changing my bike (03 cbr600rr)'s oil (3.3qts honda gn4) today, i accidentally grabbed the wrong jug when topping the oil off, and a couple ounces of brake cleaner ended up in the crankcase, after all the oil. my first option is to change the oil again, which i don't want to do, because it's expensive and i'm a cheap ----. the other option is to leave it in there and hope it evaporates through the pcv system. i poured the same oil and brake clean in a glass bottle afterwards, stuck them on the stove and the brake clean simmered off in a few minutes. i don't know if it did anything to the oil, but it is effectively gone (smell, etc) from what i can tell. what do yall think? change the oil? or run it.
brake/parts cleaner in oil?
- Thread starter Redneck Truck
- Start date
- Status
Do you like your motorcycle?? If you end up riding a bicycle you'll regret being cheap if you dont toss 3.3 qts of oil.
You can do an oil analysis but it'll cost additional $$
No brainer...dump the oil. Then theres no guessing.
You can do an oil analysis but it'll cost additional $$
No brainer...dump the oil. Then theres no guessing.
What's brake cleaner doing in a jug, isn't it supposed to be in a spray can?
You're sure this is brake cleaner and not brake fluid right?
...so dump the oil...cook it on the stove...and then put it back in the bike...or don't take any chances and drain the oil and put in fresh oil...I would rather have fresh SuperTech in the sump...then brake cleaner and (insert fancy high-dollar synthetic)...
it's just honda gn4. so another gallon of oil ..$18 price to pay for a stupid mistake i guess. should i change the filter too, or do you think such a minute amount of possibly contaminated oil shouldn't matter?
I still want to know how brake cleaner winds up in a jug?
...one pours it in a jug...yes, one should change the filter too...
my buddy works at a toyota shop, and they keep a stock of brake cleaner in drums ...bring an empty honda GN4 jug to his work, get a free gallon of brake cleaner. great deal, if i didn't mistake it for oil. i still don't know how i made that mistake.
Yes and from my experience, that Karma can be one mean woman.
If it was non-chlorinated brake cleaner, I wouldn't worry too much. Typically it contains acetone, xylene, toluene, sometimes mineral spirits, all of which will evaporate fairly readily. Though not ideal for the engine those are sometimes components in the popular 'engine flushes'.
If chlorinated brake cleaner, I would be more leary. It might be rougher in the engine until it evaporates. Chlorine is a great extreme pressure antiwear but it is too harsh in an engine.
Many brake cleaners are available in one gallon, five gallon, and larger containers. The EPA was trying to get shops to go that route with refillable spray cans rather than discarding large quantities of aeresol type cans.
If chlorinated brake cleaner, I would be more leary. It might be rougher in the engine until it evaporates. Chlorine is a great extreme pressure antiwear but it is too harsh in an engine.
Many brake cleaners are available in one gallon, five gallon, and larger containers. The EPA was trying to get shops to go that route with refillable spray cans rather than discarding large quantities of aeresol type cans.
Sleep nights by changing the contaninated oil and save it for your lawn mower or give it to your neighbor?
The brake cleaner has probably evaporated away by now [assuming that you started the engine and got her hot].
That is the main point about brake cleaner - no residue and complete evaporation.
Only a couple of ounces?
I wouldn't worry about it.
That is the main point about brake cleaner - no residue and complete evaporation.
Only a couple of ounces?
I wouldn't worry about it.
- Joined
- Sep 28, 2002
- Messages
- 39,793
Does this stuff evaporate at room temp? Like MEK or just plain alcohol? If it's that volatile, and leaves no residue of its own, then warming the oil should purge it.
It may clean something you don't want it to.
It may clean something you don't want it to.
I had some of the CRC brake cleaner spray and that was the nastiest smelling stuff I ever had in a spray bottle. Way worse than intake cleaner. Something powerful in it.
Yah, if it's the chlorinated type those are a bit pungent and definitely not good to inhale. CRC's chlorinated is in a red can.
Point a heat lamp at the crankcase on the bike and leave the fill cap off.
- Status