Clanking in motor?

[dshogman]

Due to weather here in the Hill Country, haven 't been on the Spyder lately. Did finish installing the Utopia back rest today and since the sun is shining and the temps are in the high 60s, I decided to take a little run around the RV park to get the backrest fitting properly. Started up to loud clanking from the engine beneath me. let it warm up for a few minutes and then just idled around the park. By the time I got back to my space, maybe 3-5 minutes, the clanking had subsided almost completely. Anyone have an idea what's going on?
Thanks.

 

[groundeffect]

opcorn:

 

[johnwinslow]

put a qt. of oil in it, try again after it sets a while (just a guess)

 

[arntufun]

put a qt. of oil in it, try again after it sets a while (just a guess)

I would not put oil in it until you make sure it needs it. Over filling a Spyder with oil is not good. nojoke

It does sound like low oil, but make sure first.

 

[dshogman]

Duhhh..............lesson learned - 1600 miles and took 1/2 qt oil to bring it up to about 3/4 of the full mark. Hope that's not overfilling - warmed it up first.:sour:

 

[arntufun]

Duhhh..............lesson learned - 1600 miles and took 1/2 qt oil to bring it up to about 3/4 of the full mark. Hope that's not overfilling - warmed it up first.:sour:

You should be good with that. :thumbup: Is that 1600 total miles on your 09 Spyder, or 1600 mile between oil changes ???

 

[dshogman]

Dealer got it from another dealer in April - still new in box. He had all the aluminum color pieces powder coated black. I got it in July. My motorhome has traveled 3000 miles since then. Not much travel this year. 2010 was a 13000 mile year.

 

[BajaRon]

With a dry sump oil system like we have, the engine has no idea how much oil is in the system. You can run quite a bit low (not recommended by any means) but as long as the pickup in the reservoir does not suck air, the engine doesn't know the difference. I would be surprised if this was oil level related. 1/2 a qt. should not make a difference.

Thicker oil will tend to suck air more redily (when cold). But it would have to be a lot colder than your 60 degrees. Anyone using 10w-40 or thereabouts should have no issues down into weather than most human beings are willing to ride in.

"Loud Clanking" is not descriptive enough to give us much of an idea as to what exactly might be going on. The fact that it went away is not necessarily good.

You never want to rev a cold engine at start-up. Let it idle a bit and take it easy on the RPM's and load until the temp gauge starts to show some cubes.

I hope it isn't serious though.