SuzukiSavage.com - Gas in my oil

JohnsonLager

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Gas in my oil
02/17/19 at 21:18:45

Hi,
I have gas in my oil. I have a 2008 Suzuki S40. I have previously replaced my petcock with a raptor (apprx 4 years ago). Symptoms my bike was displaying was struggling to start up in the morning (worse in cold weather 50 degrees and under). Issue progressed to struggling to start every day and most days drains the battery before it fires and will die at idle unless idle screw is set to idle very, very high.

I've been researching on the site and leaning towards petcock being the problem and I will likely order a new one tomorrow. In the meantime, I removed the carb and will do at least a light cleaning.

Other info: My air filter is overdue for a change, air filter box is run open, passage looks clean. Spark plug inspected and looks normal to me. I haven't adjusted the small gold screw on carb since problems started.
Jets seem clean. Floats seem to move normal. Raptor looks normal and fuel flow is good out of petcock line and out of bottom of carb bowl. Battery recently tested as good. Also, I have an oil leak which has gotten worse since the gas/oil mix.

My guess is petcock issue because when I replaced the stock petcock with the raptor I was having similar issues, but didn't think it was common for raptor to create similar issues.

My inclination is something is creating a very rich mix, could the petcock be responsible for creating a rich enough mix to get into the oil?

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justin_o_guy2 Serious Thumper Offline What happened? Posts: 55279 East Texas, 1/2 dallas/la.	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #1 - 02/17/19 at 21:57:00 Official Yamaha Petcock No cheap knockoff.
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Dave YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 17820 Camp Springs, Kentucky Gender:	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #2 - 02/18/19 at 03:05:08 If you already have a Raptor petcock......do you turn it OFF when you are done riding?
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JohnsonLager Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #3 - 02/18/19 at 07:16:14 I can't recall buying the raptor, but I'm 90% sure it was official Yamaha. I have never turned the petcock off when not riding. I ride it as a daily commuter, 44k miles, but it has sat for period of 1 month or more at least 2 times in past 3-4 years.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28375 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #4 - 02/18/19 at 07:36:03 You may have a leaky float
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JohnsonLager Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #5 - 02/18/19 at 07:58:44 Serow- how can I check?
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Gary_in_NJ

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Re: Gas in my oil
Reply #6 - 02/18/19 at 07:58:50

The float valve is made of soft brass. Over time it wears and becomes misshaped, allowing fuel to get by. If the valve doesn't look like a sharp pencil, or if it looks like it has a step or should, then it should be replaced.

For reference, the float valve is the plunger looking thing that moves in the carb body (needle valve) when the float moves. It's located under the adjustment "tang"

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Dave

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Re: Gas in my oil
Reply #7 - 02/18/19 at 08:29:10

JohnsonLager wrote on 02/18/19 at 07:16:14:

I have never turned the petcock off when not riding.

While it normally isn't necessary to turn the petcock off every time you stop - you should turn your petcock OFF at the end of each days riding.

The vacuum operated petcock does it for you......with the manual Raptor petcock - it is your job.

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verslagen1 YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline Where there's a will, I want to be in it. Posts: 28763 L.A. California Gender:	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #8 - 02/18/19 at 08:44:09 JohnsonLager wrote on 02/18/19 at 07:58:44: Serow- how can I check? Check for gas in your oil.
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Serowbot YaBB Moderator ModSquad Offline OK.... so what's the speed of dark? Posts: 28375 Tucson Az Gender:	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #9 - 02/18/19 at 08:47:16 JohnsonLager wrote on 02/18/19 at 07:58:44: Serow- how can I check? Take the float out and shake it... If it's leaky you'll hear gas sloshing inside.
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JohnsonLager Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #10 - 02/18/19 at 12:30:00 I will check for sloshing inside float and I will take pictures and post them tonight. Serow - since I haven't ever turned the petcock off, is it safe to assume certain malfunctions have resulted? If so, which
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Dave

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Re: Gas in my oil
Reply #11 - 02/18/19 at 13:40:12

The fuel system runs by gravity.

The fuel flows down to the carb and into the float bowl. When the fuel level in the float bowl rises it lifts the float, and it pushes the tapered needle up against the seat....and that is supposed to shut off the fuel flow.

If there is a leak in the float, or if the float sticks because of some corrosion on the hinge, or if the needle or seat is damaged or corroded/eroded....or if there is some small piece of junk on the needle or seat - the fuel can continue to flow a small amount and overflow the float bowl. Sometimes there is a very slow seep and it causes no problem when the bike is running - but it can cause a problem when the engine is not running.

Shutting off the petcock stops the flow and prevents an accidental overflow of the carb - back in the old days before vacuum petcocks, the owners manual instructed you to always turn off the petcock when you were done riding......in these modern days of automatic petcocks and fuel injected engines - riders have not learned to shut the petcock OFF like us old farts learned to do 50 years ago.

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JohnsonLager Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #12 - 02/18/19 at 20:34:49
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JohnsonLager Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #13 - 02/18/19 at 20:35:32
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JohnsonLager Full Member Offline SuzukiSavage.com Rocks! Posts: 121	Re: Gas in my oil Reply #14 - 02/18/19 at 20:37:52
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