yamaha xj600n 1998 oil problem???

Question

Ok, this was bought from a dealer but do i need to take it in so soon?

i have a Yamaha xj600n 1998 naked, no fairing.

i took it out for the first time last week and did 90 miles. i parked her up over night and in the morning i noticed 1 drop of oil which was very thin and may be watery.

is this to cause me concern?

the oil was underneeth and around the gear box section which landed on the floor. are these breather pipes leeking???

also i had choke on one morning and got her nicely warmed up before i set off. once i jumped on the bike i noticed the red oil light on.

i set off up the road and it turned off? is this usual?

please help me as im worried my new bike is poorly

Many thanks in advance.

When i bought it, they said they popped new plugs and basic service. this included an oil filter they said!

Answer 1

DON'T PANIC!
I used to maintain a large fleet of these XJ600s for the rider training school I worked for and this was a common problem. The airbox acts as an oil separator for the emission control system and if the drain hose blocks, then oil will build up in the airbox and drain out of the external drain on the left side, whenever the machine is put on its sidestand.

The fix is to remove the tank to get at the airbox. At the rear underside of the box between the centre carbs you will see a black plastic "T" piece joining the main crankcase breather hose, the cam cover hose and the airbox. This T is blocked with emulsified oil and will not allow oil to drain from the airbox back into the crankcase.
Remove the T and clean it out and your problems will be over for perhaps a couple of thousand miles.

A quicker way, though not as good is to pull the crankcase breather from its spigot and blow compressed air up the hose, though you can't guarantee that the air filter will not get splattered with oil.

This problem only occurs in cold damp winter weather as does occasional carb icing.

The oil light is an oil level light, not an oil pressure light and sometimes when the engine is cold and the oil is thick, the oil is pumped to the top of the motor quicker than it can return to the sump, hence the light coming on when the oil level drops.
Warm the motor gently before riding off, if this bothers you, but it is quite normal behaviour for the XJ.

Other winter probs are the main relay connection (black box under R side panel) to the starter solenoid corroding and failing. Remove the block connector and smear with vaseline to prevent this. The neutral sensor terminal (white plastic plate, 3 screws, light blue wire, under the G.Box sprocket) corrodes and fails regularly.
The rear sprocket carrier bearing should be renewed every time the chain and sprockets are changed, as they are known for failing regularly (size 63/22 2RS).

The caliper pistons require cleaning regularly in winter, as with most modern calipers without piston boots.

Othewise this bike is bullet proof.

Oh and keep the swing arm drain holes just in front of the chain pullers clear or water will build up and rot the arm.

Answer 2

As a XJ600 owner I can tell you the bike probably needs a new oil filter and oil change. Before you fire it up from cold, check the oil level sight glass, should be at least two thirds full and the oil should be quite clear. The oil on the floor could be from your exhaust if you have the original pipes fitted, if not then a possible breather pipe leak. Hope this helps.

Answer 3

Yamaha Xj600n

Answer 4

the oil on the floor could have been chain lube. having said that the airbox water drain and some other breathers exit there so it may be those draining. only worry about the oil light if it stays on when the bike is taken above idle or at riding speeds. It will do you no harm at all to change the oil and filter, at least you know its done!

Answer 5

doesnt sound as though it's anything bad, the breather pipes come out down there and you may just have loosened a bit of crap espesially as you say it was watery.
Best to do an oil change anyway and make sure there is the correct amount of oil in.
Any major oil loss go and have it checked over.