Gasoline Diluted Engine Oil

[WayneCowen]

1982 V45 Magna....ridden regularly.....38,000 miles on the clock.

Significant loss of power on both the low and high end.  Starts OK....runs smoothly.....idle is a little shaky but generally OK.  Engine oil is being diluted to a thin consistency with the odor of petro.

A problem with carb jets/floats??  Did run through a bottle of Seafoam cleaner to no avail.  Aware that with a 28 year old machine the problem could be any number of things.
 
Question for board members:  What are a range of power loss malfunctions that could cause a lot of gasoline to enter the crankcase??

Thanks in advance for your troubleshooting wisdom. 

[dgc67]

A problem with carb jets/floats??

sounds like it.  just covered this with someone else in like the last couple of weeks.

[WayneCowen]

Thanks for the response DG.......anyone know of anyone in business in the New Braunfels/San Antonio area doing carburetor work on the V45 Magna. I have always avoided carb work......would have no confidence in rebuilding one.

Still interested in other possible causes for significant fuel dilution of the engine oil.

[dgc67]

On a 1982 there could not be much else.  I would guess you got some gunk or gummed up needles so they can't/don't close all the way.  Explains the running condition as well.

I know another member, Lawrence, has mentioned a Dealer in that area, but from my experience they won't work on a bike over 10 years old.  You likely will have to look at some independent shop.

[lragan]

Thanks for the response DG.......anyone know of anyone in business in the New Braunfels/San Antonio area doing carburetor work on the V45 Magna. I have always avoided carb work......would have no confidence in rebuilding one.

Still interested in other possible causes for significant fuel dilution of the engine oil.

You might call 35 N Honda in New Braunfels.  Only one I know in that area.  Cowboy Honda has a new shop on 35 south of Austin, another possibility.

[a65bug]

Sounds like a stuck float, it'll sit there and dump fuel into the cylinders when it's not running.  If you're capable of pulling the carbs and re-installing them, send them to BillyC for a rebuild, guy does good work for a good price, guarantees what he does.  A lot of dealers won't even work on these old bikes, most of their mechanics weren't even alive when these bikes were new.  If they will work on them, they usually tend to screw it up and charge you a boatload.  I had a friend with a VT1100 Shadow, 3 trips to the dealer to work on the carbs and $1000 later and it still wasn't right.  I pulled them and found they hadn't even opened up the pilot jets, no wonder it wouldn't start worth a crap.  If you need a shop to do it, see if you can find a smaller shop with a mechanic who has a passion for these old bikes.

Here's a link to the V4market if you want to pull the carbs and send them to Billy C:  http://www.v4market.com/

Oh, change that oil before you ride it, that diluted oil won't protect your motor.

[silveradocowboy]

Bring them to Frisco and I'll clean them for you and show you how as well.

[WayneCowen]

Appreciate the responses....guess the consensus is a stuck carb float.  May manage the courage to look at the floats.  Alternately, I will mail the carbs for rebuild to someone with some experience with the gen 1 carbs.....or possibly truck the bike to them.
I did change the oil.....it's sitting there with the tank proped-up and so far the oil level is not increasing in the sight-glass.  Guess maybe I should put the fuel shut-off valve in the off position, huh?

[dgc67]

As long as the engine is not running the fuel pump is not pumping so there should not be enough pressure to continuously flood it.  BUT closing the petcock is still a good idea.

[lragan]

As long as the engine is not running the fuel pump is not pumping so there should not be enough pressure to continuously flood it.  BUT closing the petcock is still a good idea.

Well, there is always gravity.  It seems to be taking its toll on me...

[dgc67]

Well, there is always gravity.  It seems to be taking its toll on me... 

You and me both Lawrence.  but his bike is a first gen, so it is not gravity fed but has a pump on it.  The petcock almost has no real purpose on our bikes.  The actual outlet for the fuel tank is well below the level of the carbs as is the petcock for that matter.

[Charles S Otwell]

As long as liquids seek their own level, I would think that the tank being above the carbs would be sufficient to gravity feed to the carbs, maybe not fast enough to run but enough to flood the carbs if something were stuck open. Please correct me if I'm wrong.. just don't be harsh .

[lragan]

Charles, I think you are right -- again.  It really doesn't matter what the relative elevation of the outlet of the tank is, if the surface of the gasoline in the tank is above the carburetor float valve, and the pump does not block the flow, then fuel will run into the engine if a float valve is open.

I think the purpose of the pump is to provide a constant, and higher pressure to ensure proper carburetor operation regardless of the amount of fuel in the tank.

Of course, the petcock on one of my bikes doesn't shut off all the way, so closing it wouldn't accomplish much, except perhaps to slow the process down a bit.  So far, this has only been an issue on the bike when I need to remove the tank, and it drips gasoline all over the place.

[dgc67]

Actually on the first gen, well 1984 and earlier, the 2nd tank is VERY low, well below the level of the carbs.  I suppose if both tanks were full then some fuel could seep past the fuel pump and up into the carbs.  I am sure that is why the petcock is still there.  However, I have never cut mine off and have never had fuel leak out while the carbs were off.

[Cadmandu]

I bought a 82 parts bike with no title. When I pulled the hose off the back of the petcock the gas came out with very good pressure and completely emptied the lower tank, the main tank was already dry. This gas was three years old and smelled really strong.