Noticed about a month ago when I took off the side fairings on my '00 that I have a small oil leak in the vicinity of the right side crank case cover toward the front. I could not see where it was coming from so I cleaned up the engine as best I could then rode it for ~ 300 or 400 miles. Took the fairing off today to see if I could trace the leak and no luck. Below are links to pictures of the leak:
zoomed out side view:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_right_side_out_a.jpgzoomed in side view:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_right_side_in_a.jpgNote that the two pictures above point out the highest point that I can see any evidence of oil.
zoomed in front & underneath:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_inside_a.jpginside of left fairing showing results of oil running down tube:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_leftside_in_a.jpgDespite my best efforts, I just can't seem to isolate the source. At first I thought that it might be a leaking oil cooler line that was allowing oil to run down, contact that rubber hose then blow back on the RH side crank case cover but I see no evidence of that. I also can't imagine it being the RH crank case cover gasket since I've never removed it and there's no reason it would suddenly start leaking (I did check to make sure all the cover bolts were tight). Oh, just in case the question comes up, the bike has 17,000 miles on it.
I'm stumped, any ideas would be much appreciated!
Possible sources,
crankcase breather tube on top of the reed vavle
oil cooler
valve cover
clutch cover
Could that be a drain from the spark plug recess. I seem to remember a similarr fault where a improperly fitted cam cover gasket was leaking into the plug recess then draining out.
Egg on Leggs, Mar 2 2008, 12:30 PMCould that be a drain from the spark plug recess. I seem to remember a similarr fault where a improperly fitted cam cover gasket was leaking into the plug recess then draining out.
If that is correct it would be an easy check. The spark plug hole should be oily. As well as the coil and plug.
You are going about it in the right way. As a professional I would of done the exact same thing. Clean it up and see whats going on. Has the valve cover been off recently?
Oil leaks can just start when there was no work done or small weep first.
Egg on Leggs, Mar 2 2008, 12:30 PMCould that be a drain from the spark plug recess. I seem to remember a similarr fault where a improperly fitted cam cover gasket was leaking into the plug recess then draining out.
soichiro, Mar 2 2008, 11:43 AMIf that is correct it would be an easy check. The spark plug hole should be oily. As well as the coil and plug.
Without dropping the oil cooler to take a peek inside, I see no evidence of leakage coming from the front spark plug recesses. Nothing going on in the back bank.
soichiro, Mar 2 2008, 11:43 AMHas the valve cover been off recently?
Yeah, back in December about 1000 miles ago during a valve inspection. The time frame is about right but I did not notice anything unusual today before recleaning the engine. I will say that I did not pull the right side radiator to peak directly at the forward, right bank. When I looked from below I did not notice anything unsual coming from the valve cover gaskets. This was actually my first suspicion.
In my initial post, I mentioned that this was the highest point at which I'd seen oil:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_right_side_in_a.jpg .
That was not entirely correct as there was some oil along the seam on top of the RH side crankcase cover and the engine block going all the way back to where a wire goes into the crankcase cover. That wire can be seen here:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_right_side_out_a.jpgNotice that the wire goes directly into the crankcase cover from the top. At one point I thought that the seal that surrounds that wire as it goes into the cover was the source of the leak since that was the highest point at which I could see any oil but I'm really not sure whether the oil in that vicinity is from leakage or just wound up there after being blown from the front by the wind.
Guess I'll button it back up and ride about 1000 miles and check again. This time I'll tear it down a bit more.
mick, Mar 2 2008, 02:13 PMEgg on Leggs, Mar 2 2008, 12:30 PMCould that be a drain from the spark plug recess. I seem to remember a similarr fault where a improperly fitted cam cover gasket was leaking into the plug recess then draining out.
soichiro, Mar 2 2008, 11:43 AMIf that is correct it would be an easy check. The spark plug hole should be oily. As well as the coil and plug.
Without dropping the oil cooler to take a peek inside, I see no evidence of leakage coming from the front spark plug recesses. Nothing going on in the back bank.
soichiro, Mar 2 2008, 11:43 AMHas the valve cover been off recently?
Yeah, back in December about 1000 miles ago during a valve inspection. The time frame is about right but I did not notice anything unusual today before recleaning the engine. I will say that I did not pull the right side radiator to peak directly at the forward, right bank. When I looked from below I did not notice anything unsual coming from the valve cover gaskets. This was actually my first suspicion.
In my initial post, I mentioned that this was the highest point at which I'd seen oil:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_right_side_in_a.jpg .
That was not entirely correct as there was some oil along the seam on top of the RH side crankcase cover and the engine block going all the way back to where a wire goes into the crankcase cover. That wire can be seen here:
http://www.hal-pc.org/~mmcham/temp_right_side_out_a.jpg
Notice that the wire goes directly into the crankcase cover from the top. At one point I thought that the seal that surrounds that wire as it goes into the cover was the source of the leak since that was the highest point at which I could see any oil but I'm really not sure whether the oil in that vicinity is from leakage or just wound up there after being blown from the front by the wind.
Guess I'll button it back up and ride about 1000 miles and check again. This time I'll tear it down a bit more.
You could try a little oil dye. I think they sell it at napa.
soichiro, Mar 2 2008, 03:17 PMYou could try a little oil dye. I think they sell it at napa.
Interesting. Never heard of such a thing. That just might help.
I have never tried it on a bike. I dont see why it wouldnt work just like on a car. You put a little bit in the oil and run the engine. I cant remember if you need a blacklight to see the dye or not. I know most dyes have to be seen with a blacklight. It does help to find small hard to pinpoint leaks.
Dye is also used in a/c systems.
oil dye products Google "ENGINE OIL DYE" lots of info.
I believe you do need a black light, usually come with the kit or cheap by themselves.
You also need to change your oil fairly quickly after using that stuff.
mick, Mar 2 2008, 02:31 PMsoichiro, Mar 2 2008, 03:17 PMYou could try a little oil dye. I think they sell it at napa.
Interesting. Never heard of such a thing. That just might help.
I remember reading about some way to find oil leaks with baby powder.
I don't remember the details.
But I don't think it included putting it inside the engine or changing the oil.
Google this:
oil leak baby powder
