Ouch D@mnit all...

[Semper Gumby]

It has happened to me.

I went away on vacation after Christmas came back and flew a trip.  And this morning its 18'F as the south is firmly in the grips of an algore inspired cold snap and I figure what the hey, let see if it starts.

So I push the bike onto my snow encrusted driveway and reach down to turn on the fuel.  

Oh no.

The fuel tap has been on for almost two weeks.  I never leave the fuel tap on!  Something must have distraced me.  So I cross my fingers and hit the starter and the bike does not even turn over.  I cannot believe it.  There is no fuel on the ground.  Not a breath of wind in the air not a freakin' sound.

So I pull the plugs and the RH cylinder is full of fuel.

Now it turns over and and it looks like I'm drying out a RH cylinder today and possible changing the oil.  Funny thing is the oil level looks fine and I can't smell gas on the dip stick.  So perhaps I'm lucky in that I don't need to change the oil?

If it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody.  

[Bob_Roller]

If the oil level is where it should be, looks like you got 'lucky' .

Your call, on whether to replace it or not .

During WWII, it was a common practice, to add a measured amount of fuel into the crankcase, run the engine so it diluted the oil, so when the next day the engine was started, after being 'cold soaked' over night, it wouldn't have the extra drag on the starter due to thick oil .

[Semper Gumby]

So I get the bike running and it is running just fine - sounds fine etc etc.  So I'm lookin' the bike over and I turn to go inside and there is oil on my hand?

So I clean my hand off and wonder how there would be oil all over the LH grip.  Sure enough its wet.  So I look over the bike again under each cylinder and then the oil cooler...oh no.  It's leaking.

The end to a perfect day.

I guess things happen for a reason.

So Ive got another cooler sitting on the bench but it doesn't have a thermostat in it so I need a thermostat.  I think MAP cycle in Tampa has 'em.  Oh well.  :-/

[Bob_Roller]

What make of cooler do you, have ?

Just curious about the thermostat at the cooler .

I've got the OEM BMW cooler installed, with no thermostat .

Kinda curious about your oil leak though, I think it was 'Oak' Okleshen, stated at one time in the BMW MOA magazine, that on a 'cold soaked' BMW bike, one that was left out overnight in sub 20F. temperatures, start up oil pressures could reach 160 psi .

[Semper Gumby]

That might have been it.  Lockhart 601.

Self induced?  

Oi veh...I guess I need a bypass valve when the temps get cold to protect the cooler.  Either that or swicth to one of these new fangled 5W50 oils in the winter time.  (Oh no an ADOT)

[Semper Gumby]

Nope the solution is to take off the oil cooler when I do my winter change over in October and put it back on in April.  Unless I can switch to a full synthetic that flows more freely when its really cold like one of the Castrol Oils.  I think they make a 10W50 or 5W50.  

I hate to start an ADOT.  The multi-viscosity oils have come a long way since our airheads were created.

Perhaps this is a question for Oak.

[Bob_Roller]

Sounds likes a good idea, to run  it by him, someone on Boxerworks made the posting about the oil pressure in cold temperatures supposedly made by him .

He's no stranger to cold weather, he lived about 10 miles from me when I lived in Chicago .

On your oil cooler installation, do you have 'banjo' fittings with hollow bolts, or are the oil lines threaded directly into the oil filter cap ?

[montmil]

A WWII side bar relating to cold temps and thickened oil:

During the bitter cold Russian winter -that proved to be a fine Russian defense system- the German Luftwaffe "blacks" would drain aircraft engine oil immediately after the aircraft landed. The oil was kept in large vats over a flame heater and poured into the engine just before the next day's sortie. The heated oil permitted the engine to start rather than blowing out O-rings, seals and... oil coolers.

I think I'll put a 100W work light under the R65 before I go for a Sunday ride as we've been below freezing for several days.

Bill, the local ABC affiliate in Dallas has been showing video of your fair city. Everyone seems so friendly talking to reporters, wrecker drivers and LEO's after crashing into someone's car or mailbox. Southern hospitality even in the difficult moments.  

Monte

[rocky]

As far as heating up the block. I bought a heat magnet years back at a farm store. Just plug it into an ac outlet, stick it on the oil pan and vrrrooooom, starts every time

[Semper Gumby]

Brilliant!  Where is the linky?

I didn't go out today.  But yesterday I was out briefly.  Shade proved to be the demise of many cars.  There were a couple left as they were piled into each other at the bottom of an icy hill.  Of course it was no trouble for me.  I just ran my tires on the crunchy virgin bits on the side of the road.  Plenty of traction there.

People down south get this kind of weather once every 10 or 15 years or so.  Not enough time to learn how or where to drive in wintrery conditions.

I went looking for my old filter cover.  It's gone.  I keep everything and I can't find the old filter cover.  I am truly grounded.  I was hoping to ride the bike to work tomorrow.  

Ack ack ack...

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Dipstick heater? http://www.amazon.com/Kats-15200-Dipstick-Style-Heater/dp/B000BO74DG


Or

http://www.amazon.com/Kats-24150-Watt-Universal-Heater/dp/B000I8TQD6/ref=pd_sim_auto_3

[Bob_Roller]

Only problem with the magnetic type engine heaters, is that the entire R65 engine is aluminum, including the oil pan.

With the ridges cast into the pan, there's going to be minimal contact area to transfer heat .

[Lucky_Lou]

The dipstick looks like a good cheap practical solution
Lou

[Bob_Roller]

I've used a 200 watt flood light under the oil pan, heated the pan, engine, and transmission .

Only really useful in a 'protected' environment, inside a garage or similar structure .

Keeping the battery warm also helps out, as the battery loses about half of it's power, when the temperature is 32 F. (0 C.)

One possible negative aspect to heating an engine, is that it is an invitation for rodents to 'nest' there .

[Semper Gumby]

Thanks Rob.  Looks like a 1 X 5 for the batery and a dipstick heater for the motor.

I'm still thinkin' about pulling the oil cooler for October through April.

Oh BTW here is Oak's reply.

"Hello Bill:

Welcome to Global Warning. The other theorists are now saying an ice age is on the  way. Pick your choice !!  I hope the oranges survive.

The lockhart cooler leak --probably couldn't take the pressure. Don't know if it hit 160 psi, but not out of the realm of possibility.

20W50 is definately the wrong oil and far too viscous for cold weather riding at 18F.. Your owners manual should advise you on 10W40 most likely for your needs. A 5W40 would be even safer. The spectro platinum syn looks like an OK choice. I wouldn't recommend it for high summer heat but it should work nicely for the cooler fall thru winter and cooler spring seasons and give good overall protection. You could likely split the year in half and use the suitable oil type for each half. "[/b]

Interesting.   8-)