[Tragic_Inc]

Hello

I spent the past 6 months bringing a K8 race spec bike back from the grave to ride on the street. Last Sunday was the first ride about the block. Rode well other than low rpm hesitation. Had it booked it for a dyno tune Friday. Last night I'm going over the bike in preparation for the dyno and noticed the rad fluid was low. As I topped it off this pink thick foam came up? I waited a min and topped it off again, more pink foam. I pulled the rad hose and a pink strawberry milkshake poured out. I then stuck my finger in the oil filler and the same pink foam. Rad fluid / oil mixture. Boo.

Bike sat for 3yrs in an unheated garage(Canada its like minus 800 in January) with water in the rad (race bike). I'm going with popped frost plugs. If anyone has another idea I welcome it. I have searched and searched and cannot find a vid, pictures or a decent write up on the process of checking and repairing frost/freeze plugs. Anyone have anything they could shoot me over?

Appreciate your time
Thanks

 

[Beairsto Racing]

It may be the head gasket, you might even have a crack.

 

[Tragic_Inc]

It may be the head gasket, you might even have a crack.

I know! Damn. I'm going for the positive frost plug here.

 

[BillV]

If it's bad, it's probably a frost plug. It doesn't happen often but it's been discussed several times here before. Search for frost plug/freeze plug/core plug. Pull the valve cover and take a look. Some modest pressure applied at the radiator cap opening will immediately reveal if the plugs are unseated. I've forgotten but it may be enough to just knock them back in place. Maybe apply some Loctite to seal them. Beyond that, as said above, it's a leaking head gasket or cracked cylinder wall. There was a picture here somewhere, maybe long gone, of a thick chocolate milk shake draining from an oil pan. Strawberry is new to me.

 

[spike52]

It may be the head gasket, you might even have a crack.

+1.

Strawberry is new to me.

Maybe the last owner filled up with Water Wetter??

 

[Tragic_Inc]

I think its strawberry because the Motul 7100 oil is red.

This is today's project.

 

[spike52]

I think its strawberry because the Motul 7100 oil is red.

This is today's project.

Let us know how you make out, good luck...

 

[BillV]

Here's a case where it was a failed water pump seal. In hindsight I find that somewhat surprising as the pump has two seals, one for coolant and another for oil, with a drain hole between them. A leaking seal should cause oil or coolant to be leaking out near the pump. Perhaps he didn't notice.

 

[Tragic_Inc]

ha ha....found it. The middle freeze plug was completely out and laying there. There appears to be gasket sealer on the plug which I'm guessing it didn't leave Japan like that. This has happened before. Who leaves water in the rad...twice!

Anyone reuse these plugs or should I order a new one?

 

[TheGeek]

There's not an OEM part called out on the parts fiche, so I'd say you're stuck re-using it. It might have come out because of the sealant. It might have come out because the sealant wasn't the correct one. It might have come out because it was reused. Or, it may have never come out before.

 

[Tragic_Inc]

There's not an OEM part called out on the parts fiche, so I'd say you're stuck re-using it. It might have come out because of the sealant. It might have come out because the sealant wasn't the correct one. It might have come out because it was reused. Or, it may have never come out before.

I think it came out because the guy was a dumbass and left it for 3yrs unheated with only water in it....

 

[spike52]

I think it came out because the guy was a dumbass and left it for 3yrs unheated with only water in it....

That’s usually the case. We’ve seen that same issue here many times.

#facepalm

 

[BillV]

Is that rust on the plug's underside or gasket sealer? I'd be thinking about a new plug if it's been rusting. Suzuki doesn't list them but there are many aftermarket sellers, ex. him. Measure the diameter with a micrometer. Are they steel?

Water Wetter is dangerous stuff. It can freeze up on a trailer while being towed home.

A related issue is the threaded water jacket plugs in the side of the block. The service manual mentions removing them during a rebuild and using new O-rings when reinstalling. But Suzuki doesn't list the O-rings.

P.S. Here's another seller. Don't have any idea if it's your size.

 

[Infernojoe]

Dealing with rusted through plugs on my 04 1000 motor now. Not a happy day. But I will get it fixed up.

 

[BillV]

^The only reason that I can think of for rust on a plug is that you haven't had the right coolant in it. That could include topping up one coolant with another that has incompatible chemistry. It sounds like you're experiencing rust so severe that it's corroded all the way through the plugs.

It would be helpful if you could measure the plug diameter and post it here.

 

[dm102248]

I have the same thing going on with my bike. Can anyone tell me what I have to do to fix it?