I recently purchased a 99' vfr with 11k miles on it. When I changed the oil yesterday I noticed a bunch of gold flakes in the oil. Anyone got an idea as to what those are?
I have a 16k service coming up and if something is wrong will the mechanic be able to see it when the valves are adjusted? I keep hearing stories about bearings but being a noob to anything mechanical I am kinda lost.
Yup, bronze bits from the big end "plain" bearings it can most likely be. How often did you change your oil and how hard have you been pushing that motor?
+1 To what has been said. 11k and low end problems is just about unknown. Change the oil and filter ,run it and send a sample of the oil to Black Hawk Labs. That way you will know for sure.
[image: View Post]Beck, on 01 August 2012 - 06:41 PM, said:
Yup, bronze bits from the big end "plain" bearings it can most likely be. How often did you change your oil and how hard have you been pushing that motor?
Wow that video is intense. I am NO WHERE near that and the flakes were few and far. I just purchased the bike and did my first oil change on it. I guess the previous owner neglected the oil changes (evil black oil) and I noticed that the oil lvl was low. I replaced the oil with synthetic and I will be changing it out in 1k miles to look over the oil again.
I push the piss outta my bike daily and it's my only transportation. I guess I gotta hold back till the next oil change.
Edited by entoptic, 01 August 2012 - 07:47 PM.
+1 to what others have said. I don't push mine really hard but I do ride her like she was made to do. I leave for work at 02:30 in the morning. No traffic at all and mostly highway riding. Not going to tell you what speed I cruise at on the highway to work but my tach is usually hanging at 6K. Very pleasant rided in the morning. :tour: Since there is no traffic at all I have occasionally pushed her way up there. I can tell you that she won't quite redline in 6th gear but it is pretty darn close and she gets to that point really fast. Anyway, I don't think you have anything to worry about as I have seen an occasional flake or two in mine when I change it. Change the oil again in a while and see what it looks like. If I read your post right you said the flakes were few and far in between. Pretty normal to get some no matter what. Ride it and forget it.
[image: View Post]texasvfr, on 01 August 2012 - 07:27 PM, said:
+1 To what has been said. 11k and low end problems is just about unknown. Change the oil and filter ,run it and send a sample of the oil to Black Hawk Labs. That way you will know for sure.
:+1:
Small correction; Blackstone Labs: http://www.blackstone-labs.com/
If you can see it, your oil filter should have caught it. Old black oil and metal flakes suggest your oil filter is clogged and the bypass valve (in the filter) is bypassing oil past the filter media. Make sure your oil change includes a new filter. Jeff J.
I'd go with the clutch as the culprit.Could be sintered bronze from it if thats how VFR clutches are built. That oil video is BS. To get to the bronze material on a shell bearing you first have to wear through the white metal or babbit. The engine would be knocking so bad there would be no doubt if it was a big end or main.
Change the oil now and rechange in 100 miles if it's still bad have it tested. Also cut the filter in half and check that.
End of thread · 17 posts recoveredWayback Machine snapshot 14 Aug 2012