New Oil Turned Black

[Paul_F]

At beginning of 2008 riding season in April, I put some fuel injector cleaner into the gas. When the oil was changed at the end of June, the new oil immediately turned black in the sight glass. This repeated with the September oil change. In hindsight should I have changed the oil shortly after using the fuel injector cleaner? If so, should I simply store the bike this winter with dinosaur oil, add more injector cleaner in the spring; ride it for a few hundred miles and then drop the oil. Would this get rid of the black gunk in the engine? Then should I return to using synthetic oil? Your advise would be appreciated.

[cathdeac]

There are a couple of things you can use to keep your fuel "stabilized" over long periods.

Stabil or Seafoam are the two that are usually recommended.

Injector cleaner will clean combustion chambers. That will usually end up in the oil. I'm guessing that's your situation.

Don't change oil type. I'd run the Injector cleaner... ride bike for 50 miles or so, then change oil.. I usually run the cleaner just before my oil change.. Then stow the bike.

When spring rolls around, roll out the bike, ride until the oil changes color then replace.

That, or just ride it year round and you can skip the stabilizer and storage problems.

[Bobmws]

Uh, you did change the filter also, right?
Yes, add the cleaner to the last tank before an oil and filter change.

[Paul_F]

Uh, you did change the filter also, right?
Yes, add the cleaner to the last tank before an oil and filter change.

Of course. With each oil change I change the oil filter and crush washer. I was just surprised to find the clean oil black in the sight glass each time before even firing up the bike. Upon a lot of reflection, this is the only explanation that I can think off as the cause. The reason I was thinking of just putting regular oil for now would the cost of the synthetic and filter for maybe a 500 mile run to flush the system of the black gunk.

[deilenberger]

Paul,

I think perhaps a few low-mile changes with dino oil would clear this up. It almost sounds like an overdose of FI cleaner, loosening up some serious sludge in the engine.

You might try using some CD-2 Oil Detergent (or Paul G's favorite - Rislone) shortly before doing a change. Add the stuff to the oil, go for a 500 mile ride, then change oil and filter. If the new oil stays relatively clean for 1,000 miles or so - change it again to what you normally use (if synthetic - then change back to it at this point.)

[JHGilbert]

+1

I use short changes with a "high mileage" oil about every year in every vehicle we have owned. Only I stretch it to about a month rather than 50 miles. And Rislone and Marvel Mystery Oil have always been my two favorite additives. Choose whichever one you like.