HELP! Vector oil slick

[Ultrafrozen]

I NEED HELP!

My son took the Vector out in -30C (-22F) yesterday and didn't let it warm up before driving off to work. When I started it up after work today, the engine oil light was on so I checked the level. It was completely empty of oil and no drips on the floor so it blew out along the way. I pulled the oil pan off and had a look, filter was tight so I filled the oil reservoir. Still no leaks. I started the sled and Niagara Falls of oil slicks started spewing out from behind the engine.

Has anyone experienced this and PLEASE tell me it's just a blown hose clamp or something simple. If it gets any worse I think I'll just drop it of at the dump.

 

[Sled Dog]

Did you get this figured out yet? I started my 2011 RS Venture in -25C and it was leaking oil from underneath about an ounce from what I could see. I checked the oil level and it was down just a bit I did not add any. I let it warm up and it seemed to have stopped I went for a 10 mile slow cruise and when I stopped and checked about every mile there was no oil leak anymore. Has anyone had this happen to them?

 

[Ultrafrozen]

No info yet, I'll drop it off at the dealer tomorrow and see what the mechanic says Monday. I've heard about oil filters leaking as they have to be pretty tight but not sure if it's cold related.

Hopefully someone has had a similar problem.

 

[superb]

I bought a used 2010 Vector this year and the first time out, it spewed oil out of the bottom of the belly pan, so I checked the level and it was overfilled. I fixed that problem and all was good for a while, then it started to leak a drop here and there. I found that the oil filter was not tightened enought. So I changed the oil and filter myself and all is good. I think some dealers have the younger staff doing oil changes when things get busy and they are not properly trained.

 

[Irv]

I NEED HELP!

My son took the Vector out in -30C (-22F) yesterday and didn't let it warm up before driving off to work. When I started it up after work today, the engine oil light was on so I checked the level. It was completely empty of oil and no drips on the floor so it blew out along the way. I pulled the oil pan off and had a look, filter was tight so I filled the oil reservoir. Still no leaks. I started the sled and Niagara Falls of oil slicks started spewing out from behind the engine.

Has anyone experienced this and PLEASE tell me it's just a blown hose clamp or something simple. If it gets any worse I think I'll just drop it of at the dump.

I assume it's the 2008 Carbed Vector?

When you say he didn't let it warm up, did he just start and go or was there any idling first?

My Vector will not allow me to ride away until it is fairly warm, just curious how he did it?

Hope it's nothing serious.

 

[Ultrafrozen]

Yes, carbed 2008 Vector. He says he let it warm up about five minutes both when he left the house and when he left work. He has never driven it and didn't know about the temp light or the oil light. I hadn't been out with him on this sled to train him properly yet.

He knows to let the Phazer warm up until the idle speed drops down but he couldn't get it started. Probably didn't cycle the fuel pump or didn't turn it over long enough so he took my sled.

I changed the oil a month ago and know about tightening the oil filter very tight. The oil level was right on as I'm a little paranoid about that stuff. Check with engine hot, exactly between high and low mark without screwing the stick in. I'd been checking it before every ride, about four times since changing the oil. I used proper grade Yamalube semi synthetic because I was told there were issues with the Yamaha full synthetic from the dealer.

 

[Irv]

Yes, carbed 2008 Vector. He says he let it warm up about five minutes both when he left the house and when he left work. He has never driven it and didn't know about the temp light or the oil light. I hadn't been out with him on this sled to train him properly yet.

He knows to let the Phazer warm up until the idle speed drops down but he couldn't get it started. Probably didn't cycle the fuel pump or didn't turn it over long enough so he took my sled.

I changed the oil a month ago and know about tightening the oil filter very tight. The oil level was right on as I'm a little paranoid about that stuff. Check with engine hot, exactly between high and low mark without screwing the stick in. I'd been checking it before every ride, about four times since changing the oil. I used proper grade Yamalube semi synthetic because I was told there were issues with the Yamaha full synthetic from the dealer.

That was going to be my next question, what oil and what numbers?

Long shot, but maybe due to it not being warmed up properly, the oil pressure blew the bottom oil line where it feeds into the motor??

I am also curious what your dealer said about the Yamalube Full synthetic and why he suggested not to use it???

 

[Ultrafrozen]

That was going to be my next question, what oil and what numbers?

Long shot, but maybe due to it not being warmed up properly, the oil pressure blew the bottom oil line where it feeds into the motor??

I am also curious what your dealer said about the Yamalube Full synthetic and why he suggested not to use it???

0W-30.

He hasn't admitted to it but would reving the cold engine blow the hose?

It may have been colder than -30C. We've been having -40C temps the last week so if that popped hose would spew oil behind the engine and rush under and to the front then that is probably the cause. I'll have a look in the morning and see what is reachable without ripping everything off. I forgot to check the breather to see if it's full of oil just in case.

The Yamaha dealer about an hour away mentioned something about synthetic oil issues and was very vague, something about rust prevention or something. I spoke with another TY4Stroke member that I work with (Pat The Rat - Yamaha nut) and if I remember right, he agreed.

 

[grizztracks]

check the bottom right side of the air box and make sure the hose from the air box to the stator cover is connected. If it's off it will dump a lot of oil

 

[Ultrafrozen]

.

 

[Irv]

That was going to be my next question, what oil and what numbers?

Long shot, but maybe due to it not being warmed up properly, the oil pressure blew the bottom oil line where it feeds into the motor??

I am also curious what your dealer said about the Yamalube Full synthetic and why he suggested not to use it???

0W-30.

He hasn't admitted to it but would reving the cold engine blow the hose?

It may have been colder than -30C. We've been having -40C temps the last week so if that popped hose would spew oil behind the engine and rush under and to the front then that is probably the cause. I'll have a look in the morning and see what is reachable without ripping everything off. I forgot to check the breather to see if it's full of oil just in case.

The Yamaha dealer about an hour away mentioned something about synthetic oil issues and was very vague, something about rust prevention or something. I spoke with another TY4Stroke member that I work with (Pat The Rat - Yamaha nut) and if I remember right, he agreed.

I'm not sure how much pressure it would take, but if the hose was worn or weak then I could see it happening.

Did you get a chance to look yet?

Still curious what your dealer knows for sure about the synthetic Yamalube, but I assume you are probably not going to hear anything else about it?

 

[Ultrafrozen]

I'm not sure how much pressure it would take, but if the hose was worn or weak then I could see it happening.

Did you get a chance to look yet?

Still curious what your dealer knows for sure about the synthetic Yamalube, but I assume you are probably not going to hear anything else about it?

I propped the sled on it's side and had a better look today before bringing the sled to the dealer. There's barely any room for a fart back there and I didn't bother getting my inspection mirror. The parts listing on the Yamaha site doesn't show any details apart from the oil pump assembly by itself. My service manual is for an older Vector and looks quite different.

The original dealer I spoke to about the synthetic oil is no longer in business but I spoke to the Yamaha service manager in town here today and he stated that until recently, Yamaha wasn't selling synthetic oil. Sleds were sold filled with semi-synthetic oil. He also said that they only sell about a case of synthetic a year but sell a lot more semi. They have a barrel of semi for their oil changes as well.

 

[Ultrafrozen]

Forgot to mention that the airbox was clean, no oil, no snow.

 

[thrasher]

Just had the same thing happen to me. Have 06 Vector and was moving it into my garage for some servicing. Must have been -30 outside, was difficult to get it started, but managed to get it going. Drove it to the garage, and shut it off to put it on dollies to roll it in. After about a half hour to let things warm up in the garage, noticed a pool of oil under the belly pan of the sled. Then noticed drips of oil on the cement floor where I had rolled it in. Thought at first it was another cracked oil tank, but no oil in that area. Removed the belly pan cover which had drips of oil coming off of it, but inside could not see where any oil would have been dripping, other than a drip of oil on the oil filter. Started the machine back up and was not leaking oil from anywhere now. Anyhow, changed the oil and put on a yamaha oil filter. Other oil filter was an aftermarket one. Wondering if the filter o-ring could have frozen and allowed oil by it when it was really cold out. Have 14,000 miles on my sled and never an issue like this before. A little perplexing.

 

[pat the rat]

told you not to let your son drive that thing,lol,i've never heard of such a problem before,weird,hope its nothing major