ZL1000 Water In The Oil

caldanger

caldanger

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I'm new to this forum and have a two Kawasaki Eliminators. A Black 1987 ZL1000 and a Red 1985 ZL900. I recently over heated my ZL1000 when my water pump went out. After replacing the water pump on the test ride I noticed Oil misting and foaming out of my crank case breather and it was milky. (Bad News) When I got it home I checked the oil and its awash with water. A foamy mess. I was sure It was a blown head gasket and wanted to get into the engine anyway so last night I pulled the engine apart only to find an apparently good head gasket. I'm wondering what other ways water can make its way into the oil on this bike. Any help is much appreciated. I will post pics when I can.
 

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Welcome to the ZL world!
You will probably find that it is the waterpump!
There are loads of thread about them - including a how to with photos.
http://www.zl-oa.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6861&highlight=water+pump

There is a seal kit available through this site if you need one.
Any problems - just ask - we are a friendly bunch here.

:groupcheers:
 
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Wow fast response, Thanks so much for the help. Yea I have read through the existing treads and there is so good info in there. When this first happened right after i installed the new pump I drained the foamy oil and put fresh oil in just to be sure that the water wasn't from before. Then within a minute after starting there was water in the oil. The new water pump went in,.... ok, and i installed a new O ring. Its a tight install though when trying to line up the bottom hard pipe, the pump shaft and getting the top hose on all a once, so i guess it its possible the O ring was damager during the install. I didn't think it would be bad but it seems that it might be. Is there anything specific to look for to tell that the source of the water is a bad water pump O ring? I guess just pull the pump and look over the ring. I'll laugh at myself for not checking that or this site first if thats it since I took half the bike apart last night to look at a perfectly good head gasket. Good time for a rebuild I guess.
 
That would be the first 2 places to look. Head gasket and water pump. If not then what about a broken/cracked water jacket somewhere in the top end.
 
caldanger said:
Wow fast response, Thanks so much for the help. Yea I have read through the existing treads and there is so good info in there. When this first happened right after i installed the new pump I drained the foamy oil and put fresh oil in just to be sure that the water wasn't from before. Then within a minute after starting there was water in the oil. The new water pump went in,.... ok, and i installed a new O ring. Its a tight install though when trying to line up the bottom hard pipe, the pump shaft and getting the top hose on all a once, so i guess it its possible the O ring was damager during the install. I didn't think it would be bad but it seems that it might be. Is there anything specific to look for to tell that the source of the water is a bad water pump O ring? I guess just pull the pump and look over the ring. I'll laugh at myself for not checking that or this site first if thats it since I took half the bike apart last night to look at a perfectly good head gasket. Good time for a rebuild I guess.
Click to expand...
Check the tech pages for the water pump rebuild. There is a spring seal buried under the impeller that could be allowing water to enter. Hopefully that's it and not a crack in your case.
 
the two points of water entry into my first zl was the waterpump seal and the O-rings around the cyl sleeves.

Was the water pump you installed brand new or used?

You could still be sloshing water around from the first time - I alwways recomend that when you get water in the oil you fill it up with cheep Dollar store Oil and run it then change it then do it again at the very least to make sure you get all the water out! You would be supprised at how much water can stay inside with just one oil change.
 
paulfun and all the rest ... Yea the pump was new when installed. the thing is that I'm pretty sure that I never had water in my oil until after the water pump install. when the pump went bad It leaked from the weep hole and that was it. I don't think it was allowing water through to the oil, but I cant be certain. The only reason I noticed the water in the oil right after the new pump went in was because on my test ride within 10 min there was foamy oil bubbling out of the crank case breather all over the starter, lower case, and by boot. this was never a issue before even when the old pump was leaking from the weep hole. I don't wana beat this to death. Probably the pump, when I get home ill pull it and get a look and some picks. Hopefully their will be a bad O ring. Ill post more tomorrow. Just wana say, all yall are awesome for all the feedback, Lots of help! Thanks. Goin tonight to look at another ZL900 (1986). I'm addicted to these bikes. If I buy her it'll be number 4 :)

Thanks,
CalDanger
 
Well its still in pieces in my garage but I plan on working on some this weekend. Thanks for checkin in with me, sorry I have so much goin on right now.
 
reading this thread and wondering?? coolant doesnt flow through head gasket does it? and the o-ring on the waterpump is only to keep oil in and doesnt have to do with coolant. isnt the only way for oil and coolant to mix is through that spring seal and water pump shaft bearings??:icon_scratch:
 
Coolant flows through the pipe on the back of the head, through the head gasket into the cylinder jug, and out the pipe at the front of the jug. Or the other way around
 
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