250sx Water Question

[Silverado]

Hey Guys,


I need some advice. I took my Bike(250sx) to the local forest and I hit a rather large puddle and got stuck. It was deep water and i had to pull the machine out myself. After tipping it upside down I got it started at and ran it for about an hour after that, took it home and changed the oil.

I also cleaned the air filter with PJ ait filter cleaner, and then I put the treatment spray on there, I really soaked it well with the treatment spray.

I am getting some white smoke the smells a little oily when I have the machine running. Could this be from the air filter spray ?

Did I fry my cylinder, possibly fine silt got into my piston and destroyed my rings ? it was a new cylinder and rings so the problem was not existing before.

I have been advised that I should change the oil a couple more times to make sure I can get out as much water that may be in the system as possible. How bad is the story here, would I be better off to replace the entire engine ?

Here are pics of the puddle and the first oil change. That oil was new and had been through only 2 rides in the Ganaraska forest......general consensus ?

Water in my oil ?
Engine = Scrap ?


Oil:
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll241/AIchemic/P1080119.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll241/AIchemic/P1080117.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll241/AIchemic/P1080120.jpg

Puddle
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll241/AIchemic/atc/inthehole2.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll241/AIchemic/atc/inthehole.jpg
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll241/AIchemic/atc/lemondrain.jpg

[Xhumeka]

Did you actually suck water into the engine? Does your airbox have a leak, and exactly how much water got into the airbox? I'm not sure if you turned the engine off as soon as you hit water, or you tried to keep it running and ride out - did you hydro-lock it and have to remove the spark plug to drain water out?

Honestly neither the water depth nor the oil look that bad to me at all... have you tried running it with no air filter to see if it still smokes?

[Silverado]

I don't know how to tell if water was//is sucked into the engine or not. I did not turn the engine off right when I hit the water I tried to rev it to keep it alive and float out...it died and I tried to start it about 3 times and gave up and jumped out. I assume I got water in the exhaust as I was punching out white smoke for a good 10 min after I got the engine started. I did change the spark plug right away (I was lucky to have an extra one)
The only draining I did was tipping it upside down (as in picture)
The air box does not leak it is in good condition but I did get water in there, I have since cleaned it.

I am going to run it without the air filter at lunch. (duh why didn't I think of trying that first)

[Xhumeka]

I am going to run it without the air filter at lunch. (duh why didn't I think of trying that first)

Just be sure to do it in a DUST FREE setting ;) Last thing you want to do is suck something into the engine while troubleshooting!!

Only reason I asked is because I'm not sure how saturated your air filter is... if you overdid the oiling, it's a possibility...

[Silverado]

The air filter was Sopping with oil (PJ1 Treament) like just dripping

haha yeah my garage is clean and dust free....12:00pm can't come soon enough

[Xhumeka]

The air filter was Sopping with oil (PJ1 Treament) like just dripping

haha yeah my garage is clean and dust free....12:00pm can't come soon enough

You may want to let someone with more mechanical experience than I chime in first before doing so - I've ran the engine briefly in the past with no air filter attached, but that doesn't mean it's a wise thing to do ;) I'm just a back-yard mechanic so take that with a grain of salt!!! ;)

I do know that a sopping wet air filter is not how it should be - you don't want oil dripping off, you should gently squeeze out the excess oil before installing.

[Dirtcrasher]

I am going to run it without the air filter at lunch. (duh why didn't I think of trying that first)

That makes a lean condition if you wanna make it worse.....

You got filthy mucky water in through the snorkel. The carb has to come off, jets removed and all cleaned with carb cleaner.

The engine, I would fill and then drain with diesel fuel. Just kick it with the plug out..... Then I'd get 1 quart of ATF and one 10/30 and let it run a bit 1/4 throttle. ATF absorbs water.

And now your rear diff fluid is probably filthy because it's an 85 and the brakes should be taken apart too.

I hate water, it just eats bearings and ruins everything prematurely......

[Silverado]

Dirt Crasher

a few questions.... I don't understand what to do with the diesel fuel. am I pouring it into the gas tank or the spot where I pour the oil in?
What does kick it with the plug out mean ? I just leave the oil plug out and keep pouring diesel fuel through the dip stick opening ?
What is ATF ? am I mixing ATF and 10W30 together and running the bike and then draining that oil out and putting in the usual 10W40 ?
the brake are squeaking when I back up, I do need to remove them.
I don't mind draining the rear diff, but I don't know how to get the oil out of there, I also do't know what to put back in there.

Bearings are all new and Super greased so I think they should be fine. Tapper helped me out with them !


Xhumeka....you free this weekend to teach me about Carbs ?

[fabiodriven]

Any chance you got water in the muffler and now it's cooking off?

[Dirtcrasher]

If you think the oil was polluted, put diesel in the motor and just kick it thru to absorb any moisture/flush the system, kicking without a plug won't let it start and will make it easy to kick.

ATF also absorbs water, you hold about 2 quarts?? Run 1 ATF, 1 10w30 and RIDE IT (after carb cleaned), drain it, fill with fresh oil and move on to the rear diff..........

[Silverado]

is ATF Airline Turbine Fuel or Automatic Transmission Fluid ?

how do I get the oil out of the rear differential ?

[mullet]

ATF = Automatic Transmission Fluid.

Great tips Dirtcrasher! I had never heard of the diesel fuel/atf remedies. Definitely going to remember that one.

Also, break parts cleaner can be pretty useful in drying out areas that are hard to get too. It has saved me in the past when I got water under my distributor cap of my truck and was stranded in the middle of no-where.

There is probably some really good carb cleaning tutorials on this site if you do a search. You probably won't find anything that will scare you too badly if you take it apart though. Just lay some clean shop towels or cardboard out to put the peices on, and take a picture if you don't think you'll remember how things go back together. I usually hose out every nook, cranny and orifice out with carb cleaner, and then blow them all out with compressed air (80-100psi or so). Do it a couple times, and slap it back together. Oh, another tip, before you take it apart, screw in the idle and air mixture screws all the way, counting revolutions as you go. When you are reassembling it, set them in the same place they were when you took it apart. And be careful not to tear any gaskets! Good luck!

[Silverado]

does the diesel fuel go in where I put the gas or do I replace the oil with Diesel fuel and kick the kick starter over and over without the spark plug in to drain the diesel back out ?

[mullet]

Put it in where the oil goes, and then drain it. If you are worried about water in your tank, drain the gas, and put in fresh along with a tablespoon or so of isopropyl alcohol (HEET at an automotive supply store). It bonds with the water and remains slightly combustible.

[Xhumeka]

The air box does not leak it is in good condition but I did get water in there, I have since cleaned it.

If your airbox does not leak, I'm really not sure how you got so much water into the airbox in the first place... maybe your pictures are misleading and you actually had it deeper than that?

With a proper seal, you should be able to do this kind of mudding/water hole adventuring:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HTAklYfcvjw

I know we've been meaning to clean your carb for awhile now, but unfortunately the next two weeks are no good for me... After Thanksgiving I'll have more time if you still want help.

[daniel_250r]

ok first off from what i understand you sunk your wheeler got it running again and ran it for 1 hour with milky watery oil. theres your problem your engine just had 20 years worth of wear and tear in one hour. lol and that 200s always had water in the oil so as a rule of thumb stay out of the water! cheers

[Silverado]

haha yeah this is a rather unfortunate event, I am going to be staying out of the water. I now know that my ATC is not meant for water !


sometimes I learn the hard way..Yar : (

[daniel_250r]

we all do i destroyed my big red by running it through the deep stuff now i have a nice 300ex quad and wont even go through the slightest puddle

[Xhumeka]

I replaced my oil with diesel fuel and kicked it through my engine...than I ran the bike with ATF and 10w30....then I replaced that oil with 10w40. I changed the rear diff oil as well....then I thought i muffler needed cleaning so I cleaned that to make it look pretty....and then I got mad at myself for repainting the tank and painting over the honda stickers....so I used paint remover and Q-tips to remove the red paint and show off the stickers.......the stickers are old. I think I might break down and buy new ones from e-bay

(250sx)

And...? Does it still smoke??

[Silverado]

When I first turn the machine on I am still getting smoke. Not as much but it is still visible and you can smell it. It does go away after a few moments. I didn't clean the Carb as I was not getting any sputtering or anything, just the smoke. I think tearing apart the head to replace the piston and rings is a little overkill for some startup smoke. I am sure there are worst things.

I am happy that i know there is no water in the engine now that I flushed and changed everything. As for the smoke... I guess it has to be the rings until they heat up and stop the smoke from coming out.