RT insulation deterioration... Yuck and Wild! Anyone else??

[woppyvac]

Okay,

I have been lurking on this site for a long while and recently decided I was going to get back into the hobby of spinning wrenches. I took a loooonnngggg break from playing 'junior mechanic' but my midlife crisis came calling, and here I am!

That all said, I wanted to give my 2011 RT some genuine TLC/upgrades. Brought in new speakers, a USB charging port, a new air intake system, brake pads and fluid, coolant, oil change, new battery, and the canisterectomy project/wrapping my exhaust pipe... I decided to go ahead and strip the bike down and WOW! Just freaking WOW!

The insulation around the engine compartment cowlings/body panels has 'spoiled.' I suspect from oil? Why? I found an unnerving amount of oil in the intake system... So my first thought was 'those SOBs at the dealership have been putting WAY to much oil in my engine!!' Maybe, maybe not... but EVERY single inch of insulation turns into a liquidy sticky goop when I touch it. If I accidently touch any of the insulation, it either falls into the engine compartment, floor, or other; and clean up as been a freaking nightmare. I'm hopeful tonight to get it all out and cleaned. I think the only way to get it off the floor is with Goo Off.

That all said - and I'll post photos later - has anyone else seen or heard of this?

Vince

 

[RickyRed]

My '19 RT-L was the same.

After knocking all the foam off, I wiped all the sticky goo off with brake cleaner and a rag.

 

[Mikey]

Did you swap out the map sensor hoses? Isn't that air box delete just the greatest thing, gives you so much more room to work and see stuff going on under the hood! Wish I had done it years ago!

 

[woppyvac]

Went ahead and replaced those two map hoses while I was in there. Without the air box it makes the bike infinitely easier to tinker on. Sounds great too!

 

[Cobranut]

My 2015 F3S has the same issue with the foam insulation.
I just try not to touch it when I have the panels off. I suspect eventually it will get so bad that I have to remove it all.

Did it make a big difference in mechanical noise when idling or riding?

 

[Mikey]

My 2015 F3S has the same issue with the foam insulation.
I just try not to touch it when I have the panels off. I suspect eventually it will get so bad that I have to remove it all.

Did it make a big difference in mechanical noise when idling or riding?

With your F3 I would have to say where the bike is so open I wouldn't think that the noise would be much more, heat may be more!

 

[Cobranut]

With your F3 I would have to say where the bike is so open I wouldn't think that the noise would be much more, heat may be more!

Good point.
When the time comes, I'll likely replace it with the lightweight foil faced insulation to keep the heat down.
Thanks

 

[woppyvac]

My 2015 F3S has the same issue with the foam insulation.
I just try not to touch it when I have the panels off. I suspect eventually it will get so bad that I have to remove it all.

Did it make a big difference in mechanical noise when idling or riding?

Unfortunately I can’t give a viable answer. I had put in a new air intake that is significantly louder than stock at the same time I decided to strip the gross insulation out. But I noticed NO temperature change to the rider…