Forum

[dave p]

Thanks for the input chaps.I'd never noticed sludge in the oil before.Now that I have and now that I have a good idea about the hight of the oilway to the pump I am a little concerned.It seems to me that picking up the oil feed to the big end only 5mm above the oil tank floor is not the best of ideas.On Triumphs BSA's etc the oil usually enters the feed pipe (via a gauze strainer)to the best of my failing memory,an inch or more above the tank bottom.
The Bullet has just completed a trip of nearly three thousand miles without an oil change (Although
quite a lot of fresh oil was added along the way!!)this may have been a contributory factor to the formulation of sludge,who knows?But from now on a new regime will be observed.More frequent oil changes,better quality oil and an application of flushing oil once in a while.One lump of gloop in that little oil way up against the gauze strainer could equal a dry big end bearing!!!!
Now I wonder if that's ever happened???
Once again,thanks for all the advice.Cheers Dave P.

[Beezabryan]

A couple of thoughts - why ask a question, get an answer then do the opposite of what is advised? ... If flushing is what you want then why would you want to use kerosene in a tank that cannot be swilled around & upended? ... Why not use flushing oil oil, that is an oil that is compatible with the engine & it's lubrication where kerosene patently is not. ...

[dave p]

Hi beezabryan.Two very pertinent questions.In answer to the first one.I was going to do it anyway unless someone came up with a very specific reason why I should not No one replied in an adamant tone that it was the wrong thing to do or that damage would ensue.Second point.Why use paraffin?
Well,flushing oil would have been more suitable but I hadn't got any.The Bullet was now without oil
and that being the case I was without transport,as the lubeless Bullet is my transport.I didn't want to put the new oil in without making some attempt to clear or reduce the sludge for reasons mentioned earlier regarding the big end bearing.I figured that a small amount of paraffin,which is after all an oil,passing through the big end would be preferable to sludge taking the same route.
Not an ideal way to go about things I admit,but I seem to have got away with it.I will come clean and confess my stupidity if the engine goes bang,Honest!!
In future there will be flushing oil on the shelf.Cheers,Dave P.

[MadMike]

Good gracious. I simply cannot believe that after all this time people are even suggesting that "sludge" of any sort in an oil tank is OK. IT IS NOT. IT REALLY IS NOT(capitals deliberate). Flushing oil is what it is, a light detergent oil to remove the normal black contamination and the residual original oil. Oil and metal/sludge/other extranious crap will place your engine at great risk. If you have found this "sludge" stuff in the tank and want to remove it then flushing it out is the right way to go. However putting parafin or kerosene or petrol as a solvent cleaner is probably the only practical way to go. Having said that firstly disconnect the tank from any feed or return pipes to the engine, remove the oil tank from the bike and then, and only, then use some form of solvent to totally clean the interior of the tank. Then refit the tank, reconnest the oil lines and refill with nice virgin engine oil. Dave do not believe anybody who even suggests that allowing contamination to remain in your tank/oil is OK. It simply is not. Such suggestions are made in good faith but are frankly an engineering practice to be abhored. Rant over.

[PeteF]

Madmike, good advise; IF you could remove the tank. As the oil "tank" in this case is part of the crankcase castings it's not very practical. Flushing out in with with paraffin will probably be fine even if a small amount gets left to mix with the new oil. A few mls of paraffin to a tank full of oil? No problem I would think.