I noticed this oil leak as I was cleaning and winterizing my bike. What parts am I looking at here? I cleaned everything off, rode it around it a little, and it looks like it's coming from the seam in that plastic part or from the seal of that tube.
There's too much stuff in the way and it would be a project to get my hands in there, so I'm wondering if it's serious before I do that.
Any insight you have as to what this is would be greatly appreciated!
I opened up the airbox and found a pretty decent pool of oil. Some things started to make sense, like the fact that I had found something leaking onto the back of the coolant overflow resorvoir since day 1 (which was oil coming from a small hole in the side of the air box).
Anyways, can you guys help me make sense of this please? I opened up the airbox to find a grummy, oil-soaked green foam thing. I pulled that out and then saw 2 plastic parts... 1 is a criss-cross pattern and was broken. The next was some sort of screen, again soaked in oil.
I saw a video online of the inside of a 250R airbox, and it looked like these plastic pieces were in front of the filter.
When I replace the air filter, what would the corrected configuration look like?
Thanks!!!!
From the looks of the pics, either you or the previous qwner has opened the airbox and failed to assemble it back properly.
The cross meshed frame should go back in the airbox first. This piece really does not come out unless the airbox has been taken apart.
the foam filter should be cleaned and lightly saturated with clean motor oil. The filter can be cleaned either with hot water and Dawn dish detergent or foam air filter cleaner. Dry it completely before oiling it and putting it back in. The X frame in put in with the point facing the airbox opening, basically sandwiching the filter, then place the top back on. You should also make sure the airbox is bolted back up properly.
The fact that the filter was kind if thrown in the airbox, kind of sends up a little flag that maybe some type of mod(s) to the carbs may have taken place or either it was removed to remove or clean the carbs. Either way, have a good look into your carbs if you can to make sure no debris is in them and that they are working properly.
This is the first time I've opened this up, so I'm definitely blaming it on the previous owner.
I looked in there as best as I could without taking out the airbox, and the carbs looked pretty good.
Any ideas where I can get some new plastic parts? The screen is bent pretty badly and the other plastic part is broken.
Thanks!
Just an extra note for you, in case you weren't already aware. The oil in the air box is from the crankcase breather hose. It's purpose is to reduce emissions and help prolong the life of the engine. On a typical engine, the crankcase fresh air flows through the crankcase and is drawn back into the engine through the intake manifold to be "burned." The difference here is that the Ninja has the hose hooked up to the air box. Oil vapor is in this air that is drawn up into the engine. It's typical for some small amount of oil to be collect inside the intake manifold (or I guess air box in this case). If there is excess oil it can be a sign of problems. If you have a high mileage bike that may be a normal amount of oil if it hasn't ever been cleaned out before.
Location: On an intergalactic cruise, in my office
Posts: 27,881
The considerable amount of oil in your airbox can be caused by a couple things. Either you do badass and long balance point wheelies, or you overfilled the oil.
It's a 250 so I doubt you're doing badass wheelies.
LOL darn those wheelies!!! I just wanted to be a badass!!!
I put everything back together and started the bike up. I used the choke to warm it up. The first time I took it off, the RPMs started dropping so I gave it a little gas but that caused the bike to die. So I repeated the process, same thing. After it really warmed up it was idling better than I've seen or heard in a while, so cleaning out the airbox definitely helped.
However, some white smoke started coming out of the tailpipes. It's not a big billowing cloud, but it's a constant stream. My fluid levels are all constant, I'm not loosing coolant or anything. Combined with the fact that my bike has never died when i've given it has, no matter how cold it is.
Could the smoke be from too much oil? Or am I looking at a more serious problem?my cover blew off ad my bike got hit with a significant amount of rain. Could it be water somewhere it's not supposed to be? The bike has also been sitting relatively still outside for the past month or so.
By the way, the bike has around 7,000 miles on it. The dealership filled the bike with oil earlier this summer, and I just changed it a few weeks ago.
__________________
Jess
2005 Ninja 250
Last edited by KawiJess250; 12-05-2012 at 12:15 PM.
Oil Leak... is this the airbox?
Linear Mode
