998cc 2012 RS with metal in oil and smells like gas - any ideas?

[Coloradodonkey]

So recently purchased this machine with 7,500 miles on it. It runs and rides great but when I went to change the oil There were 2 things I noticed. 1st was that the oil smells like gas. 2nd metal fragments in the oil stuck to the magnetic engine drain plug. I have seen other posts where the metal found looks like a wire and what I have looks like a combination of wire and other metal. Has anyone else seen this kind of shrapnel and disassembled? If so, what did you find as the culprit?

Also, I am wondering if all of these run rich? This one has an aftermarket pipe on it, so I don't know if that affects any O2 sensor readings, but it does run very rich. I am thinking that how rich it runs may account for the smell of gas in the oil.

 

[BajaRon]

If possible, have your oil analyzed. Without definitive data, it's a guess as to what is happening inside the engine.

With only 7,500 miles on a 14 year old Spyder. That means it's been sitting a lot. Low mileage isn't always a good thing as sitting is not that great for any motorcycle. Especially if they used ethanol fuel (which is most likely). Do you know that this is the 2nd oil change? It might be the 1st. If so, it may not be as bad as it seems. Though having fuel in the oil is never a good thing. It is more likely that the fuel caused the damage than that the damage (if there is any) caused the fuel issue.

If you have an altered exhaust. You may also have a fuel altering device installed. I would look for this. These devices tended to add fuel to the mixture and can overdose if not adjusted properly.

A lot of 'If's' here. But without more information, hard to give definitive answers.

 

[Knizar]

So recently purchased this machine with 7,500 miles on it. It runs and rides great but when I went to change the oil There were 2 things I noticed. 1st was that the oil smells like gas. 2nd metal fragments in the oil stuck to the magnetic engine drain plug. I have seen other posts where the metal found looks like a wire and what I have looks like a combination of wire and other metal. Has anyone else seen this kind of shrapnel and disassembled? If so, what did you find as the culprit?

Also, I am wondering if all of these run rich? This one has an aftermarket pipe on it, so I don't know if that affects any O2 sensor readings, but it does run very rich. I am thinking that how rich it runs may account for the smell of gas in the oil.

Would those metal pieces possibly be thread fragments from the oil pan or plug?

Just a hunch! Bill

 

[Mikey]

Would those metal pieces possibly be thread fragments from the oil pan or plug?

Just a hunch! Bill

The block it threads into is aluminum, and would not be magnetic, the threads on the plug would be able to be seen by eye. But like Ron said it could be possibly the first oil change and could be assembly debris, I would hope not!! I wonder what the filter looked like, anything in there? Gas in the oil could be a stuck purge valve on the evap can, hard to tell without seeing it in real life! Any way, if it was me and I bought it I would check the filter, see if any chunks made it to the trans, oil engine filter. if not put it back together, good oil, rip the evap can out of it, that something most of us have done, and ride it and keep an eye on it. :dontknow: 7500 miles on a 2012, with a aftermarket pipe, it's still not broke in yet. Roll the dice!!!

 

[Freddy]

Pieces that large would not get past the oil pump suction screen - hopefully.

 

[BajaRon]

Pieces that large would not get past the oil pump suction screen - hopefully.

I agree. Pieces this large would not get circulated. They most likely fell to the bottom of the case and stayed there. It's the damaged component and possibility of other, smaller debris that would be the main concern.

 

[Mikey]

:2thumbs:

 

[Coloradodonkey]

@BajaRon, is it 2026 already?? I musta had a helluva nap! But yes it is 12 years old, I purchased it with little history of the machine provided or available to me, therefore I have no clue if this is the 1st or 2nd or even 3rd oil change. It is very possible that this is the 1st one though. Is there any factory 02 sensors in the exhaust? Also where would 1 of these fuel adders be installed at?

@Knizar, after further review of the metal fragments the curvature of them seems to be consistent with what I would expect to see from cutting the threads on the drain plug.

@Mikey, where is the evap canister located?

Thanks to everyone for your helpful insights and thoughts on this. I am thinking that this may be the 1st oil change and that these may be assembly fragments. As for the oil filter and other fine metal shavings in the oil it seems that the amount in both of these would also be consistent with normal engine break in shavings. In conclusion I will roll the proverbial dice!

I would still like to figure out the fuel smell in the oil situation as well as how rich this thing runs. Although running too rich is better than running too lean, I would also not like to waste fuel.

As I mentioned vaguely this machine is new to me and my first experience with 3 wheels instead of 2. I will say man is this thing fast and fun! Hopefully I can get the mileage up on it without issue!!

 

[BajaRon]

Sorry, my math is not up to par today, I guess. I fixed that one.

 

[Coloradodonkey]

No worries Ron, If that was the only mistake you made on any given day you are about 15-20 less than me! I appreciate your insight on the Rotax motors as I am not at all familiar with them. My first reaction to metal fragments was that of alarm but as long as it keeps running with no knocks or noises I will assume it's OK. It does appear than you know these machines in all of their variations.


Thanks.