Thick, white gunk dripping from KX250

[sehret2010]

Hello, I ran a search with various keywords that I thought described my problem and found nothing, so I decided to ask here.

I have a 1995 KX250 that I just bought used. After riding it for about 1 hour, while I was putting the bike away I noticed a thick, slightly offwhite liquid dripping from the bottom of the bike. I followed the drip trace upwards and I believe the source was the where the lever connected to the clutch cable turns (left side of bike if looking from rear, about 2 inches in front of front sprocket).

I smelled it and did not recognize the smell. Like I said, it was a thick liquid, but not really greasy.

I have no idea what this liquid is, so I was wondering if anyone had any ideas and how worried I should be. When I stopped riding today the clutch was working fine (shifting was very smooth and easy).

Thanks in advance for any input, I appreciate it.

(Sorry my first post was a new thread :/ )

-Steve

[RichLockyer]

Could be white lithium grease from the clutch cable being over-lubricated, but that would feel greasy.
How does the engine oil look? Milky brown or white indicates that coolant has mixed with the oil... not good.

[sehret2010]

I thought that it might be grease at first too, but it seemed like the liquid was coming up out of where the lever actually turned (part that goes down into the transmission, I assume). It also seems unlikely that there was soooo much grease that it was still dripping out quite heavily after an hour of riding.


Is there an easy way to check the coloration of the engine oil without draining the oil? I went outside and took a look, but I couldn't really tell any coloration, just if there was oil or not.

Thanks again!

[sehret2010]

I went back out and checked some more things. I noticed that when I removed the plug on the right side of the bike that allows you to add transmission lubricant, that the lubricant already in the transmission was the exact same color and looked to be the same consistency as what was leaking.

Now my question is whether the transmission lubricant should be this color or if I have a serious problem (aka coolant mixing with the transmission lubricant :/).


Any ideas?

Thanks again!

[#34 KX 250]

Originally Posted by sehret2010

I went back out and checked some more things. I noticed that when I removed the plug on the right side of the bike that allows you to add transmission lubricant, that the lubricant already in the transmission was the exact same color and looked to be the same consistency as what was leaking.

Now my question is whether the transmission lubricant should be this color or if I have a serious problem (aka coolant mixing with the transmission lubricant :/).


Any ideas?

Thanks again!

yea thats ur problem right there. the fix for that isnt very hard if ur mechanically inclined. it just needs a new waterpump seal. also check your coolant, drain and flushing it is recommended.

[RichLockyer]

Oh wait... I missed a letter... KX250 is a 2-smoke, right?

Not sure about the coolant routing in that engine... dunno if it's even possible for coolant to contaminate the tranny. Previous owner may have dumped it in a lake or river.

[sehret2010]

How important is it that I take care of the problem ASAP? Should I spend my weekend doing it, or is it okay to ride on for a little while?

Also, whether or not the transmission lubricant is contaminated, it shouldn't be leaking where that clutch lever turns, should it?


Thanks again for all the help!

[PallOlavsson]

I would not recommend riding it with coolant in the tranny ..

And on the Kx 125, 1995, the coolant can mix with the tranny..
Dont know if it's any help

but now you know

[sehret2010]

I had an idea...

I found out from the guy I bought it from that he did not shut the gas off before I transported the bike (yea, stupid of me not to check this...). Is it possible that during transport the gas made its way into the transmission oil? Or would gas in that oil not even cause the sort of problem I'm seeing?


Thanks again,

Steve

[05kx250]

No. As stated it is coolant leaking into the gearcase.

[sehret2010]

I called my local bike repair shop and the guy said water might have gotten into the transmission from riding through some water (which I did a little bit when I rode it), so I am going to just change the oil and keep and eye on it and the coolant. If it gets milky again, then, as you guys have stated, its probably the coolant pump leaking.

Does anyone know of a way to monitor the coolant level and should the radiator be completely full?


Thanks again for all the help. (Sorry for all the questions, the guy I bought it from didn't have any manuals at all and I'm having trouble finding one online and buying one online wouldn't help until I got it in the mail so...)

[jandb917]

i would change the oil the run it just long enough for th engine to get good and warm ....... then change the oil agaon just to get all the gunk and and that way you also have a good fresh start to see if the coolant is leaking also i would check your coolant and watch it ..... you will notice a level change inthe radiator if it is leaking into the crankcase any

[sehret2010]

Yeah, that's my plan for the time being.

Should the radiator be full of coolant or only partially full? Is there any way to monitor the coolant level other than looking in from the cap?

[RichLockyer]

Unless you have an overflow cannister (Yamaha WR and Honda CRF-X do) you will PROBABLY never see the coolant all the way to the top after the engine has been hot, BUT, when you check and fill it, it should be all the way to the top, and you should avoid getting it hot enough to blow coolant out.

[Saleenguy]

Originally Posted by jandb917

i would change the oil the run it just long enough for th engine to get good and warm ....... then change the oil agaon just to get all the gunk and and that way you also have a good fresh start to see if the coolant is leaking also i would check your coolant and watch it ..... you will notice a level change inthe radiator if it is leaking into the crankcase any

+1

And if its a leak from cooling system, to tranny....check the water pump shaft seal first.

[sehret2010]

Will do! Thanks for all the advice everyone.

It's definitely coolant leaking into the transmission: Flushed the transmission with clean oil, refilled, and topped off the coolant. Rode for about 35 minutes and sure enough transmission oil was white and foamy again and the coolant level dropped significantly.

I will first check what everyone has mentioned before having a professional take a look.

Waiting on the Clymer manual to come in the mail now... I just love waiting

Thanks again for all the help!

-Steve

[Green Meanie]

Oh no it is the return of the Blob better get hold of Steve McQueen fast!

[sehret2010]

Does it make sense that I rode the bike for about an hour on Saturday, the transmission oil was very white and the coolant level was down.

Today, I went out to clean up the bike for disassembly and when I drained the transmission oil, it wasn't all that milky. Definitely not right out of the bottle oil, but also definitely not white.

Does it make sense that the coolant contaminating the oil can settle out or something like that?

Thanks again!

[Green Meanie]

Almost sounds like it mixed with water or glycol

[sehret2010]

Well, the coolant is a 50/50 mixture of coolant and distilled water. Would that make sense?