Hi all...

I have some questions regarding the wolverine and the engine oil
breather hose system...

First off, the machine is stock, no mods of any kind...

Lately, since winter came around, I have faced 2 new puzzles...

In 2 instances, I (stupid me) downshifted instead of shifting. Thus
causing very high RPMs for a very short period...
Shortly after, engine oil was dripping from a very high place onto the
exhaust pipe(right behind the protective plate of the pipe)

My thought is that the high pressure resulting from my error in foot
coordination caused excess of oil to be expelled through the breather
hose...
Now, that breather hose normally exits in the air intake, I assume here
mine is cracked before...

So far, is there a chance i'm right?

Problem number 2...

I recently did an oil change...
I probably added too much oil (although I checked 3 times, screwed up
anyhow)

Today was the first ride with the new (and too much) oil.
The same problem happened but this time, high (normal) RPMs would be
enough to cause my little "dripping oil on the pipe" problem...

Again, am I right to assume that by having too much oil, it also caused
the excessive pressure and resulted in expelling oil from the "crankcase
breather hose" and into the same said "cracked" hose?

I know it's a lot of questions, and please don't think i'm an idiot, I'm
just trying to understand this before I take any steps to remedy the
situation, aside from taking some excess oil out...

Thanks...

Aramis

 

Did you check to see if the little air bleed bolt was good and tight? you are cracking the little 8mm bolt on the top of the head after an oil change and making sure oil is getting to the top end,aren't you? If that little bolt isn't tight,it will leak, and it will run along the fins and drip on the pipe, among other places. Also, check the exhaust valve cover, it could leak right on the pipe,also. Best thing is to totally clean off the motor, then ride and check it very often to see if you can pinpoint the source.

 

Aramis, I believe you have the same problem I had.
1.) Were you riding on a road or keeping the 4-wheeler at a constant mid to high speed for a couple miles or so?
2.) There is no breather hose for the engine oil that I know of.
3.) The vent hose up by air intake snorkel are one for the front differential, one for the rear differential and one for the carburetor.

I don't think down shifting was your problem. If you were riding for a period of time at a constant speed the differential build up pressure and cause the oil to come out of these vent hoses. This was a **** poor design on Yamaha's part. I took that little rubber piece off that is around the air intake snorkel and threw it away. I rerouted the hoses and stuck them in varies holes in the from. This also lets more air flow to the intake. Make sure the hoses point down. If it does drain any more don't worry about your frame filling up with oil there are holes it will drain out of the frame. Check your differentials to make sure they have enough oil in them every once in awhile too. Since I have moved my hoses to a lower point on the bike they seem not to drain as much. Make sure you remember that they are now lower and try to stay out of the really deep water. If you are just crossing some you will be fine but if you are playing in it you might want to move them back up to a height point on the bike.

How much oil did you put in the bike? I think if you take out the filter and clean it you need just a touch over 3 quarts 3.2US qt to be exact. if you don't feel comfortable change it again this time add 3 quarts and check it.

 

Funny this topic should come up, I was going to post a simular one.
My Wolverine developed an oily spot where the engine breather hose comes out.
When I checked engine oil it was low and upon farther investigation I discovered that the missing engine oil was now in the airbox. It had blown it out of the engine and the oily spot was where the breather hose had leaked a little. It has just done this since cold weather set in.
I was thinking it has cracked a piston or broke a ring.
I have run it no different than I usually do and cant tell it is down on power any.
I know it will blow out differential oil if you run it fast for long periods of time but this is engine oil.
Sounds as though we have the same problem.

 

Hello again!

Well, it's funny how things are, I just came back inside from trying to figure this out. And would you believe it, I think I found it. And the funny thing is that Jcsact was right! Thanks!!!

I cleaned the engine breather hose, and there was not a crack on it.
Puzzled, I then started checking around and just before giving up, I decided to check them 2 hoses right next to the air intake... Damn it, they end right above the frame tube going over the exhaust pipe.

And thinking back, I followed the shop manual to the letter when I changed the oil in both front and rear diffs... The manual says to fill to the edge of the filler bolt. I noticed that there was less than that when I drained it but figured it was missing some... Maybe not...

Also, this all started since winter came along... My "new" guess is that because winter riding is a lot faster, and because the wheels will slip going uphill, this might explain the occasionnal spillage... And the fact that maybe the instructions tell us to put a little too much might have contributed to my smoky ride yesterday...

Thanks again Jcsact, I will look into re-routing the diff vents elsewhere... I almost never go deep in water, just crossing... But i'd rather keep them high anyhow... If you have any suggestions, feel free...

Aramis

 

No problem glad I could help you out. [img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]