Opaque oil sight glass

Hi SV-ers,
Apologies if this has been covered, i did search but without success.
I noticed a couple of weeks ago that my oil sight glass has gone a white-ish colour and is almost completely opaque, making it impossible for me to check the oil level - what have i done that's caused this, and is there any simple solution? (or an approved way of checking the level with a dipstick?)
Also, on a slightly different note, a couple of very cold morning recently i've been getting a lot of smoke from the exhaust uintil the bike warms up, i'm pretty sure it didn't used to do this the last couple of winters, but it has been exceptionally cold - is this something i should be worrying about? The bike starts fine, and exhaast goes clear by the time it gets to 30 degrees or so as shown on temp guage - should i be worried?
Cheers for any help

Do you leave your bike outside?


EDIT: From the wise words of the Ape, with my recent concerns regarding this...

When your bike goes from hot to cold, it sometimes can form condensation inside the engine. In one way or another it mixes and creates a white creamy substance.

When you take off your oil cap is there a creamy substance on the inside of the cap?

Yeah, the bike spends a lot of time outside, and gets ridden in all weathers - i cover it overnight but that's about it.

[fizzwheel]

Does your bike do alot of short journeys ?

Originally Posted by shao

Yeah, the bike spends a lot of time outside, and gets ridden in all weathers - i cover it overnight but that's about it.

Okay see my post above to explain what it possibly could be.

Hi Shao

what year is your bike?

the window glass going white-ish suggests moisture/ water in the oil which can be caused by a few things, water pump o-ring perrished/damaged, water leaking into the engine from a blown gasket on the barrel or head.

the smoke is it white?

this could be the natural moisture build up in the exhaust when left overnight particulary in the weather were having at the moment. i will also be the moisture from the water in the oil evaporating off.

hope this helps

all the best
MJP

To check if gasket blown, take rad cap off (when cold) and if there is the same stuff in there you have a blown gasket. If not its moisture in the engine.

Cheers for all the quick answers guys, i'm impressed
Fizzwheel - yes, lots of short journeys, i try to extend them as much as possible (actually, they have a habit of extending themselves in decent weather...) but it does do plenty of <10 mile journeys.
Plowsie - Cheers, that makes sense and yes, i do see a small amount of creamy oil round the filler cap, never looks that unpleasant when i change it though.
Parkinmj - it's a K6, and yeah, the smoke is white, the fact that it clears up quickly and runs fine after had me fairly re-assured but i just don't remember it being like it last winter, or not so much - then again i remember the nostalgia being so much better back then too...
Ok, think that's the reason covered, cheers - any suggestions on how to check my oil level now greatfully appreciated - i'm thinking do a full oil change with known correct amount of oil, then make myself a dipstick?

Originally Posted by shao

Ok, think that's the reason covered, cheers - any suggestions on how to check my oil level now greatfully appreciated - i'm thinking do a full oil change with known correct amount of oil, then make myself a dipstick?

Assuming all you have is condensation build up, just tip the bike over to the right so the oil fills the site glass and in the process, washes the milky film build up away at the same time. I would only expect to see a very thin top layer of white on top of the oil, if it goes deeper than this, then I would be more suspect there is actually something wrong.

Or are you suggesting the sight glass its self is damaged? I can't think what else will have caused the issue you describe.

[fizzwheel]

OK short journeys is probably whats causing it. My GSXR does the same, it doesnt get warm enough and the mist is condensation caused by water vapour.

Take it for a good long run and get it nice and hot and I bet the mist on the sight glass will be gone.

As long as the smoke is white then thats fine as its steam / water vapour. Just to make sure keep an eye on your coolant level as if your loosing water it might, I stress might be the head gasket, but I've not heard of head gaskets go on the SV.

To check the oil, park the bike on flat level ground, hold the bike with RHS handlebar in your right hand side and grab the front brake lever as well as the handlebar. Then bend down and grasp the footpeg with your left hand, if you lean back a little / pull the bike towards you it will sit up level and your eye will be right by the sight glass and its nice and easy to check the oil that way. Failing that sit on it and get somebody else to check the leve for you.

IIRC procedure in the manual is to run the engine for 3 minutes, then wait for 3 minutes and then check the oil level.

If you look on the engine casing next to the sight glass theres a minimum and maximum mark, the oil level should be between those marks.