Oil question

I had a look at a ZZR 250 that was on ebay. They said that the oil was new. The bike starts quickly, but the oil level seems really low, and it also looks a bit like milk coffee in the sight glass. Would I be right in assuming the head gasket has had it? It's not streaks of white, but all the oil looks like its a milky coffee colour, which is why I'm a bit confused.

I had a look at a ZZR 250 that was on ebay. They said that the oil was new. The bike starts quickly, but the oil level seems really low, and it also looks a bit like milk coffee in the sight glass. Would I be right in assuming the head gasket has had it? It's not streaks of white, but all the oil looks like its a milky coffee colour, which is why I'm a bit confused.

The head gasket is an obvious choice but it might have got water in the oil (which it definitely has from the colour of it) some other way like some muppet putting it in there deliberately. Only way to check is to change the oil and filter and see if it does it again after twenty minutes of running. Also check the coolant level. It could even be as bad as cracked head or block so be careful. Are you sure that the oil sight-glass isn't discoloured? It could be something as simple as that too

Check the coolant bottle as well, if it looks like a choc milkshake, then most likely the head or head gasket is stuffed, the only thing I would suggest is the same as Flywheels suggested get the guys to change the oil and filter to see if does it again or if it got water in there some other way. Honestly though I would probably steer clear of it as it sounds like it could be more trouble than it worth, because even if it doesn't have a stuffed head or head gasket you have to wonder how well its been looked after if it has some how got water into the oil like that.

Thants just my 2 cents worth though and as such is worth exactly that, best advise is get a mechanic to look at it or avoid that one and keep looking.

Cheers

Just another thing, condensation can create this as well so if there have been a few cold nights lately it might be from that.

from experience : belive nothing zzr 250 oil sight thingy tell u could say its half full when relaly it has 5 ltrs in it ( wayyyyyyyy toooooo much !!)

when u buy a second hand bike shouldnt u do a service on it anyway ? just to be safe

get the guy to run the bike for a good 10 minutes, if it goes away, condensation, if it stays, one of the cockups or failures mentioned above.

if he has recently washed it or riddin it in some heavy rain water may have got into the airbox and gone through the engine breather which is in the bottom of the airbox i think??? but to do this they would have to be pretty daft (that is washing it and getting water in the air box) lolz but yer best bet get him to change oil and filter and run for a while as the guys said u dont wanna get a dud first bike cause they can be expensive lolz cheers

It's a 40 minute drive from my house. Its unregistered and has Victorian plates. It's probably been sitting around for a bit. I'm in Sydney. The bike was a trade in and is currently unregistered at the dealership which I went to. I placed a bid on it, then went and had a look. Oops. Do you think it may have clicked over the 100,000km mark if it's a 1999 model but ridden up from Vic? It says just under 30,000.

As it was piss bucketing down when I was there, I only had a quick going over. Forgot the steering head bearings, and to look in the coolant bottle. I also didn't test ride it for that reason, and because the rear tyre was bald, and the handlebar was out of line with the front wheel. Didn't check the forks for rust or fork seal leaks. I feel like an idiot now

But thanks for all the help so far.

3rd edit for this post already: I don't know if it's really helping, but it seems to idle fine.

Last edited by Alf on Thu Feb 07, 2008 10:54 pm, edited 1 time in total.

coolant would be a good thing to look at should be nice and bright green and forks are important if your seals are leaking its not a real expensive job form memory round the 250-300 mark but theres a reason they leak.... not used enough and dry out and crack (could explain the 30 000 klms in 8-9 years) to much use and just wear and tear (clock ticked over 100 000) or your fork crome has gone and there rusted which is an ass of a problem to fix it properly u need them re-cromed or your seals will not last very long as they will be in contact with a rough n rusty fork....
as for idling fine is a good thing and that it starts easily is also good shows a basic sign of carbys are clean and syncronised without to much mucking around... also check brake pads, chain wear (there should be a set of divisions on the swing arm near the rear axle make shore theres more markings for chain stretch, more divisions left the newer the chain, also check to see if both sides are on the same division which checks the chain has been tensioned right) also a look at the brake rotors for roughness and chain sprockets for excessive wear ahhhhhh and a general run over of major scratches on frame work, being a learner bike u dont want something thats in pristine condition it will only break your heart when u drop it hehe many of us been there done that lolz, but good running gear is important as being your first bike a reliable one would make motorcycling even more of a blast
other then that good luch hehe

Sprockets are wornish, but not in immediate need of replacement. I didn't check the fork seals at all actually. I've gotten my P's, it's something that I'm planning to use until I get my unrestricted license. Pads are good, brake disc was covered in that surface rust crap. Been sitting out for too long. Not too worried about it cosmetically. It looks like crap already. Big dent on the side of the fuel tank.

well if its the right price then go for it ay if your not planning on keepin it for long if it starts good idles ok revs fine got brakes and suspension moves should last (hopefully) although bike parts may be smaller but doesnt mean there cheaper although there are some good wreckers round that will have lots of parts for your bike so if ya dont mind getting the tools out n gettin your hands dirty should be fine ay let us know how u go ay cheers

I had a look at a ZZR 250 that was on ebay. They said that the oil was new. The bike starts quickly, but the oil level seems really low, and it also looks a bit like milk coffee in the sight glass. Would I be right in assuming the head gasket has had it? It's not streaks of white, but all the oil looks like its a milky coffee colour, which is why I'm a bit confused.

Gday mate,had the same problem on a zzr I had,I just drained the coolant ,flushed out the rad and replaced with new coolant and the problem was solved.Not sure how the water got in there in the first place,but didnt happen again.good luck with the sale/bidding

from experience : belive nothing zzr 250 oil sight thingy tell u could say its half full when relaly it has 5 ltrs in it ( wayyyyyyyy toooooo much !!)

You realise that the window is meant to be used with the bike level, not on the sidestand?