Spyder Airbox

[Hamie]

I can now understand why owners are trying to stop oil from getting into the airbox and replacing their air filters...my Spyder was a demo unit and evidence showed that it has been in dry grass/weeds.. in this photo you can see that some of that grass has gotten pass the filter.. so image that dirt/sand is getting past it also....

In this photo you can see that oil is throughout the airbox... the picture doesn't show it well but the oil was puddled in the area with the X... it would have been just a matter of time before the box started leaking...

My Spyder has 1500 miles on it.. I removed the airbox to install the KewlMetal performance air filter..

 

[docdoru]

I removed the airbox to install the KewlMetal performance air filter..

:2thumbs:

 

[krb1945]

Excellent photos...

Try one of the foam filter crank case vent tubes shown in various post on this site.

Results have been promising using these CC filter vent tubes. The tube I use is on two 08 SM5's that have been run up to 90 many times with no oil migration up the tube. With the R's turning that high one would think the oil would definitely try to go up but so far it hasn't made any progress going up. /Ken

 

[Pilo]

Can you elaborate...

I can now understand why owners are trying to stop oil from getting into the airbox and replacing their air filters...my Spyder was a demo unit and evidence showed that it has been in dry grass/weeds..

My Spyder has 1500 miles on it.. I removed the airbox to install the KewlMetal performance air filter..

on the ease (or not) of installation of the KewlMetal filter, and your Spyder performance afterwards...?

I am also interested to know if the oil blow-by from the engine breather causes your exhaust to "smoke"... :lecturef_smilie:

Thanks in advance,

Pilo from Venezuela

 

[bone crusher]

Kewl Metal is a good option, so too is the Green Filter (ESI)...I think you'll see better performance from either one...with a demo, you never know what you have...luckily, you have a warranty and if you buy the BEST warranty, even more peace of mind...

 

[leo76dragon]

on the ease (or not) of installation of the KewlMetal filter, and your Spyder performance afterwards...?

I am also interested to know if the oil blow-by from the engine breather causes your exhaust to "smoke"... :lecturef_smilie:

Thanks in advance,

Pilo from Venezuela

I have the kewlmetal intake and I havent noticed any smoke from the exhaust... ray:

 

[Hamie]

on the ease (or not) of installation of the KewlMetal filter, and your Spyder performance afterwards...?

I am also interested to know if the oil blow-by from the engine breather causes your exhaust to "smoke"... :lecturef_smilie:

Thanks in advance,

Pilo from Venezuela

Haven't seen any smoke... I thought it was a fairly easy install.. don't know about the performance..Just wanted to get rid of the airbox..

 

[jgwoods]

I'm a bit baffled by this issue. As a mechanic (Porsche, Audi, VW, Volvo, Honda) for 23 years I've seen oil in airboxes in all of the cars I ever worked on, but I never considered it a problem. Its the nature of the beast with emission controls.
Is there something I am missing?

 

[Pilo]

I'm a bit baffled by this issue. As a mechanic (Porsche, Audi, VW, Volvo, Honda) for 23 years I've seen oil in airboxes in all of the cars I ever worked on, but I never considered it a problem. Its the nature of the beast with emission controls.
Is there something I am missing?

For some of us it it too much oil in the air-box, and it starts seeping out of it and on top of the engine and everywhere else, making a mess if left unattended (ask me how I know... pps: )

My SE5 has only 5K miles but this is already happening and it doesn't seem to subside.

 

[bjt]

I'm a bit baffled by this issue. As a mechanic (Porsche, Audi, VW, Volvo, Honda) for 23 years I've seen oil in airboxes in all of the cars I ever worked on, but I never considered it a problem. Its the nature of the beast with emission controls.
Is there something I am missing?

I think most people wouldn't even notice it but it sometimes gets so bad that oil starts dripping from the airbox, onto the Spyder engine, plastics and your floor.

 

[Pilo]

For some of us it it too much oil in the air-box, and it starts seeping out of it and on top of the engine and everywhere else, making a mess if left unattended (ask me how I know... pps: )

My SE5 has only 5K miles but this is already happening and it doesn't seem to subside.

More pics of the mess...

Will wash the engine tomorrow and double check for any leaks not related to the air-box blow-by, and probably install an aftermarket filter assembly like KewlMetal or Evoluzione.

Tried the foam in the hose method and it got clogged... :gaah:

 

[BajaRon]

I am also interested to know if the oil blow-by from the engine breather causes your exhaust to "smoke"... :lecturef_smilie:

Thanks in advance,

Pilo from Venezuela

It takes a fair amount of oil in the intake to get visible smoke from the exhaust. Most of the oil that gets into the airbox never makes it to the intake.

I don't think you'll get any smoking from the oil that gets into the air cleaner. If you're getting smoke it is most likely from bad rings or bad valve guides.

 

[Pilo]

It takes a fair amount of oil in the intake to get visible smoke from the exhaust. Most of the oil that gets into the airbox never makes it to the intake.

I don't think you'll get any smoking from the oil that gets into the air cleaner. If you're getting smoke it is most likely from bad rings or bad valve guides.

Ron:

My quote was related to the aftermarket filter set-ups (Evoluzione & KewlMetal) where the oil breather hose conects directly to the intake...
I am planning to buy one of those, but wanted to make sure that it will not cause the smoking.
My SE5 has only 5K miles but oil blow-by has gotten into the air-box and beyond...:gaah:

Saludos, Pilo

 

[jgwoods]

OK- if it leaks out, causes messes on the motor and floor I can easily see the need for a fix.
The pix made me wonder if it was just a minor "housekeeping" issue or if it was a symptom of another, bigger problem.
So far my SE5 has been fine- but I haven't looked in the air box with only 2500 miles. The oil stays full, it runs fine, steers fine, no reason to look for trouble at this time.

Maybe in Spring when it warms up I'll take a peek.

 

[3whlLefty]

Air Box Access

I have 2300 miles on my SE5 and the engine oil dropped from full to add in the last 500 miles. There is oil seepage where the air box top joins the bottom. Now I'm concerned. The 1st question is how to get the top of the air box out of there. I have it unclipped and it looks like it should come out to the right but I'm hitting something solid in the way. The 1st pic above looks like the top has been removed but the 2nd looks like the whole air box has been removed.

I have the computer readable shop manual from Midwest Manuals and an owners manual and can't find this process in either one. I did a search using all the keywords that made sense to me and no hits on any of them. Hmmmm!

I'm under warranty. Would a dealer have any reason to try to do something for me? :helpsmilie:

 

[Pilo]

I have 2300 miles on my SE5 and the engine oil dropped from full to add in the last 500 miles. There is oil seepage where the air box top joins the bottom. Now I'm concerned. The 1st question is how to get the top of the air box out of there. I have it unclipped and it looks like it should come out to the right but I'm hitting something solid in the way. The 1st pic above looks like the top has been removed but the 2nd looks like the whole air box has been removed.

Lefty:

Make sure ALL the clips are unclipped, there are some in the front, very well hidden from eye-line view... :gaah:

Loosen the idle hose clamp at the right front corner and remove that end of the hose from the air-box cover.

Then fiddle with the cover, lifting it as much as the frame might let you and slide it to the right, pushing and lifting... It will eventually come out.

I just ordered my KewlMetal air filter set-up... :thumbup:

Saludos, Pilo

 

[Batmobile]

Once you disconnect the hose on the upper right corner, you can wiggle it out. I had oil seeping where they join also and there is a small hole in the bottom of the box it will drip out of.

 

[3whlLefty]

Thanks

After posting my question I actually found the page in the manual that showed that the top does come out to the right. With a little help from a friend we worked it out. Not much oil in the air box however. Guess I'll ride and watch it all for a while. The air filter is dry and looks fresh out of the box.

On the plus side I now know how all that bodywork comes off. Not bad al all compared to a Goldwing 1500.