. There should be enough room to use it on the alternative longer (3.25") filters, although those probably can be removed with a variety of wrenches since the extra inch in length clears the headers. CORRECTION: A 3.25" length filter (Purolator PL14610) will NOT fit the bike due to hitting a front crossover pipe. Fortunately, I had a 2.5" stock size Bosh 3300.

 

[The_castle]

That is some useful information right there.
I have often looked at purchasing a dedicated tool for oil filter removal for a first generation F4. When I find myself looking around an automotive supplies shop I will have a look at the variety of options on display but never commit to purchasing any of them. I might drop by the local friendly Honda shop and ask about the price and availability of this tool.
Thanks.

 

[The_castle]

David, darling, I miss the days of old in days like this. Miss you my friend!❣

Chuck, I am only too happy to turn the politically incorrect knob up to 9.9.
I will often do this in memory of our dearly departed and well respected Brother, Lee Halverson.
Please forgive the stroll down memory lane in your thread Bill. Looking at your acceptance of my joke above, you would have got on with Lee just fine.