What causes tranny oil to foam?
#22
10-14-2012 | 02:21 PM
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Joined: Jun 2007
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From: Bedford UK
Most oils, if not all of them, have various additives, so my guess is that Bel Ray is not the most suitable oil, despite being for twins. Many years ago I had bad foaming in the engine oil of my bike and simply changed to a different brand. That fixed it, so try something else. Of course if you didn't check, the previous oil you had in there may have been doing the same!
#23
02-22-2024 | 10:56 AM
Stage I
Joined: Oct 2021
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From: Birdsboro,pa
Well I'm glad you posted this thread. I now know to never use bel ray fluids.
Even with moisture in the oil,oil shouldn't foam. They add additives to prevent this issue. That junk Lucas oil stabilizer causes oil foaming as well.
Op. If it's foaming I suggest draining it and using red line shockproof. Foamed oil doesn't really protect anything and will accelerate wear.
Amsoil severe gear is also good as well as royal purple. Drain the bel ray. It's your bike,do what you like however oil foaming is a sure fire way to servicing the tranny early.
And the oil foams because of how the gears mesh. Air is squishes in with the oil in between the gears and the oil doesn't effectively do it's job. If it's foaming it's not doing it's job.
Even with moisture in the oil,oil shouldn't foam. They add additives to prevent this issue. That junk Lucas oil stabilizer causes oil foaming as well.
Op. If it's foaming I suggest draining it and using red line shockproof. Foamed oil doesn't really protect anything and will accelerate wear.
Amsoil severe gear is also good as well as royal purple. Drain the bel ray. It's your bike,do what you like however oil foaming is a sure fire way to servicing the tranny early.
And the oil foams because of how the gears mesh. Air is squishes in with the oil in between the gears and the oil doesn't effectively do it's job. If it's foaming it's not doing it's job.
#25
02-22-2024 | 11:15 AM
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Harley1004 (02-25-2024)
#28
02-23-2024 | 10:59 AM
HDF Community Team
Joined: Jan 2020
Posts: 1,115
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From: Colorado
Foaming is caused by mixing the oil with condensation. As the transmission case cools moisture condenses on the inside. If you don't ride long enough to get the gear oil hot enough to evaporate the water it will foam. It won't harm anything, but you should ride long enough to get the oil hot once in a while.
Most rides will not get the trans fluid hot enough to boil all the collected moisture water out of it like motor oil does (water does not start to boil until 212*), and the reason for the three hole oil changes in the first place; before the water in the trans fluid can start to rust the steel parts and bearings in the trans.
So three hole change every 5K (can go longer on twin running synthetic lubes) , but this does not over ride that if you have not gotten to these amounts in a year, that the three holes changes needed to done yearly instead.
Also to add, with winter time riding that have higher cold to hot fluid temp changes, or areas that have higher humidity in the air, not uncommon for these to end up with a little more water in the fluid from condensation from the humidity out of the air.
So going to guess that your within your mileage range for three hole changes, but how many years ago has the 3 hole fluid change been done isntead.
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