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About a week ago when changing my oil I noticed that it had gas in it, and it was discolored to gray. I was told that either it could be some sort of bad gasket, I was running too rich, or a float valve was hanging up and I left my petcock on overnight. Well, I wasn't running rich according to the plugs, though the bike does smell a bit rich, and I'm not sure how to check the gaskets. I have been leaving the petcock on overnight a few times, which I think may have been the cause. This was after a 2000 mile trip...lots of it with the throttle WFO and my bad ignition system slowing me down, keeping me in the 70-80mph range even at wfo (fixed the ignition system after coming back home.)
I changed the oil from 10w-40 valvoline motorcycle specific oil to Rotella 15w-40 after reading so much about it here. I just checked it again this week (wow, I'm horrible, aren't I?) and it smells a lot like gas. Seems a bit less viscous than normal, but I brought it to my mechanic and he said that it feels and looks normal, and that usually the smell of gas will linger after it's gotten into your oil. I've also gotten a lot of comments from people in the past about how much like gas my bike smells, but I think that that's always been the case (people don't understand that the gas tank is RIGHT THERE lol).
So, is it true that the smell will linger, or am I going to have to fix this problem then change my oil again? It definitely isn't discolored now when checking from the dipstick, but I don't want to keep riding with a problem like this. I've been turning my petcock off a lot more frequently now...though not as frequently as I should be, a lot more often than I used to, and it never is left on overnight anymore. I've had this bike for like 17,000 miles or so now, and this is the first time I've seen this and I've always had a bad habit of leaving the petcock on overnight.
Another thing mentioned by the mechanic was that maybe since it's not the stock petcock (only has on off res, no vacuum) it may be dripping when put to off or something. I'm doubtful of this because occasionally the fuel filter will be completely empty when I come out to get on my bike for the day, and the petcock is set to off (Florida sun means the gas evaporates from the carbs, apparently.)
So, should I be worried? Does the smell really linger? How long *should* it linger before I should worry? Is it plausible, advisable, or possible to switch back to the vacuum petcock so I don't stupidly leave my gas on all of the time? Or am I just better off getting better habits?
Thanks all.
I changed the oil from 10w-40 valvoline motorcycle specific oil to Rotella 15w-40 after reading so much about it here. I just checked it again this week (wow, I'm horrible, aren't I?) and it smells a lot like gas. Seems a bit less viscous than normal, but I brought it to my mechanic and he said that it feels and looks normal, and that usually the smell of gas will linger after it's gotten into your oil. I've also gotten a lot of comments from people in the past about how much like gas my bike smells, but I think that that's always been the case (people don't understand that the gas tank is RIGHT THERE lol).
So, is it true that the smell will linger, or am I going to have to fix this problem then change my oil again? It definitely isn't discolored now when checking from the dipstick, but I don't want to keep riding with a problem like this. I've been turning my petcock off a lot more frequently now...though not as frequently as I should be, a lot more often than I used to, and it never is left on overnight anymore. I've had this bike for like 17,000 miles or so now, and this is the first time I've seen this and I've always had a bad habit of leaving the petcock on overnight.
Another thing mentioned by the mechanic was that maybe since it's not the stock petcock (only has on off res, no vacuum) it may be dripping when put to off or something. I'm doubtful of this because occasionally the fuel filter will be completely empty when I come out to get on my bike for the day, and the petcock is set to off (Florida sun means the gas evaporates from the carbs, apparently.)
So, should I be worried? Does the smell really linger? How long *should* it linger before I should worry? Is it plausible, advisable, or possible to switch back to the vacuum petcock so I don't stupidly leave my gas on all of the time? Or am I just better off getting better habits?
Thanks all.