Bike left on prime, oil leak(?), dark oil, and more...

[Dez]

Hey guys, I've been browsing the forum here for the past week since I got my GZ last Saturday. Since then I've put about 160 miles on it and I've noticed some things.

First, it seems like I have an oil leak on the left side of the bike. Very disheartening. :twisted:

[attachment=2:1y0g48bu]IMG_20130316_121748[1].jpg[/attachment:1y0g48bu]

Second, I left the prime on because the dealer told me it was off. Probably for a combined time of about 20 hours. I've put about 100 or so miles on it since that mistake. Funnily, the darn tank of a motor still seems to run fine, but my oil looks like total garbage. Time for a change already? Should I change the filter, too? :skull:

[attachment=1:1y0g48bu]IMG_20130316_121821[1].jpg[/attachment:1y0g48bu]

Lastly, rust cleaning tips? :cry:

[attachment=0:1y0g48bu]IMG_20130316_121752[1].jpg[/attachment:1y0g48bu]

[bpdchief]

Open the oil cap and get your nose down there... see if you smell gas.
Change the oil and filter anyway.
For the most part dealers are lying pricks (personal opinion there)
Download the manual from this site and study your bike.

You'll love the GZ - with a little care it will run forever :cool:

[Water Warrior 2]

What bpdchief said. Also leave the fuel cock in the run position. It is vacuum operated and shuts off whenever you shut off the engine.

Clean up the oil leak residue and look for any damage. You never know!! Check to make sure the oil drain plug is snug and not just finger tight. Don't ask me how I know about that oops.

Fresh oil will usually change color with use. Nothing to fret about. If it doesn't change color.........nothing to fret about.

[jonathan180iq]

There is an oil change guide here: viewtopic.php?f=8&t=566 (http://gz250bike.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=566)

Your surface rust should be easy to clean off. That's just baby pitting and should clean up nicely with some light steel wool and some WD-40. After you're done, give it some kind of protection, with a wax or polish.

More important than what oil looks like is whether or not it's at the right level. Remember that when checking your oil level, the bike should be upright.

The slightly gassy smell you mentioned is because of the prime position petcock thing. In your situation, the supposed oil leak would cause a lower oil reading. But your prime flooding thing, if there is indeed gas in the oil, will give you a false oil level reading because the sump will be diluted with gas. What looks like full oil might be 20% gas or whatever... That's why you should change it, regardless.

Let's make sure you know that you have good clean oil, at the proper level, and you aren't just pouring gas away.
Prime should only be used when refilling the carb after you've drained the float bowl or something, or for various little tests. Otherwise, you'll just use RUN or RES

[Dez]

Thanks for all the help!

Yeah, the bike was upright but must have been on a slight incline. I went ahead and changed the oil and drove it around the beach for about 2 hours on Saint Paddy's day, you know... to let it work good into it and stuff. Yeah... that's why. :twisted:

Anyhow, I'll pick up some steel wool to clean her up this week. Love my little GZ :)

[jonathan180iq]

Yeah, man. Well done.
These bikes are pretty rad.